The tradition of shingle roofing
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the thatch and cane roofs of houses began to be replaced by the more durable, fire-resistant wooden shingle roofs. In forested regions, houses, roadside crosses, roof pillars, windmills, churches, bell towers, etc. were covered with wooden shingles (malksnos). Although with the re-emergence of industry and the start of slate production after the WWII the craft of wooden shingle roofing nearly died out, it began to be revived after the restoration of Independence.
Wooden shingles for roofing are carved by manual (man- or horse-powered) lathes or, more recently, by motorised mobile lathes, using soaked or freshly cut timber from asp, linden, alder, spruce or pine. Freshly prepared blanks, which are 50¬–70 cm long and 5–7 mm thick, are used to cover the roof by stacking the shingles on top of each other and covering them in several layers.
Gintas Čekauskas, the founder of the Čekauskai Ethnography Museum in Lekėčiai (Šakiai district), a certified master of the traditional craft of roofing, who took over the know-how from the older roofers, and the other members of the association which he heads only use traditional tools and hand lathes to make the shingles and cover the roofs. They are sought-after by museums housed in old-style buildings, foresters setting up sites suitable for recreational activities, as well as individuals and communities. Having been practising the craft of roofing since 2005, Čekauskas ensures passing on the tradition – he regularly works together with his apprentices, shares his expertise with craftsmen from companies and individuals involved in the field of shingle roofing, conducts educational workshops presenting the craft, and carries out a non-formal education training programme.
Despite the relatively expensive raw materials and time-consuming work, interest in eco-roofing is growing. Thanks to the active work of Čekauskas and other shingle roofing enthusiasts, the craft is gaining popularity and conditions are being created for its practice.
Submitter and tradition bearer – Association Čekauskai Ethnographic Museum, 2022