Shingle with reinforcement layer

1. A shingle having front and rear exterior surfaces, a width defined by upper and lower edges and a length defined by right and left edges, including an upper headlap portion and a lower tab portion, comprising:

(a) a base layer of mat having front and rear surfaces;

(b) a coating of asphaltic material on both front and rear surfaces of the mat;

(c) coatings of granular material on both front and rear surfaces and adhered thereto, which, together with said base layer of mat and coatings of asphaltic material comprise a first thickness layer;

(d) a longitudinal fastening zone between right and left shingle edges, generally intermediate said upper and lower edges;

(e) an at least partially externally visible generally longitudinal reinforcement second thickness layer of a substantially thinner dimension than said first thickness layer, adhered to an exterior surface of said shingle and extending at least substantially between right and left edges of the shingle; and

(f) said reinforcement layer extending across a lower end of a headlap portion; wherein said reinforcement layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of woven or nonwoven:

(i) thin fabric;

(ii) plastic film;

(iii) paper;

(iv) parchment;

(v) foil; and

(vi) scrim.

2. The shingle of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement layer of clause (e) is adhered to the rear surface of the shingle.

3. The shingle of claim 1 , whereby fasteners applied through the fastening zone will pass through the reinforcement layer.

4. The shingle of claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement layer comprises a woven fabric.

5. The shingle of claim 4 , whereby fasteners applied through the fastening zone will pass through the fabric.

6. The shingle of claim 1 , wherein the shingle has a weight per square of at least about 235 lb.

7. The shingle of claim 1 , wherein the shingle has a weight per square selected from the group consisting of about 235 lb and about 250 lb.

8. The shingle of claim 1 , wherein the shingle has a resistance to nail pull of at least about 33 lb.

9. The shingle of claim 1 , wherein the shingle is a laminated shingle comprising upper and lower layers.

10. The shingle of claim 9 , wherein the upper layer includes one or more cutouts which form a plurality of tabs.

11. The shingle of claim 9 , whereby fasteners applied through the fastening zone will pass through the reinforcement layer.

12. The shingle of claim 9 , whereby fasteners applied through the fastening zone will pass through the upper and lower layers.

13. A roof having a shingle fastened thereto, the shingle having front and rear exterior surfaces, a width defined by upper and lower edges and a length defined by right and left edges, comprising:

(a) a base layer of mat having front and rear surfaces;

(b) a coating of asphaltic material on both front and rear surfaces of the mat;

(c) coatings of granular material on both front and rear surfaces and adhered thereto, which, together with said base layer of mat and coatings of asphaltic material comprise a first thickness layer;

(d) a longitudinal fastening zone between right and left shingle edges, generally intermediate said upper and lower edges;

(e) an at least partially externally visible generally longitudinal reinforcement second thickness layer of a substantially thinner dimension than said first thickness layer, adhered to an exterior surface of said shingle and extending at least substantially between right and left edges of the shingle; and

(f) said reinforcement layer extending at least partially into the fastening zone; wherein said reinforcement layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of woven or nonwoven:

(i) thin fabric;

(ii) plastic film;

(iii) paper;

(iv) parchment;

(v) foil; and

(vi) scrim.

14. The roof of claim 13 , wherein the reinforcement layer of clause (e) is adhered to the rear surface of the shingle.

15. The roof of claim 13 , whereby fasteners applied through the fastening zone will pass through the reinforcement layer.

16. The roof of claim 13 , wherein said reinforcement layer comprises a woven fabric.

17. The roof of claim 16 , whereby fasteners applied through the fastening zone of the shingle will pass through the fabric.

18. The roof of claim 13 , wherein the shingle is a laminated shingle comprising an upper layer and a lower layer, the upper layer including one or more cutouts which form a plurality of tabs, and whereby fasteners applied through the fastening zone will pass through the reinforcement layer and through the upper layer and the lower layer.

19. A method of making a shingle having front and rear exterior surfaces, a width defined by upper and lower edges and a length defined by right and left edges, including an upper headlap portion and a lower tab portion, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a base layer of mat having front and rear surfaces;

(b) providing a coating of asphaltic material on both front and rear surfaces of the mat;

(c) providing coatings of granular material on both front and rear surfaces and adhered thereto, which, together with said base layer of mat and coatings of asphaltic material comprise a first thickness layer;

(d) defining a longitudinal fastening zone between right and left shingle edges, generally intermediate said upper and lower edges;

(e) adhering an at least partially externally visible a generally longitudinal reinforcement second thickness layer of a substantially thinner dimension than said first thickness layer to an exterior surface of said shingle, the reinforcement layer extending at least substantially between right and left edges of the shingle; and

(f) whereby said reinforcement layer extends across a lower end of a headlap portion; wherein said reinforcement layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of woven or nonwoven:

(i) thin fabric;

(ii) plastic film;

(iii) paper;

(iv) parchment;

(v) foil; and

(vi) scrim.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the reinforcement layer of clause (e) is adhered to the rear surface of the shingle.

21. The method of claim 19 , whereby at least a portion of the longitudinal fastening zone extends across the lower end of the headlap portion such that fasteners applied through the fastening zone of the shingle will pass through the reinforcement layer.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein said reinforcement layer comprises a woven fabric.