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It was almost time to begin laying the cedar shingles (see Materials). But first I had to decide what sort of sheathing to use. The Cedar & Shingle Bureau manual (see References) describes two options: solid sheathing, using sheets of plywood, or spaced sheathing using softwood battens.Solid sheathing was going to be fairly costly and also difficult to fit, so I decided to go for spaced sheathing.
Although the Cedar & Shingle Bureau manual specifies 1x4" (25x100mm) battens, the similar British Columbia Shake & Shingle Association application handbook (which states that it had input from UK specialists) gives a minimum of 25x38mm. In the end I used 19x100mm boards, which I close-fitted over the eaves and then cut lengthways into 19x50mm battens and spaced (at 125mm on centre - i.e. the same as the exposure) over the remainder of the roof.
The further issue to be resolved was whether to fit any form of additional waterproofing material (such as roofing felt). The construction manuals referenced above only suggest optional eave protection (and any such material would not be possible with spaced battens). Given that this was, after all, only a summer house, I decided not to bother.
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