The wood shingles were held up at the factory where they were being stained. The factory was waiting for a full truck load before they would release the shipment. That was good for the environment and bad for our project schedule. Almost a month later than we expected, they are here. The contractor was really pro active and instead of stopping the progress of the job, he moved on to other things, like completing the stone retaining walls around the driveway, and painting the trim around the windows. These things would usually occur at the later stages of construction.
The red cedar shake and shingle bureau has conducted many thorough studies that conclude that shingles that are pre-stained, front and back, retain their finish significantly longer than those that are stained or painted after they are installed. This is because unfinished wood absorbs moisture, and literally pushes the stain or paint off of the surface of the shingle. Moisture seeks daylight to evaporate!
