When it comes to choosing roofing products, a common misconception is that all shingles are created equal. Shingles may look similar to the way they did 25 years ago aside from the shift from the “3-tab” style shingle to the architectural or laminated shingle. They are still an asphalt-based product with a stone granular covering. But what many don’t know is that the technology behind the manufacturing of the product is advancing year to year.
The standard shingle on the market will be what is called an oxidized shingle. Oxidation is a process in which raw asphalt materials are stabilized by essentially baking the product at high temperatures in order to ensure that it will perform properly in both hot and cold temperatures once it is turned into a shingle. Some manufacturers have begun adding plastics, rubbers and other polymers to the asphalt in order to increase the performance of the shingle. Modifying shingles with various polymers is the way the industry is headed and the consumer is getting a much better product.
When polymers, mainly a form of SBS (Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene) are added to the raw form of asphalt, the stabilization process can be done with significantly lower heat. This results in a more flexible, rubbery and resilient product. The elasticity that the modification process yields allows the shingle to grip the granules on the surface of the shingle much better. This results in a longer life span as most roofs fail when shingles lose their granules and allow the UV to degrade the asphalt and matting at the core of the shingle. The modified shingle responds better to the extreme temperature changes that we experience in the prairies and will result in a longer overall lifespan.
The other advantageous quality that some polymer modified shingles have is that they can be hail resistant. Some manufacturers have added enough polymer to their shingles to get them to the status of a class 4 hail resistant shingle. These shingles, due to the rubberization may dent due to hail impact, but they grip the granule tightly and the dents will return to a flat surface due to the “memory” or flexibility of the shingle. Class 4 is the highest hail rating that shingles can qualify for and the shingles are recognized by many insurance companies which allow the homeowner to qualify for a discount on their insurance premiums.
Using a polymer modified shingle such as the BP Mystique or BP Vangard 42 IR are excellent choices to add years to your new roofing system. For more information please contact us at (306) 924-4277 or toll-free at 1-844-924-4234.
