Abstract: This invention, in embodiments, relates to a roofing system that includes a roof deck, a plurality of tapered insulation panels applied onto the roof deck, at least one non-tapered insulation panel applied onto the plurality of tapered insulation panels, and a membrane layer applied onto the at least one non-tapered insulation panel. This invention, in embodiments, further relates to a roof assembly kit that includes a plurality of tapered insulation panels and instructions for installation, as well as a method of installing such a roofing system.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to roofing systems. In some embodiments, the roofing system includes a deck, a roofing material, and an underlayment configured to be positioned between the roofing material and the deck. In some embodiments, the underlayment comprises a foil layer and an adhesive layer that is attached to the foil layer and configured to be attached to the deck. Methods of manufacturing roofing systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module incorporates a lamination including a back-sheet, an array of solar cells supported on the back-sheet, and a transparent protective covering over the array of solar cells. The solar cells are arranged in offset or staggered patterns on the back-sheet to present a more random and less rigid industrial appearance to an observer. In some cases, cleaved solar cell segments are arranged into groups that are staggered on the back-sheet. This allows for finer control of the net voltage produced by a module. In other embodiments, full single wafer solar cells are arranged into larger groups, which themselves are staggered on the back-sheet. In either case, the result is a photovoltaic module with an appearance that is more organic and acceptable to homeowners and architects than traditional modules having cells arranged in rigid aligned rows and columns.

Abstract: A roofing system including a cap shingle and methods of producing a cap shingle and forming a roof are disclosed. In one embodiment, the cap shingle can include at least one layer of shingle material including an upper surface having a headlap portion and an exposure portion, and a lower surface. A sealant can be applied along the lower surface and a sealant attachment zone can be positioned along the upper surface of the at least one layer of shingle material between the headlap and exposure portions. The sealant attachment zone can be configured to contact a sealant applied along a lower surface of a next cap shingle to promote adhesion between the cap shingles installed along a ridge, hip, or cap of the roof.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a roofing system. In some embodiments, the roofing system includes a first roofing material, wherein the first roofing material comprises a top surface and a bottom surface. In some embodiments, the top surface of the first roofing material comprises a nail zone with a plurality of fines. In some embodiments, the roofing system includes a second roofing material, wherein the second roofing material comprises a top surface and a bottom surface. In some embodiments, the bottom surface of the second roofing material comprises a plurality of fines. In some embodiments, the roofing system comprises and a patterned adhesive, which directly contacts at least a portion of the plurality of fines in the nail zone and at least a portion of the plurality of fines on the bottom surface of the second roofing material.

Abstract: A hail resistant roofing system and method includes a roofing substrate such as a shingle or tile or membrane having an array of exposed upwardly projecting features. The features may rise to sharp points and may have side surfaces that are angled relative to the plane of the roofing substrate. The features are spaced and arranged so that a large hail stone capable of damaging the roofing substrate will always impact one or more of the exposed features. This can break up the hail stone into smaller benign pieces or can redirect the energy and direction of the hail stone so that the impact is absorbed without damage to the roofing substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for drying asphalt shingle waste are provided. A method comprises obtaining an asphalt shingle waste, exposing the asphalt shingle waste to microwaves emitted by a microwave dryer, and processing the asphalt shingle waste into a processed asphalt shingle waste. The asphalt shingle waste has a first moisture content at an inlet of the microwave dryer. The asphalt shingle waste has a second moisture content at an outlet of the microwave dryer. The second moisture content of the asphalt shingle waste is less than the first moisture content of the asphalt shingle waste.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for manufacturing and using roofing membranes that are faster and easier to install than conventional adhesive-only membrane materials. In some embodiments, membrane materials are surface treated using a plasma flow, e.g., a blown-arc plasma flow, atmospheric plasma, corona plasma, or from portable plasma units, generated by passing a compressed plasma-generating gas through an electrical current to form the plasma-treated roofing membrane. The plasma treatments described herein may be applied as part of the manufacturing process, or in-situ at the site of roof installation. In some embodiments, membrane materials have surface chemistries, roughnesses and other surface characteristics that yield desired adhesion properties.

Abstract: A system including a first roofing material installed on the roof deck; a second roofing material installed on the roof deck, adjacent to the first roofing material, where the second roofing material includes: a first layer comprising silicone; and a first substrate, where the first layer partially covers a surface of the first substrate, thereby to provide at least a first area of the surface of the first substrate not covered by the first layer, where the first roofing material overlaps at least a portion of the first area; and a flashing material including silicone, where the flashing material covers a portion of each of: the first roofing material, the first layer of the second roofing material, and the first area of the second roofing material.

