Asphalt shingles remain the most popular type of residential roofing because of the affordability, durability and aesthetic appearance. Roof installers in St. Peters MO know some of the more interesting details about these shingles that most people aren’t aware of.
Recyclable Material
For example, not everyone realizes that shingles can be recycled. They may view metal roofing as a more environmentally friendly option, but asphalt shingles actually can be used in the process of making new asphalt for pavement. One ton of recycled shingles allows asphalt manufacturers to avoid using one barrel of oil.
Components
The shingles placed by roof installers in St. Peters MO are not made entirely of asphalt. Technically, they are called composite or composition shingles because they contain more than one component. The bottom of the product is usually made of fiberglass. This material is coated with asphalt, after which ceramic or stone granules are applied. Those granules are what people occasionally see at the bottom of downspouts or in the eaves troughs when they clear out the leaves.
Invention
Asphalt shingles were invented in the early 1900s, but they were made of cotton felt paper instead of fiberglass. Fiberglass shingles did not come on the market until the 1980s. Roofers call the original invention organic shingles. It is still possible to order those shingles, and many homes have them on the roofs from installation back when this was a more common option.
Flashing
When a shingled roof leaks before it needs to be replaced, those leaks usually occur because the flashing around one of the roof features has been affected by weather. That might be flashing around a chimney or a skylight, for example. Sealing must be done as recommended to prevent leaks from developing.
Reroofing
It’s possible for some customers of a contractor like Affordable Exteriors to have a second layer of shingles placed over the original if a full roof replacement would be a financial hardship. This process, known as reroofing, allows them to delay having the old roof replaced for many years. This is not the optimum decision, but it will end leaking in worn areas of the roof.
