In our line of work, we go through a lot of shingles. All kinds of shingles. Asphalt, wood shake, slate, and tile are all part of our offerings. Usually, we put those shingles on someone’s roof, but recently, our shingles got to be a part of something different.
Faye Buck’s mom contacted us to ask for help on behalf of her daughter, who it just so happens is also interested in shingles, so much so that she wanted to make shingles the centerpiece of her science fair project.
Her mom told us that she had contacted several construction companies prior to calling us trying to find someone to donate shingles for the project. Until she called us, she’d had no luck.
We were happy to jump in to help. We provided Faye with asphalt, wood, and slate shingles, and Faye did the rest.
Investigating shingles
Faye, a student at Classical Conversations, a Classical Christian Community, was assigned a science project. She had noticed her family’s energy costs were going up, and she wondered whether different types of roofing materials retained more heat than others.
Once she had her shingles in hand, Faye set up an experiment where she covered four cardboard boxes with different roofing materials: asphalt shingles, wood shingles, slate shingles, and a mixture of straw and mud. She attached a thermometer to each box as well as to an uncovered box (because every experiment should have a control) and set them out in the sun and measured the temperature each day for five days.
Faye’s Findings
Faye’s results were interesting. Her experiment showed the average temperature of all the boxes fell between 51 and 57 degrees Fahrenheit. The average temperature for each material was:
- Asphalt – 56.2°F
- Wood – 56.2°F
- Slate – 55.4°F
- Mud/Straw – 55.2°F
- Control – 51°F
Faye concluded that asphalt shingles and wood shingles retained the most heat, with a temperature more than five degrees higher than the control. Slate shingles were a close second. Faye concluded that asphalt and wood shingles are the best option if you’re most interested in conserving energy.
Winning with Bordner
As excited as we are about Faye’s findings, we’re most excited that Faye won first place at her science fair – and that we got to play a small part in her victory.
Because, at Bordner, we don’t just work in the greater Kansas City area, we live here, too. We do our best to be a part of the community, to give back and make Kansas City and the surrounding area a great place to live.
Whether it’s small projects like Faye’s or larger needs, Bordner prioritizes being a good neighbor and doing what we can to help when we have the resources to do so.
Our day-to-day job is providing high-quality roofing and remodeling services across the Kansas City metro, but it makes our day when we can share our love for all things shingles with someone like Faye.
And if you’re in the market for a new roof, you can put Faye’s findings to work for you. Just like in Faye’s experiment, we offer asphalt, wood, and slate roofing options that will help your home retain heat and drive those energy bills down. Give us a call today for a free estimate.
