How shingles are made depends on the type of shingles being made. Shingles come in many different styles and types, such as asphalt, rubber, metal, wood shake, or slate.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles set the standard in roofing options. The creation of these types of shingles starts with a mat made from fiberglass or organic materials like cardboard, paper, or woodchips. The mat is then drenched with hot liquid asphalt, and an additional asphalt coating containing powdered limestone. Colored ceramic granules are added before the liquid dries to customize the color. To see this in action and in more detail, watch this video:
Rubber Shingles
It was only a matter of time before a shingle was made to replicate high-end options at a fraction of the cost and with added durability.
While more costly up front than asphalt shingles, rubber shingles maximize possible cost savings by lasting longer and through energy efficiency, along with a hint of the unexpected as they “look” like a higher-end, more expensive roof such as slate or wood shake.
A large part of rubber roofing systems is made from recycled car tires, as is the case with the Euroshield® Rubber shingles we use here at Weather Vane. They are 95% recycled tire rubber, revolutionized to meet your needs up on the rooftop!
Are you wondering how what used to be rubber tires traveling the roads transform to the top of your house into a durable, long-lasting roof that looks like slate or cedar shake without the maintenance requirement?
The process at Euroshield® includes carbon black from the tires and other proprietary ingredients being mixed together, injection-molded under extreme pressure, and hand-trimmed.
To learn more about how Euroshield® makes rubber shingles, their durability of them, and how the company began, check out the video at this link.
Metal Shingles
Like rubber shingles, metal shingles also can give the illusion of natural slate or wood shake shingles at about the same cost or less, and again, with the added benefit of lasting longer in the case of the wood shake. According to roofingcal.com, metal shingles are most commonly made using G-90 galvanized steel and aluminum and are created through a stamping press process. The color comes from paint baked onto the metal coil.
Wood Shake and Wood Shingles
Wood Shake and wood shingles are a unique addition to any home. They are similar to each other but different. According to BobVila.com, the wood shake is split from whole logs with a more rustic look while wood shingles are cut with a machine and are thinner with a more tapered and cleaner cut.
Slate Shingles
Slate shingles are a one-of-a-kind treasure as they start with mining the slate from the earth. It is then brought to a mill to be cut into blocks from which they are split into pieces and trimmed to the desired sizes. Some pics and more details can be found at the Slate Association.
We hope this information about how shingles are made and the different types of shingles available will help you in deciding what type of roof is best for you. We are also available to chat about each type and our offerings further with you. More about our product offerings can be found here.
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About Weather Vane Roofing
We provide roofing, siding, insulation, windows, and gutters. Making your house beautiful and efficient is our main goal. We use the latest in technology and products to provide eco-friendly and cost-effective solutions for your home and business. With locations in Lansing, Owosso, and Brighton/Howell we are Mid-Michigan’s roofing experts. Let us transform your house into a home.
