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Frequently
Asked Questions
| Question: |
Why
should I use shingles or shakes from Dow’s and not my
local lumber yard? |
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| Answer: |
Dow’s
Eastern White Shingles & Shakes manufactures the highest
quality shingles and shakes that are available in the world
today. The quality control that the Dow mill has is the highest
in the industry. Each shingle is handled and inspected twice,
before manually being put into the bundle. The high quality
has kept the Dow family sawing shingles for 5 generations and
over 80 years. Made right here in the state of Maine with native
timber. |
| Question: |
Is
there any insulation factor in shingles and shakes? |
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| Answer: |
Shingles
and shakes do have a very high insulation factor. A standard
3/8” x 16” shingles put on a building with a 5”
exposure has an R-7 insulation factor. A standard shake that
is 5/8” x 18” put on a building with a 6”
exposure has an R-12 insulation factor. |
| Question: |
How
much insulation factor does vinyl siding have? |
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| Answer: |
Vinyl
siding has no insulation factor. Vinyl siding is just for looks,
that’s all. |
| Question: |
What
does the term R-R mean? |
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| Answer: |
The
term R-R is a Canadian term that means re-squared and re-butted.
Re-squared and re-butted is what is done to the shingles in
Canada. The shingles are sawn first in a shingle mill, bundled
up, and then taken to an R-R mill to be made square. First the
butt of the shingle is trimmed and then the sides are made square
to the butt. This method in theory should work, but most of
the time it does not. A big drawback is you take a square of
shingles and run all them threw an R-R mill and bundle them
up again you don’t have a square when you are all done.
That is why when you buy a square of shingles at your local
lumber yard you have to buy a few extra bundles to cover the
area that you want to cover. |
| Question: |
Does
Dow’s Eastern White Shingles & Shakes R-R their shingles
and shakes? |
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| Answer: |
.
No, we do not R-R our shingles and shakes. All our shingles
and shakes are sawn square the first time. Our shingles and
Shakes are all sawn square by the use of lasers. Our raw logs
are sawn off with a high speed cut off saw that gives a very
smooth butt. That smooth butt is were the quality process starts.
You take that smooth butt and make the shingles and shakes square
from that. |
| Question: |
I
am restoring a historical building, can Dow’s Eastern
White Shingles & Shakes manufacture a special sizes of shingle
for me? |
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| Answer: |
Yes
we can. We can saw any size up to 24” long and any thickness
you would like. All you have to do is call or write us and give
us the measurements of the size you want. Tell us the thickness
of the butt, the length of shingle you want, and how much exposure
you want. We will saw you some samples and send them for you
to look at. |
| Question: |
What
is a shake? |
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| Answer: |
A
shake is just an extra thick shingle. It is sawn the same way
as a shingle. Shakes are typically longer, have a thicker butt,
and have a more exposure to the weather. |
| Question: |
How
long will shingles or shakes last on a wall or roof? |
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| Answer: |
Shingles
and shakes will last a very long time providing they are applied
correctly. Shingles will typically last around 50 to 60 years
on roof. That is with a pitch of around 8”. Shingles on
a wall can last about the same time frame. Cedar shingles will
not rot they will wear out. All the years of the wind, rain,
ice, snow coming off the roof, or hitting the wall is what takes
its toll. Shakes on the other hand, on a roof they will last
100 years no problem. On a wall shakes will last longer than
that. Shakes will lay down so much better because of the thickness,
and having the shingles or shakes stay down is key to a long
lasting roof or wall. |
| Question: |
Does
Dow’s Eastern White Shingles & Shakes deliver? |
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| Answer: |
Yes.
Dow’s Eastern White shingles & Shakes deliver most
all the shingles and shakes that they manufacture on their own
truck and trailer. They offer to do this for a few reasons.
First they know if they put them on the truck and deliver them
in person the product will not be damaged. Second it gives Jeff
Sr and Jeff Jr. a chance to meet and talk to their customers
in person, establishing a very good business relationship. Both
Jeff Sr and Jeff Jr. like the idea of repeat customers, so customer
satisfaction is a must. |
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