Asphalt shingles are a widespread roofing material and are also manufactured in many different shapes. They are specifically designed to keep your roof protected from harsh weather. There is a wide variety of conditions that you can purchase, both for residential use and commercial use. They can be installed in various styles and thicknesses to fit your needs and budget.
Asphalt shingles are a trendy choice for both commercial and residential applications. Shingles are used for roofs on houses, office buildings, warehouses, factories, garages, sheds, and more. Asphalt shingles can also be used to protect porches, patios, or any flat surfaces on the exterior of your building. As widespread as this roofing material may be, most people don’t stop to think about the process that goes into manufacturing the humble asphalt shingle, but we’re here to fix that!
Raw Materials
The raw materials used in making asphalt shingles are mostly recycled products. This is an environmentally friendly application because the materials are mainly derived from waste and old concrete. Repurposed plastics, wire mesh, wood scraps, gravel, and other natural materials are all added to asphalt shingle mixtures to create a long-lasting, low-maintenance, and highly durable product.
The asphalt shingle process involves several steps that result in the final product. The raw materials are mixed by a contractor or an auto body shop installing permanent shingles on cars. The mixture is then poured into some machine, such as an asphalt mixer, to form a liquid mixture that becomes solid asphalt shingles when they are ready to be shipped or stored.
The manufacturer will carefully oversee the production of these products and then ship or store them until they are needed for installation.
Concrete Rubble
Asphalt shingles are a mixture of approximately 30% sand, 30% cement, and 30% gravel or crushed stone. This is mixed in a concrete mixer and forms the asphalt shingles. The rock keeps the product from becoming too soft and allows for more control over the final product since it can be crushed into fine particles. The gravel also prevents air pockets from forming inside the final product during production and storage.
Manufacturing Process
The manufacturing of asphalt shingles has expanded over the years to include several machines that make the process faster and more efficient. The asphalt is mixed in large batches and pumped through pipes or channels into a sprayer to create the final product. This asphalt shingle mixture can be applied through pressurized sprayers or brush-on methods.
Asphalt shingles are created by mixing sand, aggregate from natural rock, and recycled plastic materials. The ingredients are mixed in large tubs and then poured into a machine that spits out the final product. The shingles are cut to the proper size at this step and are packaged immediately until they are ready to be sold into the market.
Asphalt shingles will have different patterns and features on each side of the product. These products are less expensive than other roofing materials such as clay or terracotta tiles, but they are still very durable and versatile.
Key Takeaways
From a concrete rubble mixture to the perfectly formed and cut pieces that cover most homes, asphalt shingles undergo a very efficient manufacturing process that has been perfected over many decades. The final step is for them to be installed in their permanent home on a home or business’ roof. This step is just as important to get right as the others, so it’s a job best left to an experienced team of roofers like ours at Divided Sky. Contact us to discuss how we can help fix or upgrade your roof with some brand new, high quality asphalt shingles today!
