SBS shingles are the hot newest trend in residential roofing. These shingles are made from a polymer modified asphalt (PMA). It is becoming more common for roofing companies to start to offer this type of shingle as an upgraded or premium option even though the most standard roofing shingles are still made with blown asphalt. Why? It comes down to a “bend but don’t break” attitude.
What is SBS:
The “SBS” stands for styrene-butadiene-styrene – a rubber-like ingredient used to modify the pliability and weatherability of the roofing asphalt. The SBS-enhanced shingles look like regular shingles, but they come with enhanced performance characteristics such as impact resistance, tear resistance and surface granular adhesion.
The product is composed of a fiberglass mat base. Ceramic-coated mineral granules are tightly embedded in carefully refined, water-resistant asphalt. Two pieces of the shingle are firmly laminated together with a special asphaltic cement, and all CertainTeed-produced shingles have self-sealing adhesive strips for wind uplift resistance.
Benefits:
These shingles come with the added benefit of being algae-resistant, especially in damp regions of the country. Surface granules are the shingles first layer of protecting against the elements, and CertainTeed’s Northgate SBS composition provides a better layer of protection. Over time, exposure to the elements can also cause roofing asphalt to crack or shrink. But CertainTeed’s product comes with the highest impact rating available, and shows enhanced crack and shrink resistance, thanks to the rubberizing aspect. This allows for greater flexibility so that the shingle is immune to cracking.
NorthGate products carry a lifetime limited, transferable warranty to the consumer against manufacturing defects. In addition, NorthGate Shingles carry a 50-year limited transferable warranty against manufacturing defects on group-owned or commercial applications, 10 years of SureStart™ Protection, 15 years of algae resistance and 15 years of 110 mph wind-resistance.
