Asphalt shingles remain one of the most sought-after materials for residential roofing. They are lightweight, easy to install and available at relatively low costs. Also, they help ensure that the home is protected against the elements. Asphalt shingles are composed of a base material coated with asphalt and additional ingredients. Learn more about the manufacturing process today.
It Starts With the Base Material
The process starts with feeding a huge roll of matting made from either organic felt or fiberglass into a dry looper. Prior to this step, the base material was transformed into sheets. The mat then passes through a saturation chamber, where it is submerged in hot asphalt. It goes through another looper – a wet one – and proceeds to the next stage of the process.
Coating and Mineral Surfacing
The coated mat is far from the finished product that roofers use when installing roofing systems. In fact, another layer of asphalt is applied on the saturated mat. The difference, however, is that the coating is mixed with stabilizers or “fillers” to help maintain the durability of the would-be shingles. Limestone ground into a fine powder is often used as filler during the manufacturing process.
To give the coated mat its color, granules of minerals coated with ceramic are applied on the top side. On the back side, fine particles of talc or mica are applied. The treated mat passes through a series of rollers to cool down the material and to press down the additional substances into both surfaces of the mat.
Cutting and Packaging
Once cooled, the mat will resemble the finished product, which only means one thing – cutting it up to size. A machine cuts the mat on the back side, turning them into shingles. They are then stacked into bundles and wrapped for packaging. Each shingle is rectangular in shape and measures around 12 to 18 inches in width and 36 to 40 inches in length.
Summit Point Roofing Co. is the company of choice for your roofing needs. We offer residential and commercial roofing services as well as seamless gutters and insulation for your roofing system. Give us a call at (616) 622-6343 or (248) 480-8600 for more information. You may also fill out our contact form for a free, no-obligation quote. We serve Grand Rapid, MI, residents.
