A method and apparatus for applying or dropping granules onto the asphalt coated surface of a moving sheet in shingle manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes sharing each drop between two or more blend rolls with a subsequent blend roll or rolls applying a partial drop directly on top of partial drops already applied by a first blend roll or rolls. High production speeds can be accommodated since each roll can be operated at slower rotation rates and with slower acceleration and deceleration requirements than would be required if the full granule drop were applied during the same time interval with a single blend roll.

A roofing material is provided having an asphalt-coated mat or felt made up of or in combinations of fiberglass, polyester, nylon, cotton, cellulosic fibers or materials, polyethylene, polypropylene, co-polymers, melamine, phenolic, acrylics, polycarbonate, carbon fiber, clay, metallic in woven, non-woven, strands or sheets, styrene compounds, rubber, silk, leather, or wool in a woven, non-woven, or solid form. The surfacing materials can be made up of or in combination minerals, plastic particles or film, metal particles or film, cement particles, clay particles, paints, coatings, glass, ceramics, wood, wood fiber, or composite materials.

A method and apparatus for applying or dropping granules onto the asphalt coated surface of a moving sheet in shingle manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes sharing each drop between two or more blend rolls with a subsequent blend roll or rolls applying a partial drop directly on top of partial drops already applied by a first blend roll or rolls. High production speeds can be accommodated since each roll can be operated at slower rotation rates and with slower acceleration and deceleration requirements than would be required if the full granule drop were applied during the same time interval with a single blend roll.

A plurality of granules comprising ceramic particles bound together with an inorganic binder, the inorganic binder comprising reaction product of at least alkali silicate and hardener, wherein the ceramic particles are present as at least 50 percent by weight of each granule, based on the total weight of the respective granule, wherein each granule has a total porosity in a range from greater than 0 to 50 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the respective granule, and wherein the granule has a minimum Total Solar Reflectance of at least 0.7. The granules are useful, for example, as roofing granules.

A method of forming an asphalt mixture can include mixing a bio-source material and a bitumen source to form a bitumen mixture. The bitumen mixture can be mixed with a catalyst to form the asphalt mixture. Particles can be added to the asphalt mixture to form a roofing-grade asphalt mixture. In an embodiment, the bitumen source material can have a softening point of at least approximately 93° C. and a penetration distance no greater than approximately 25 dmm. In another embodiment, the roofing-grade asphalt mixture can have a softening point of at least approximately 104° C., a penetration distance no greater than approximately 12 dmm, a viscosity of at least approximately 3000 cps at a temperature of 204° C., or any combination thereof. The asphalt mixture can be applied to a base material to form a roofing product. The asphalt mixture can be applied as a pavement product.

A shingle comprises an overlay, an underlay, and a height increasing material disposed between the overlay and the underlay. The height increasing material includes a first adhesive adhered to the overlay, height increasing granules adhered to the first adhesive, and a second adhesive adhered to the height increasing granules and the underlay. The height increasing material can extend along front ends of tab portions of the overlay, along front cutout edges that extend between tab portions of the overlay, or both.

The present disclosure relates generally to roofing products, for example, suitable for use covering and protecting the roofs of structures. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a roofing product including an upper section and an exposed section. The roofing product includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a plurality of zones of roofing granules disposed on the top surface of the substrate. The plurality of zones includes first, second and third zones within the exposed section. The first zone includes a first collection of algae-resistant roofing granules and has a first algae-resistance intensity. The second zone includes a second collection of algae-resistant roofing granules and has a second algae-resistance intensity. The third zone has a third algae-resistance intensity that is different from the first algae-resistance intensity.

Roofing shingles are disclosed that are capable of self-adhering to a roof deck or underlayment and/or other roofing shingles and that require few or no mechanical fasteners to remain attached to the roof. By appropriate positioning of sealant lines on the shingle, direct adhesion between the shingle and the roof deck or underlayment and/or other roofing shingles can be achieved. If the shingle is laminated, the layers may be mechanically attached with indentations in the common bond area. The nail zone of the shingle may be visually indicated with fines and/or one or more paint lines. A roofing system comprising a plurality of courses of the shingles is also disclosed.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a roofing system. In some embodiments, the roofing system includes a first roofing material, wherein the first roofing material comprises a top surface and a bottom surface. In some embodiments, the top surface of the first roofing material comprises a nail zone with a plurality of fines. In some embodiments, the roofing system includes a second roofing material, wherein the second roofing material comprises a top surface and a bottom surface. In some embodiments, the bottom surface of the second roofing material comprises a plurality of fines. In some embodiments, the roofing system comprises and a patterned adhesive, which directly contacts at least a portion of the plurality of fines in the nail zone and at least a portion of the plurality of fines on the bottom surface of the second roofing material.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a roofing material, wherein the roofing material may comprise a plurality of coated roofing granules, wherein each of the plurality of the coated roofing granules may comprise a roofing granule having an outer surface; and a granule coating, wherein the granule coating is disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the roofing granule, and wherein the granule coating comprises graphene. Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a roofing material, wherein the roofing material may further comprise a reflective base coating, wherein the reflective base coating is positioned between the outer surface of the roofing granule and the granule coating.