Shingle with reinforcement layer

A shingle having front and rear 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 the asphaltic material on both front and rear surfaces 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) a generally longitudinal reinforcement second thickness layer of a substantially thinner dimension than said first thickness layer, adhered to said rear surface of said shingle, against the outer surface of granular material on the surface thereof, and extending at least substantially between right and left edges of the shingle;
• (f) said reinforcement layer extending at least partially lower than the fastening zone, toward the lower edge of the shingle and at least partially into the fastening zone toward the upper edge of the shingle;
• whereby
• (g) fasteners applied through the fastening zone will pass through the reinforcement layer.