From Michigan Invention to Modern Roof Science: How RoofRestor Revives Aging Asphalt Shingles
- john01077
- Jun 28
- 3 min read
A Michigan Innovation That Changed Roofing
The history of asphalt shingles starts in Michigan.
Around 1902, Henry M. Reynolds of Grand Rapids, Michigan, revolutionized roofing when he cut rolls of asphalt-saturated felt into smaller, individual pieces, inventing the first asphalt shingles. His invention offered:
Better water shedding than rolled roofing
A more attractive, layered look
Easier installation
Lower cost than wood or slate
By the 1920s, asphalt shingles were manufactured nationwide—with early production and innovation centered in Michigan, especially around Grand Rapids and Detroit.
Manufacturers added colored granules for UV protection and aesthetics, helping shingles gain popularity quickly. Today, they remain the most common residential roofing material in North America—thanks to Michigan innovation.
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The Oil Origins of Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles owe their existence to the heaviest part of the oil refining process.
When crude oil is distilled in a refinery, it’s separated into layers:
Light fractions: gasoline, kerosene, diesel
Medium fractions: lubricating oils
Heavy fractions: residue left after everything lighter is removed
This heavy residue, called vacuum residuum, is the raw material used to make asphalt. For roofing, this asphalt is often air-blown (exposed to hot air) to increase its softening point and durability, making it suitable for shingles.
So every shingle on a roof today comes from the very bottom of the oil barrel—the leftovers after refining fuels and lighter oils.
How Shingles Age Over Time
Asphalt shingles contain three types of oil fractions:
Light Oils (Volatiles): Evaporate quickly in sun and heat, leading to early flexibility and adhesion loss.
Medium Oils (Resins): Harden over time due to oxidation, making asphalt brittle and prone to cracking.
Heavy Oils (Asphaltenes): Remain in the shingle but become more concentrated and tend to clump together, creating a stiff, brittle asphalt layer.
As shingles lose these essential oils, they become:
Less flexible
More prone to cracking
Vulnerable to granule loss
Less able to protect the roof from moisture and UV damage
RoofRestor: A Modern Solution
RoofRestor™, manufactured by BioBased Spray Systems in Sidney, Ohio, was developed to address exactly these aging processes. Its formula is designed to restore the flexibility and protective properties lost as asphalt ages.
How RoofRestor Works
Uses soybean oil as the primary rejuvenator to replace lost light oils and help soften medium oils.
Contains Limonene—a citrus-derived solvent that improves penetration and adds light fractions similar to those lost.
Includes SBR, a synthetic rubber that improves elasticity and resistance to cracking.
Utilizes a small amount of surfactant (soap) to blend oils and water for effective spraying.
Proven Performance: PRI Test Results
In May 2024, PRI Asphalt Technologies, Inc. tested RoofRestor on 14-year-old asphalt shingles from Florida using accelerated weathering equivalent to 10 years of real-world exposure. The results speak for themselves:
✅ Mass Loss Reduced
After 3,000 hours of accelerated aging:
Untreated shingles lost 9.1% mass.
RoofRestor™ treated shingles lost just 1.0% mass.
That’s over 9 times less mass loss than untreated shingles.
✅ Granule Loss Minimized
After 3,000 hours:
Untreated shingles shed 12.41 grams of granules.
RoofRestor™ treated shingles shed only 3.94 grams.
That’s a 3.1x improvement in granule retention.
✅ Reduced Oxidative Aging
Oxidation measured by Carbonyl Index increased:
77.9% in untreated shingles
Only 9.6% in RoofRestor™ treated shingles
That’s an 8-fold reduction in oxidative aging vs. untreated shingles.
✅ Improved Flexibility
Untreated shingles remained flexible down to -22°F.
RoofRestor™ treated shingles stayed flexible down to -31°F, a significant improvement for cold-weather performance.
The Bottom Line
From Henry Reynolds’ Michigan innovation to modern lab-tested rejuvenation, the story of asphalt shingles is one of constant innovation. RoofRestor offers a proven way to extend roof life, improve performance, and reduce waste by preserving shingles that might otherwise be prematurely replaced.
By replacing lost oils and restoring flexibility, RoofRestor helps roofs perform closer to how they did when new—backed by measurable laboratory results.
Learn more about RoofRestor and how it can help extend the life of your roof at www.miroofrenewal.com or call (248) 694-8890.
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