I will be applying white cedar shingles to the exterior of a cabin I own this spring and was hoping someone had a recommendation for a website or book which offered info and/or ideas on different design patterns I could use. I hoping to break up the large surfaces, as for instance do part with a 2″-10″ spacing and then a standard 5″- 5″. I’d like to visulaize it before I invest the resources.
Thanks!
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A few years ago (can't remember when) FHB had a small article on decorative shingles. I was looking to put some accents on the gable ends of my shop at the time so I just made my own patterns on a bandsaw (hearts, circles, diamonds, etc). The thing that's fun about doing your own shingles is you can make up some simple designs that can't be purchased...just keep them simple and keep in mind that shingles are part of the exterior envelope.
I was pretty inexperienced with shingles at the time but they still came out nice. Since, I've done quite a few on my own house and on customers houses, but I still cut my own patterns. There are a few little tricks and stuff, but that one little article in the magazine was one of those gems that provided a solid basis to work from. (I would search back about 11 or 12 years).
Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a piece of chalk and cut it with an axe.