Slate, wood shakes, metal, and composites are just a few of the types and materials available for modern roofing shingles. However, the roofing shingles you typically see covering houses are primarily made of asphalt. But the story is more complicated than that. Continue reading to find out how manufacturers transform asphalt into a lightweight yet sturdy roofing material.
How They’re Made
Asphalt shingles, the most common type of roofing material in the US, are installed on countless houses from coast to coast. They are all basically manufactured in the same way, regardless of style or colour, utilising a relatively small number of particular materials and a continuous web technique. But what exactly are these basic components?
Fiberglass
A continuous sheet or web that serves as a base for the asphalt and other components is used to manufacture asphalt shingles. The majority of the time, fibreglass mats comprised of small glass fibres bonded together with various binders and resins are used to reinforce asphalt shingles. After being twisted into substantial rolls at a mill, the fibreglass is later unwound at the start of the shingle manufacturing process.
Asphalt
In roofing shingles, the main component is water-resistant asphalt. The substance, which is a byproduct of oil refinement, has a similar history to the asphalt you drive on. However, it is further processed to the required level of toughness for roofing shingles.
By blowing air through hot asphalt, manufacturers make it viscous. This procedure must be exact because using too little or too much will make the shingles brittle or soft. To improve weather resistance and make the substance even more fire-resistant, a mineral powder is added to asphalt. The mineral-fortified asphalt coating is then put to the fibreglass mat on the bottom and top once it is ready.
Granules
The most visible feature of asphalt roofing shingles is its stone granule texture. It is produced by crushing hard rock into minuscule, uniform-sized granules. To achieve a beautiful and long-lasting aesthetic on the exposed section of the roofing shingle, the granules are produced in a variety of colours using a process called ceramic firing.
Algae-resistant granules are found in some asphalt shingles, which prevent the formation of blue-green algae, which can discolour surfaces. Shingles that reflect more of the sun's heat and light are occasionally made using reflective granules. Building codes in some areas frequently call for these shingles.
Sealant
The roof's shingles are joined together using an asphalt sealant that is thermally activated. A similar substance known as laminate is used to adhere the shingle layers together during the manufacturing process of multi-layer laminated shingles, the majority of the modern shingles in use today.
The bottom side of a roofing shingle must be treated with a substance known as "back-surfacing" to prevent the roofing shingles from adhering to the process rolls during production and sticking together during packaging because the asphalt coating is also a sticky substance. On the back of asphalt roofing shingles, there is a fine mineral powder that is frequently made from fine sand or a rock similar to limestone.
Release Film
The sealant in shingle bundles may prematurely activate when kept in a warm warehouse or outside in the summer, causing the shingles to adhere together in the package. This is avoided by adding release film. It normally lies on the underside of the shingles and resembles a kind of plastic tape. While the roofing shingles are in the package, the film does its job. After they are installed, the release film is useless and just sits on the shingle's underside.
Despite the fact that there aren't many raw ingredients utilised to create asphalt roofing shingles, each one has a vital function. To create a roofing product that is strong, water- and fire-resistant, lightweight, and one of the finest value solutions available for today's homeowners, they are sourced, processed, perfected, and engineered to function together.
Need assistance with fixing weather-related damage or a new roof? RST Roofing & Renovations is prepared to assist. We've earned a well-deserved reputation as one of Colorado's top roofing contractors by delivering dependable work and caring, sincere client care. To discover more, get in touch with our helpful staff.
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