Asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material used throughout the world for their economical cost and relatively low-maintenance long life.
Made from a combination of different materials, shingles installed by asphalt roof contractors are available today in multiple grades and offer numerous premium features.
To better understand how these shingles work as well as stay protective and why asphalt shingle roofers recommend them for nearly any installation on a pitched roof, just take a look at how they are made.
What Is The Makeup of Asphalt Shingles?
Though they are called asphalt shingles, this roofing material is actually a composite of multiple materials that combine to create a durable product:
- Fiberglass Matting - The basis of the shingle itself is mainly fiberglass matting that is made from fiberglass fibers pressed into a durable mat. Some shingles installed by asphalt roof services include other organic fibers in the matting as well and composite shingles may even include plastic, rubber, and other durable materials, creating an even more durable shingle matting.
- Asphalt - A tar-like natural substance, asphalt is applied as a saturation coating to the matting installed by asphalt roof services to make the shingles water-resistant.
- Mineral Stabilizer Fillers - These are mineral additives that are mixed into the asphalt to increase its fire resistance.
- Ceramic Coated Granules - The granule coating that is applied to the tops of asphalt shingles is made from finely crushed rock that is coated in ceramic. The coating is applied by asphalt roof contractors to the asphalt-saturated matting, then heat cured so it is more protective and UV-reflective. It is in the ceramic coating that colors are added to create shingles of various colors and shades.
- Back Surfacing - Made from sand or slag fines, which is the fine waste powder generated through rock mining, back surfacing is applied to the sticky underside of the asphalt-saturated matting to make the mats less sticky during manufacturing. They can more easily be cut by machinery and stacked in the squares that are sold to asphalt roof contractors without sticking together and slowing down manufacturing and usage.
Other Types of Shingles
While this describes the general process by which the shingles installed by asphalt shingle roofers are made, there are many types of shingles that undergo slightly different production processes.
Decorative architectural shingles are made with thicker, shaped matting, premium wind-resistant or impact-resistant shingles are produced using specific matting “recipes” that give them these properties, and shingles that are more highly-rated for fire resistance are constructed with higher ceramic and stabilizer content.
In Summary
Choose the best shingles for any home by contacting an experienced asphalt shingle roofer and discussing the asphalt shingle products they recommend!