Faq
Will the shingle design work with my existing shingle course height (exposure)?
All designs are made to work with 5" shingle course height. Some designs may accommodate exposures as low as 4 3/4" or as much as 7"+. Please refer to each product description for the range of course height each design will fit.
Some larger designs may require a handful of small tweaks (cuts) if your existing shingles (or plan specifications) vary from the industry-standard 5" course (exposure) height. These are very small cuts that can be made with an exacto knife, coping saw or jigsaw.
What is included in each shingle design kit?
All shingle design kits come with our instructions, pre-cut design shingles, extra full shingles for weaving into existing walls, and stainless steel nails.
When will I get my shingle design kit?
We ship orders free via UPS. Please allow 3-10 days for delivery after purchase.
If there is a concern about delaying a current shingle project while waiting for your design, we advise leaving an unshingled space on your wall and add the design once it arrives.
How much does shipping cost?
All our design kits ship free via UPS ground within the United States. If you're located outside of the U.S. and would like to place an order, please contact us.
Can I install the shingle design myself?
Installing our shingle designs vary in difficulty depending on size and detail. While some smaller designs may be installed by the average homeower, we recommend larger more complicated designs be installed by more experienced craftsmen
What types of shingle materials are available?
Our shigle designs are available in the following materials:
- Eastern white cedar (most common)
- Western red cedar
- White cedar background with red cedar image
- Pre-primed white cedar (ready for final coat of stain or paint after installation)
Do the shingle designs come with installation instructions?
Each shingle design comes with step by step instructions to make installation simple. Mosaic Shingle Company has developed an installation technique that drastically reduces the complications normally associated with artistic shingle design installations.
What other tools will I need to install my shingle design?
New construction: You will need a hammer, nail set, tape, and Xacto knife.
Existing: You will need the item above, as well as a shingle pulling tool to remove existing shingles.
How long will it take to install my shingle design?
Installing shingle designs on new construction can take as little as 20 minutes for the smaller designs, and up to a few hours for more complex designs.
If you're installing designs into existing shingles, it will take slightly longer as you'll need to remove the existing shingles first in the area where you want to position the design.
Can I return my shingle design if I don’t like it?
If for any reason you are not satisfied with a Mosaic Shingle Company design, you can return the product within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
Will the shingle designs weather to match my existing shingles?
Yes, as long as you use the same material as your existing shingles, your design will weather to match over time. You can also bleach or power wash the area where you installed your design to help blend the old and new shingles better. Pre-primed designs are ready for you or your painter to paint or stain to match the existing shingled wall.
What if I break or damage a shingle during installation?
Each Mosaic Shingle design comes with extra full shingles. If you happen to damage a shingle, you can either trace the design onto an extra shingle and cut it onsite, or you can contact us and we will send you a replacement.
Can I use a fastener other than stainless steel nails?
You can use any fastener rated for outdoor shingle applications, we do however highly recommend you use stainless steel nails. We also recommend 15lb felt paper or approved house wraps to be used during shingle application.
Can I use a nail gun?
We recommend installing the fasteners by hand on the designs given the delicacy of some of the pieces. Everything else around the design could be fastened with a nail gun.
How hard is it to remove shingles?
Each shingle design comes with instructions for shingle removal. It is not a difficult task as long as you are patient and careful.
Should I leave a space between the shingles when I install them?
Bare cedar shingles and pre-primed shingle designs are applied with roughly 1/16" of space between them, which can be adjusted slightly during installation in order to make the design fit better. Over time as the shingles weather they will develop spaces of varying size and may match the existing shingles.
Cedar shingles will swell, cup, and curl both before and after installation depending on the amount of humidity in the air. This is normal and to be expected.
What if a shingle cups or warps?
Cupped and warped shingles are a common occurrence with cedar products. In cases when cupped shingles arrive in a shingle design, they should be carefully nailed as low as possible without the nails being exposed. In extreme cases a third nail can be added in the middle of the shingle.
Will it help to glue the shingles?
No, cedar shingles should typically not be glued. Natural wood expands and contracts with time, temperature, and humidity. Gluing may restrict the shingles natural ability to aclimate to the environment.