The First Composite Shingle was used in roofing in 1840s New England. The composite shingle of this time was typically made of felted wool rags, cotton, or paper. The saturated felt was then passed through a pan where a coating pine tar and sand was applied. Over time, improvements like saturating the fabric with asphalt and a mixture of materials like talc, sand, or powdered gravel or limestone, hence the name “composite” or “composition” shingle.
The first true composition roofing was made of coal tar, a byproduct of the gas lighting industry, and woven felt made of rolled wool, cotton, or paper saturated with the tar and fine gravel. In the last part of the nineteenth century, roll roofing emerged, and by the beginning of the twentieth century was commonplace.
The concept of forming asphalt roofing into individual shingles began soon after the turn of the century, credited to Henry M. Reynolds of Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1903. Mr. Reynolds began cutting stone-surfaced roofing into 8x16” shingles by hand with a knife. The addition of crushed slate granules added a weight that helped keep the shingles adhered to the roof.
Wood shingle roofs were banned in some places due to a rash of damaging fires causing asphalt shingles’ popularity to increase. Again they saw their popularity rise during World War I as they were made completely of non-strategic materials. However, at the invention of machinery for roller-die cutting thick roofing into irregular shapes on a continuous production line, a roofing material star was born.
In the 1970s, a glass fiber-reinforced felt with tensile strength, thinner and more light-weight, was introduced. Several layers of these felts were laminated together to give a dramatic shading effect. Many different colors and shapes of asphalt tiles have been manufactured over the years. Today, asphalt shingles are an enduring choice as the most popular roofing material for their affordability, ease of use, durability and availability.
With over 40 years experience in commercial and residential roof and repair, Mike Ragan Roofing & Sheet Metal is just a call away. No matter where you’re located, we have a skilled roof repair team on standby, ready to respond to your Middle Tennessee roof leak problem. We quickly fix roof leaks, make roof repairs without interrupting your day-to-day business activities, and we provide the documentation necessary for filing insurance claims. We also offer a variety of warranties on our labor and materials. For all of your Greater Nashville roofing and gutter needs, call Mike Ragan and crew at (615) 350-6300. Estimates are always free, and financing is available.
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