Abstract: A roofing system has metal roofing shingles that have formed side lap features that are configured to facilitate alignment of adjacent side lapped metal roofing shingles of a shingle installation along a roofing structure and that couple the metal roofing shingles together and form seals and seams along their side lapped peripheral edges. The metal roofing shingles also can have alignment features that cooperate to align shingles in one course with shingles in a next lower course within their headlap regions. The roofing system also has standing seam features configured to couple to the metal roofing shingles to cover the formed seams.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a roofing system. In some embodiments, the roofing system includes a roofing membrane, which may include a cap, a scrim, and a core. In some embodiments, the roofing system may also include an adhesive film, which may include a first adhesive layer adhered to the roofing membrane, a second adhesive layer configured to adhere the roofing membrane to a roofing substrate, and a barrier layer positioned between the first and second adhesive layers. Methods of manufacturing roofing systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides systems and methods enabling unmanned vehicle navigation and delivery including an integrated roofing accessory integrated into a roof, the integrated roofing accessory including at least one antenna and a computing module in communication with the at least one antenna, where the computing module, when software is executed, is configured to transmit, via the at least one antenna: electronic operating instructions to at least one unmanned vehicle, and network messages related to the at least one unmanned vehicle to at least one additional integrated roofing accessory. A landing member is on the roof and the electronic operating instructions comprise: at least one landing instruction configured to cause the at least one unmanned vehicle to land on the landing member, and at least one take-off instruction configured to cause the at least one unmanned vehicle to take off from the landing member.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method comprising mixing at least one compatibilizer precursor with at least one polymer, so as to result in a polymer concentrate and mixing the polymer concentrate with asphalt, so as to result in a polymer modified asphalt (“PMA”). Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to formulations comprising a compatibilizer precursor, a polymer concentrate, PMA, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: At least some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a roofing accessory that includes a radiofrequency radiation shielding non-woven fiber composite material. The radiofrequency shielding non-woven fiber composite material includes a first fiber type that includes a conductive material, where the radiofrequency shielding non-woven fiber composite material has a sufficient amount of the first fiber type so as to result, when the radiofrequency shielding non-woven fiber composite material is positioned on a roof structure, in the radiofrequency shielding non-woven fiber composite material allowing for shielding a predetermined percentage of electromagnetic radiation passing through the roof structure. The radiofrequency shielding non-woven fiber composite material includes a second fiber type that includes a non-conductive material. The first fiber type and the second fiber type are randomly dispersed within the radiofrequency shielding non-woven fiber composite.

Abstract: Downstream uses for briquettes and other forms of asphalt shingle waste are provided. A composition is provided. The composition comprises 5% to 50% by weight of an asphalt shingle waste based on a total weight of the composition, wherein the asphalt shingle waste comprises a waste asphalt; 1% to 25% by weight of at least one filler material based on the total weight of the composition; 1% to 15% by weight of at least one polymer based on the total weight of the composition; 1% to 10% by weight of at least one stabilizer based on the total weight of the composition; and 1% to 15% by weight of at least one surfactant based on the total weight of the composition. A drilling fluid, various other asphalt products, and related methods are also provided, among other things.

Abstract: A multi-layer cap shingle for installation along a ridge, hip, or rake of a roof includes a forward exposure area and a rear headlap area. The multi-layer cap shingle includes at least two layers of shingle material, a top layer and a bottom layer each having opposed edges. The layers are bonded together with patches of lamination adhesive adjacent their opposed edges. The bottom layer is configured with a deformation-absorbing mechanism such as a pair of slots extending from a forward edge rearwardly inboard of the lamination adhesive patches. When the multi-layer cap shingle is bent over a roof ridge, the slots of the bottom layer of shingle material narrow in width to account for the fact that the bottom layer must bend around an arc of slightly smaller radius than the top layer of shingle material.

Abstract: Roofing panels with water shedding features may be installed on the roof of a house or other structure in lieu of or as an underlayment for traditional roofing materials. The water shedding features can be built into a base of the roofing panels, as part of a frame for the roofing panels, or formed as part of a waterproofing layer applied to the base of the roofing panels, or which can be configured as a roofing panel. The roofing panels also can be installed in overlapping courses along a roof with water shedding features applied thereto or incorporated along one or more peripheral edges. The water shedding features of adjacent roofing panels will collect and divert water away from the upper surfaces and/or away from headlap and/or sidelap joints defined between the roofing panels.

Abstract: A roofing system has metal shingles that have formed side lap features that are configured to facilitate alignment of adjacent side lapped metal shingles of a shingle installation along a roofing structure and that couple the metal shingles together and form seals along their side lapped peripheral edges. The metal shingles also can have alignment features that cooperate to align shingles in one course with shingles in a next lower course within their headlap regions.