Abstract: A process for preparing roofing granules includes forming kaolin clay into green granules and sintering the green granules at a temperature of at least 900 degrees Celsius to cure the green granules until the crystalline content of the sintered granules is at least ten percent as determined by x-ray diffraction.

Abstract: A method of injection molding a building product includes providing an injection mold with a plurality of gates located adjacent a perimeter of the injection mold. The method further includes commingling a first material and a second material into a flow, the second material comprising a color that contrasts with a color of the first material and injecting the commingled flow into the plurality of gates to form a building product. Thereafter, the method includes removing the building product from the injection mold. The second material extends through an interior of the building product and appears as contrasting streaks on an exterior of the building product to form a variegated grain appearance. The method also includes notching a portion of the building product, such that the building product has a substantially linear grain in an exposed portion thereof.

Abstract: A roofing product can include a heater. In an embodiment, the heater can have different areas that have different heat flux capacities, different portions having heater elements of different lengths or a combination thereof. The roofing product can be installed so that an area of the roof that has a higher heat load, such as near an eave and a valley of the roof, can receive more heat. In another embodiment, the roofing product includes an overhang section that includes at least a portion of the heater. The roofing product can be installed, and the overhang section can be coupled to an object that extends beyond an edge of the roof or over a plane defined by a roof. Many different manufacturing techniques can be used to form the heaters.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to coating compositions, coated articles, and methods in which the coated article is adapted to exhibit a particular permeance profile, such as, for example, a variable water vapor perm rating of about 1 perm or less at 25% average RH and about 15 perms or more at 95% average relative humidity, as tested by ASTM E96 at 21° C.

Abstract: A method of forming an asphalt mixture can include mixing a bio-source material and a bitumen source to form a bitumen mixture. The bitumen mixture can be mixed with a catalyst to form the asphalt mixture. Particles can be added to the asphalt mixture to form a roofing-grade asphalt mixture. In an embodiment, the bitumen source material can have a softening point of at least approximately 93° C. and a penetration distance no greater than approximately 25 dmm. In another embodiment, the roofing-grade asphalt mixture can have a softening point of at least approximately 104° C., a penetration distance no greater than approximately 12 dmm, a viscosity of at least approximately 3000 cps at a temperature of 204° C., or any combination thereof. The asphalt mixture can be applied to a base material to form a roofing product. The asphalt mixture can be applied as a pavement product.

Abstract: A method of forming a roofing-grade asphalt mixture can include mixing a bio-asphalt including a partially oxidized bio-source material, a bitumen source material different from the bio-asphalt, and particles to form the roofing-grade asphalt mixture. In an embodiment, the bitumen source material can have a softening point of at least approximately 102° C. and a penetration distance no greater than approximately 20 dmm. In another embodiment, the roofing-grade asphalt mixture can have a softening point of at least approximately 104° C., a penetration distance no greater than approximately 12 dmm, a viscosity of at least approximately 3000 cps at a temperature of 177° C., or any combination thereof. The roofing-grade asphalt mixture can be applied to a base material to form a roofing product.

Abstract: An injection molded product is disclosed and includes a shingle resembling a cedar shingle tile formed from an amorphous or semi-crystalline thermoplastic and having a wood grain direction. The injection molded product also includes streaks in the shingle that are substantially parallel to the wood grain direction and the streaks extend through an interior of the shingle and appear as contrasting streaks on an exterior of the shingle to form a variegated wood grain appearance. The injection molded product further includes an injection molded vestige in the shingle. The injection molded vestige is located adjacent to a perimeter of the shingle and the injection molded vestige comprises a location at which material entered an injection mold through a gate.

Abstract: A roofing shingle including a lower layer including a headlap and a plurality of tabs extending from the headlap, and an upper layer including one or more fingers, wherein the one or more fingers are disconnected from one another, and wherein each of the one or more fingers is disposed on one tab of the plurality of tabs, wherein a number of the plurality of tabs is different than a number of the one or more fingers. In an embodiment, the lower layer is a lowermost layer of the roofing shingle. In another embodiment, the roofing shingle further includes an alignment feature disposed in an exposure zone of the roofing shingle, wherein the alignment feature is adapted to permit alignment of adjacent roofing shingles during installation on a roof.

