Anatomy of a Shingle

HOW A ROOFING SHINGLE IS MADE

To make shingles, fiberglass mat is fed into a fabrication line. The material passes through a saturator tank filled with hot asphalt, which coats the fibers. Various colors of ceramic-coated mineral granules are used as a top coat on shingles to protect them from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and add an attractive finish. The back surface of the shingles is coated with sand or slag fines to keep the shingles from sticking together during storage.

Anatomy of a Asphalt Shingle

  • What is a Roofing Shingle Fiber Glass Mat?

    Fiberglass mat is produced from a uniform dispersion of very fine glass fibers and a binder that holds them together. It is the structural base of the shingle which carries the shingle through the manufacturing process and provides the majority of reinforcement properties needed for good performance and long life.

  • What is the role of Asphalt in a shingle?

    Asphalt’s primary purpose in shingles is to serve as a waterproofing agent. Asphalt also holds the granules in place and adds to the overall strength of the shingle.

  • What are Shingle Granules?

    Granules are fine-grain, opaque, crushed rock particles that are pressed into the surface of the asphalt. They block ultraviolet (UV) light from reaching the asphalt in the shingle. UV rays, if allowed to reach unprotected asphalt, will age the asphalt prematurely. The best granules have a highly stable coloration (colored by a ceramic coating) and do not allow light to pass through them.

  • What is Shingle Backsurfacing?

    Shingle back surfacing is usually a fine mineral material such as sand or slag fines applied to the back of the shingle. It permits the asphalt shingles to be processed through the fabrication line and stacked without sticking to the machinery, or to each other in storage.

  • What are Asphalt Shingle Sealant Strips

    Asphalt self-sealing strips are continuous or intermittent lines of asphalt designed to bond the shingles together to resist wind uplift. A strip of clear polyester film is applied to keep the shingles from sticking together, and CertainTeed imprints codes on the film to monitor quality and the manufacturing process.