Two-ply coated asphalt felts were introduced since there were less moppings of bitumen to be applied and less labor to install. In 1973-1974, we were faced with an oil embargo. Water-based white coatings such as White-Gard and Star-White were offered as a substitute for the aluminum coatings, but these were stained by migration of the bitumen into the coating and were not elastic enough to accommodate movement of the bitumen sub-surface. Where the flood coat and gravel surface was inconvenient, substitution of asbestos or fiber glass reinforcements permitted the omission of gravel, with asphalt-aluminum roof coatings or clay-stabilized asphalt emulsions used for UV protection.Ĭut-back coatings such as solvent-asphalt-fiber systems were incorporated. This screened UV light and greatly improved fire resistance.īy the 1950s, a coated base felt was introduced, replacing the “two dry, three mopped” roof systems over wood decks. Since bitumens are vulnerable to ultra-violet imbrittlement, these membranes were surfaced with a flood coat of bitumen into which gravel or slag was embedded. Was the system simple, durable, inexpensive and welcomed by all? Actually, it was and still is. The original reinforcement was called “organic felt,” a paper-like product consisting of waste paper, cotton linters, and asplund wood fibers. Roofing systems originally consisted of alternate layers of hot bitumen and reinforcement. Asphalt, a by-product of processing petroleum to make gasoline, fuel oil, and various hydrocarbon polymers, was also popular. Coal tar pitch was a by-product of processing coal to make coke, which in turn was used in making carbon steel and electrodes for the aluminum industry. For low slope bituminous roofing systems, what goes around really does come around.īack in the pre-World War II years, there were two bituminous substances (bitumens) that dominated the roofing industry. But who would have been conscious of ozone depletion, sources of smog, global warming, urban climate change, LEED, OSHA, asbestosis, mesothelioma, toxicity of arsenic, lead, and chromium, recycling, emissivity, and albedo a few decades ago?Īctually, that material does exist – and it’s still in use today. If this item existed, we probably would have favored it for decades. Tarconite is also available in Neyra’s cool weather formula, providing exceptional curing in cooler temperatures down to 40☏.What’s simple, durable, expensive, and welcomed by a wide swath of the roofing industry? Make your property safer, cleaner, more attractive and longer-lasting. Shield pavement against the elements that cause cracks and potholes. Keep spills from infiltrating the surface. When appearance and protection are foremost in your mind, invest in Tarconite.īlock out the damaging effects of the sun. Locking out spills and protecting against the elements, Tarconite delivers a rich, smooth, black finish that’s unparalleled in the marketplace, year after year. For more than 40 years, thousands of businesses and individuals have made Tarconite their first line of defense to protect the longevity and beauty of millions of acres of asphalt pavement throughout the world.

Coal tar vs asphalt emulsion