Adding An Attractive Shingle Finish
Once the shingles are through that process, ceramic coated mineral granules are added to the top. These can be in a variety of colors and help with UV protection from the sun. This further increases the shingles fire-resistant power as well as adding an attractive finish. Shingles that are used in places of high humidity may have a bit of copper added to them to help stop the growth of algae. The back of the shingles is coated in some talc or sand to keep the shingles from completely sticking together. And, spots or strips of thermoplastic adhesive is added. Once the shingles are installed the heat of the sun will warm these adhesive giving them a bit more grip.
What Are Shingles Made Of
You might be surprised to hear that asphalt shingles are not entirely made of asphalt. The composition can vary, but asphalt shingles usually consist of mineral fiber and cementitious fillers. It has been revealed in studies that asphalt makes up only 5 percent to as much as 35 percent of the shingle. This material is also called ACM, or Asphalt Containing Material.
In this article, we reveal what other materials can be found in an asphalt shingle.
What Are Roofing Shingles Made Of
You can see how simple asphalt roofing shingles can be.
The felt or fiberglass mats are received at the manufacturer in rolls. These mats will be the base for what the shingle is built upon. The mats have developed over the years to consist of a variety of materials. Now they are most often polyester or fiberglass.
These mats will be saturated with the asphalt material, which will include a fire retardant to seal it and act as an inhibitor of the elements The asphalt is produced and refined to create a product that is durable, water-resistant, and performs well in most climates. This is applied onto the mat to saturate the fibers.
From here, the stone granules are applied. The stone granules also aid in the durability of the asphalt shingles. The granules will provide a defensive surface against the sunlight, heat, moisture, and hail. Asphalt shingles are tough in the face of harsh weather and environmental conditions.
These shingle materials are fused together and held together with heavy duty sealants. Asphalt shingles are designed with a highly-resilient construction and the ability to withhold cohesiveness during strong winds and storms.
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What Are The Key Components Of An Asphalt Shingle Roof
July 2, 2020 by Bill Laut
Asphalt shingles are the most popular residential roofing material in the U.S. Available in a wide range of colors, textures, styles and profiles, asphalt shingles can be designed to mimic the look of slate, cedar and wood roofing. Aside from being cost-effective, asphalt shingles are also durable and sustainable. After use, the shingles can be recycled or used in paving.
Planning an asphalt shingle roofing installation? Heres a quick guide to the key components of asphalt shingle roofs.
What Are Dimensional Shingles
Also known as architectural shingles or laminate shingles, this is the most common asphalt shingle. During manufacturing, they are given two or more layers to create a thicker, multi-dimensional appearance to the final roof. They can be designed to replicate natural slate or wood shake aesthetics so could potentially boost the curb appeal to your home. One disadvantage of dimensional shingles is that they are heavier than 3-tab shingles, so they add more weight to your roof. However, they tend to be more durable due to their double layers.
The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association reports that dimensional asphalt shingles are the most popular asphalt shingle used today. Fine Home Building Magazine Issue 214reports that dimensional asphalt shingles accounted for nearly three-quarters of all asphalt roofing sales in 2010. Everything points to that trend continuing through 2017.
You can expect most dimensional shingle roofs to come with a 30-year manufacturer warranty. When installed properly, you can expect your dimensional shingle roof to last 25-28 years. They tend to cost about 20 percent more than 3-tab shingles at about $3-$5 per square foot installed.
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What Are Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material currently used on homes across the United States. There are many different types of asphalt shingles, all of which are easy to install, accessible, and surprisingly economical to produce. Their cost and lifespan allow them to compare favorably against many competing roofing types.
Designed to protect your home against weather and moisture, they require minimal maintenance and come in hundreds of styles and colors. Read on to learn more about all the different asphalt shingle types and see which is right for you and your home.
Composite Plastic Roof Shingles
Composite plastic shingles are generally produced from recycled plastic materials. They are a way to get more life out of plastics and other materials that would simply be tossed out in most instances so they are a great environmentally friendly roof replacement option. You can expect to pay $4 to $6 per sq. foot for plastic shingles or $400 to $600 per square installed on a standard sized single story home.Composite plastic shingles can be designed to imitate stone slate tiles or even wood shakes. They are much lighter than slate or other roofing types which make them easy to install. Composite plastic shingles are relatively affordable, but they are not as long lasting as most other shingle types. Plastic roofing lasts from 7 to 20 years depending on the type of plastic you choose to install.
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How Roofing Shingles Are Made
Every day, thousands of tons of raw and manufactured materials are delivered to freight yards and receiving docks at top tier roofing plants across the United States.
