actually you
can find southern yellow pine shingles, I think it's the only other wood currently used
and it's durability and straight grain, as well as ready availability in the manufacturing areas, is why the factory used it
good quality cedar is readily available on the wet coast, but so is good fir, which is what I've used
the cupping is due to breakdown of the finish, allowing differential moisture absorbtion, and the space between the boards [covered by the skid strips] is how the factory took care of the expansion problem
Bill
