The next simplest decorative design would involve the up/down pattern using random shingles. This method is still often used on roofs where normal side lapping and triple course considerations are taken into account. Every other shingle is lowered from the normal exposure by a predetermined amount, usually about an inch, often the width of the head of the shingler's hatchet and sometimes up to half the normal exposure on sidewall applications.

 

 

Dimension shingles were often used to create interesting up/down patterns. Dimension shingles have 90° plain butts and are cut at predetermined widths. These are ideal when used in a repeating pattern on walls and siding. Combining two (or more) different sizes and installing in an up/down manner is relatively common and quite effective. Regional variations are apparent in the manner these were installed. Maritime shinglers used exact multiples of their exposures for all corners, and shingles adjacent to doors and windows. Corners have both shingles on the same elevation, an exact multiple of the exposure. They were less concerned with sidlap as vertical installations would be substantially less critical.

From these first design steps sprang a myriad of shapes and patterns, hundreds are documented and illustrated in "Before the Tin Man V2.0"

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