Understanding the materials used to make roofing shingles

Even though asphalt shingles are commonly called roofing shingles, they are not entirely composed of asphalt. Asphalt shingles typically contain mineral fiber and cementitious fillers, but their composition can vary by manufacturer. Now let’s examine what roofing shingles are made of.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is the foundation of asphalt roofing shingles. Shingles are backed by fiberglass and have fiberglass as their base. Roofing shingles are made by unwinding large fiberglass rolls and bonding the other components to the backing.

Asphalt

Asphalt is the main ingredient in asphalt shingles that resists water. Roofing shingles are made chiefly for asphalt, requiring a specialized refining process to become hard enough. A blower then blows art through the hot asphalt, increasing its viscosity. To make the roofing shingle weather-resistant, a fine mineral powder is mixed into the asphalt and used on the fiberglass mat’s top and bottom.

Granules

The stone granule surfacing is the most visible part of asphalt shingles. Crushed hard rock is granular in size. Once the granules have been applied to the shingle, they are coated with a clear sealant. A ceramic firing process gives the exposed part of the granules lasting colors. Blue-green algae can also discolor some shingles, which can be prevented with algae-resistant granules. The sun’s energy can also be reflected more effectively with special reflective granules.

Sealant

Roofing shingles are sealed with thermally-activated asphalt sealants. Laminate is used to bond the layers together on multi-layer shingles during production. As a result, these adhesives are specially formulated to activate at specific temperatures and hold the bond during installation and other stresses.

At EDCA Roofing, we have over 30 years of experience working with roofing materials, and we’d love to help you find the correct product for your roofing needs. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to learn more.