The Answer to Extreme Weather: SBS-Modified Bitumen Shingles
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Extreme weather is a common threat in many parts of the country. In the Northwest U.S., residents can often experience intense cold, heat and wind all throughout the course of a year. This kind of weather is tough on people, but also on the homes in which they reside.
SBS-Modified Bitumen: Your First Line of Defense
The first line in defending a home against radical weather is the type of roofing material chosen. Luckily, an SBS-modified (styrene-butadiene-styrene) shingle is an extremely weather-resistant alternative to other, more commonly used roofing types.
Case Study: Weather Resistance in the Northwest
Kevin Kropf, co-owner of Stutzman & Kropf Contractors in Albany, Ore., knows all about the benefits of shingles that are SBS-modified. He has been installing roofs on the Oregon Coast for almost 40 years, where weather conditions can widely vary.
“The Northwest is very different from anywhere else in the United States,” said Kropf. “We have rainforests, mountains, deserts and beaches. We have to think about roofing products differently as well.”
Extreme temperatures can cause problems not only for contractors, but for the shingles themselves. Some shingles become stiff and brittle in freezing weather and care has to be taken to install them without cracking. Unfortunately, freezing temperatures aren’t the only form of extreme weather that can stop an installation. Hot weather can also cause complications with asphalt shingles—they can become too soft and pliable, potentially tearing the shingles during installation if the contractor isn’t cautious. Thus, extra attention must be taken when selecting a roofing product that can withstand these conditions.
NorthGate
Because of these extreme weather factors, Kropf uses NorthGate®, Class 4 impact-resistant shingles from CertainTeed®. NorthGate is an SBS-modified shingle, made from rubber-like polymers that give it the ability to withstand extreme weather. This allows Kropf to work without worrying. SBS also offers superior granule adhesion, a key component in protecting the shingle against the elements, shrinking and cracking.
“If the shingles are anything other than SBS, they will break, fracture and tear when it’s too warm or too cold,” said Kropf. “The SBS will not, even when there’s extreme wind. Shingles lifted slightly by extreme wind will return to their original place.”
Chris Burris, a roofing contractor and owner of All Comp Roofing in Battle Ground, Wash., also has firsthand experience with extreme weather installations. Over the course of his 20 years in the industry, he has installed roofs in temperatures as low as 25°F and as high as 95°F. He also uses NorthGate as the solution to extreme weather.
“No matter the temperature, the shingles aren’t as affected and they retain their shape,” said Burris. “It’s an easy shingle to install and work with.”
In addition to being impact-resistant and resilient to extreme temperatures, SBS shingles are as visually pleasing as luxury asphalt shingles. The NorthGate brand offers ‘Max-Def’ colors, which offers a richer mixture of surface granules, and a more dramatic appearance and depth of color, something that truly makes a difference, according to Kropf and Burris.
SBS-modified shingles are the answer to the problem of extreme weather because of their consistent performance. Whether in hot or cold weather environments, homeowners are protected from the elements. At the end of the day, new roofs maintain their performance and aesthetic appeal, giving both contractor and homeowner peace of mind.
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