These materials will be transformed into high quality durable roofing shingles and specialty products that have earned the respect of countless industry professionals and homeowners.
Shingles made with asphalt as the main ingredient are the most popular shingles sold in the U.S. today, and so the asphalt used at these roofing facilities is processed to meet the stringent quality requirements needed to create strong, yet flexible, shingles.
Limestone rock, which typically arrives at plants by truck or rail car, is processed by crushing mills into a fine limestone powder. This powder is then mixed with the asphalt to make a product called filled coating. On the production line, miles upon miles of rolled fiberglass mat that serves as the backbone of shingles are rolled out and fed into a coater, where the filled coating super-heated to more than 400 degrees Fahrenheit is applied to the top and bottom of the mat to create a base sheet.
Complex cutting machines then slice the base sheet into individual shingles that are stacked and packed into bundles. Finally, the shingle bundles are wrapped in packaging, placed onto palettes, and then transported to warehouses prior to being shipped to homes just like yours all across America!
How Are Roof Shingles Made
Shingles are made in a continuous process:
4. Anti-block surfacing is then applied to the back of the sheet to prevent it from sticking to the machine and to other shingles when packaged. A plastic tape is also applied to the back of the sheet to prevent the sealing strips from sticking to the next shingle in the package.
5. The granules are then pressed into the topcoating.
6. Once the sheet is cooled, sealing strips are applied. The sealing strips allow one shingle to bond to the overlying shingle on a roof and thus prevent wind uplift.
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The Basics Of Asphalt Roofing
From a modest beginning with the marketing of roll roofing in 1893, the asphalt roofing industry has grown steadily through the years to the point where today it is overwhelmingly accepted as the countrys leading supplier of roofing products. Asphalt roofing is estimated to be approximately a $12 billion industry.
Most of the asphalt in the United States is used in paving or roofing . Asphalt roofing products and systems include shingles and roll roofing, ply felt, built-up roofing systems, saturated felt used as underlayments for shingles and modified systems.
Product and roofing system innovations have followed. The first self-sealing asphalt shingle was introduced in 1953. Then, in the 1970s, multi-layer or laminated shingles were introduced.
The development of fiberglass-based asphalt shingles, another 1970s innovation, has resulted in asphalt shingle products with an even higher fire rating. And, through the years up to the present time, asphalt shingles are the most widely used roof covering for new home construction and remodeling used on four out of five U.S. homes.
Roofing Grades The basic grades of roofing asphalt are:
How Are Roofing Shingles Made
Before describing the process of making shingles, lets first discuss the different types of materials. The four most common types of shingles are Asphalt, Fiberglass, Wood, and Composite. After identifying their different properties, these materials are used to make shingles. You may already have some idea about the difference between them. Keep reading to learn more! Listed below are the three main types of materials used to make shingles.
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Your Local Austin Area Roofing Professionals
We strive to bring you the best in roofing for the Austin, Texas area. We deliver decades of roofing experience, training, and knowledge in this areas needs. We are a prominent roofing company in residential roof repair and roof replacement. We will not ask for a deposit on labor or materials as a dependable way to stand out from the competition while bringing you the best product and service in Austin.
When we inspect, install, or repair your roof, we want to provide you with the best options for your roof design, components, and ventilation. We are Master Elite Contractors bringing you the latest in roofing technology, and a member of our local area Better Business Bureau, so you know we take pride in our work and our community.
Contact us by phone or email to schedule your FREE roofing inspection and quote today.
About DBR Team
Driftwood Builders Roofing is a top Austin, TX roofing company that specializes in residential reroofing and roof repair. By putting our energy and focus into one thing: roofing, and we are able to provide a superior product to our customers. We do our best to provide a quality product at a reasonable price. We strive to be the best at our trade in the Austin area and always put the customer’s needs first. We provide a customer experience based upon integrity, character and trust.
How Thick Are Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles themselves arent very thick. On average, only about 3/16th of an inch. They pack a punch into a small product. You can install a thicker shingle or a heavy duty shingle if you find its necessary or you like the look.
Adding in the felt underlayment and the wood sheathing, and you have a sturdy but relatively thin covering over your home. Asphalt shingle roofs can withstand many years without being more than a couple inches thick.
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For Resale Looks Count
In the world of asphalt shingles, there are two types, 3 tab and dimensional, also called architectural and laminate. A 3-tab shingle has two notches cut into the lower edge so that when its laid on a roof it looks like three smaller shingles. Seen from below, 3-tab shingles have a very distinguishable repetitive pattern.
This type of shingle costs less than a dimensional type, but its precise pattern requires more time to install. Thus, it is less favored by roofing crews who are usually paid by the number of shingles they install, not by the hour.
For a shallow pitch roof, however, the three tabs is a reasonable choice.
A dimensional or laminate shingle has extra pieces of shingle laminated to it that give the appearance of thickness and texture when seen from below.
There is no discernible shingle pattern so that it can be installed more quickly than the 3-tab type. Besides the real shadow line created by the added thickness of the extra pieces, most manufacturers embellish this with artificial shadow lines created by the artful placement of colored granules.
The thickest and most expensive dimensional shingles, which usually carry the designation 40-year shingles, often have two artificial shadow lines plus an overall subtle texturing of the shingle.
The 30 years dimensional shingle has only one fake shadow line, less subtle blending of the granule colors, and the shingle is not as thick.
Strong Winds Can Damage A Roof
Asphalt shingles generally can only withstand winds up to 90 mph, meaning they have a Class D Wind Rating. If stronger winds occur, and they surely will in most areas, shingles can be ripped off the surface of the roof, leaving the home unprotected and prone to storm damage. It means homeowners will have to spend even more to handle repairs or replace the entire roof which can be a horrendous expense in the midst of a severe weather event
Polymer Composite shingles have Wind Ratings that range from Class F to Class Hratings which means the shingles can withstand anywhere from 110 to 190 mph winds. They are made to withstand even the strongest hurricane-force winds, making them safe and an ideal choice for homes anywhere.
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Quality From The Bottom Up
Weve written a series of articles on how to install asphalt roof shingles one of the biggest takeaways people unfamiliar with the material have had is the number of layers needed to build up the roof. Thats not just talking about layers of shingles, either, but underlayment and support structures beneath.
No matter how good your shingles are, if the underlayment is underwhelming, the roof will never be truly reliable.
One of the great strengths of GAFs roofing products is that the quality starts before you even get to the shingles. They offer high-quality materials for each stage of the roofing process, giving you the peace of mind youre laying the best products on the best foundations.
Key amongst these products is GAFs Deck Armor underlayment system. Deck Armor is widely and rightfully considered superior to any other breathable synthetic underlayment on the market. With Deck Armor providing the foundation of your GAF asphalt shingle roof, youre guaranteed a reliable, long-lasting structure.
What Are Asphalt Shingles Made Of
Asphalt shingles are the most commonly used roofing shingle in the US. They are typical components of new roof installations and roof repair, and provide decent protection to your home, at great value for your money. But have you ever wondered what they are made of? These shingles are mostly asphalt, true, but is that all there is to this roofing material? Find out more!
Q: What Were the Original Asphalt Shingles?
The shingles youre using now arent exactly the same as the asphalt shingles used back in the day. These asphalt shingles were made with a core layer of organic materials, such as wood shavings and waste paper. These shingles had more asphalt than todays fiberglass composition shingles do, but they were notoriously more susceptible to fire. Also, there was an issue with the usage of asbestos on these shingles, which eventually led people to look for other roofing materials.
Q: What Are Composition Shingles?
All of this changed with the introduction of the modern fiberglass composite shingle. You might have heard some contractors use the term composition shingles. These and modern asphalt shingles are one and the same thing.
Q: What Are the Layers?
The core of modern asphalt shingles is an interwoven fiberglass mat. This core is what makes the shingles strong enough to resist tearing and thicker cores gives a better tear resistance. The fiberglass mat is saturated with asphalt to make it tougher, before the other layers are applied to the mat.
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In The Absence Of Manufacturing Precision Some Explanation Of Asphalt Shingle Mechanics May Be Helpful
- The key factors are time and temperature.
- The hotter asphalt becomes on your roof and the longer it stays hot, the shorter its useful life will be.
- Even seemingly benign weather will heat up a roof.
- When the air temperature is a mere 75 degrees, the roof surface can easily reach 140 to 160 degrees.
- The heat causes the asphalt to expand the hotter it gets and the longer it stays warm, the longer it will be in a stretched position. When the sun goes down, the asphalt contracts back into its original position.
The UV rays of the sun are problematic as well, attacking the asphalt and causing it to become brittle and cracked. The granulesthose pulverized stones or glazed ceramic pieces that give a shingle its colorfunction as a UV umbrella to shield the asphalt from the sun.
Eventually after several thousand heating and cooling cycles, the asphalt loses its ability to contract back into its original shape, and the granules start to fall out, exposing the asphalt underneath to the sun.
How many years does it take for a roof to look bad? Climate clearly affects low long a given manufacturers 25-year shingle will last so will its color.
Since the staying power of the granules is a critical factor, a quick, but telling test no matter where you live is to run a quarter across the granules on a builders sample. If a lot come off, its not a great shingle, and you should question the quality of the other materials the builder is using.