Abstract: An insulation system and method comprising an insulation layer, an atmospheric regulation layer, a structural support, and an external surface; wherein the atmospheric regulation layer is supported by the structural support, wherein the insulation layer is located between the atmospheric regulation layer and the external surface, wherein the atmospheric regulation layer has a water vapor permeability of not greater than 3 perms at a relative humidity of 25% as measured by ASTM E96 Procedure A Dry Cup, and a water vapor permeability of at least 6 perms at a relative humidity of 75% as measured by ASTM E96 Procedure B Wet Cup, wherein the atmospheric regulation layer has a fire class A rating as measured by ASTM E84, and wherein the continuous atmospheric regulation layer has a ACH50 value of not greater than 10, wherein ACH50 represents an air exchange at 50 Pascals.

Abstract: An insulation product may include a container, a first insulation material forming a first layer inside the container, and a second insulation material forming a second layer inside the container, and the first layer is compressed by the second layer. A structure in a building may include studs, first and second claddings mounted to opposite sides of the studs, and structure spaces defined between the studs and the opposing claddings. A first insulation material may include first layers on and substantially covering a first one of the claddings inside the structure spaces. In addition, a second insulation material may have second layers inside the structure spaces. The first layers are compressed and substantially covered by the second layers, and the second layers substantially cover a second one of the claddings inside the structure spaces.

Abstract: A thermal bridge-free insulation assembly may include hangers to support insulation in an attic. The hanger may include an axis, a proximal end coupled to a rafter, and a distal end coupled to a barrier. The hanger also may include at least two components that are axially movable relative to each other to selectively adjust a depth of an insulation space.

Abstract: A corner siding product may include a plurality of panels. Each panel may include a front face with a simulated pattern and an inner wall formed along a perimeter of the panel. The corner siding product may further include a clip that is configured engage each panel to hold the panels together and form a corner.

Abstract: A method of making a plurality of composite granules can include: forming green body granules comprising an aluminosilicate; heating the green body granules to form sintered granules; cooling the sintered granules according to a cooling regime, wherein the cooling regime comprises a temperature hold between 700° C. and 900° C. for at least one hour. In a particular embodiment, the aluminosilicate for making the composite granules can have a particle size less than 150 ?m. The composite granules are particularly suitable as roofing granules and can have a desired combination of high solar reflectance SR and low lightness L*, a low bulk density, good weather resistance and strength.

Abstract: A method of fabricating panels includes providing an insert having an interior portion with a top portion and a positioning stop opposite the top portion, and an exterior portion including a fastener hem. Further, the method includes placing the insert in a mold such that only the fastener hem and the positioning stop contact the mold and centering the insert in the mold with the top portion and the positioning stop. The method also includes filling the mold with a casting material such that the interior portion is submerged in the casting material including the top portion, but some of the positioning stop is not submerged in the casting material, curing the casting material to form a panel on the insert, and removing the panel form the mold.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a shingle including a first bituminous sheet at the bottom surface of the shingle, the first bituminous sheet having a lower edge disposed at the lower end of the shingle, the first bituminous sheet having one or more slits extending from the lower edge of the first bituminous sheet toward the upper end of the shingle; and a second bituminous sheet at least partially laminated to a top surface of the first bituminous sheet, the second bituminous sheet having a lower edge disposed adjacent the lower end of the shingle, the second bituminous sheet having one or more tabs being defined by one or more notches formed in the second bituminous sheet, each notch extending away from the lower edge of the second bituminous sheet.

Abstract: A method of visualizing a building material is disclosed and includes visualizing of a building material on a color calibrated photograph of a building and providing a rendered image of the building material on the color calibrated photograph of the building. The rendered image has a color accuracy, ?E, as measured according to a Color Test, of less than 10. Further, the rendered image has a shadow accuracy as measured according to a Shadowing Test, of at least 75%. The Shadowing Test compares a shadow fidelity of the rendered image to the color calibrated photograph at least partially based on luminance angle and intensity and one or more rendered shadows are measured for accuracy of size and luminance.

Abstract: An injection molded product is disclosed and includes a shingle resembling a cedar shingle tile formed from an amorphous or semi-crystalline thermoplastic and having a wood grain direction. The injection molded product also includes streaks in the shingle that are substantially parallel to the wood grain direction and the streaks extend through an interior of the shingle and appear as contrasting streaks on an exterior of the shingle to form a variegated wood grain appearance. The injection molded product further includes an injection molded vestige in the shingle. The injection molded vestige is located adjacent to a perimeter of the shingle and the injection molded vestige comprises a location at which material entered an injection mold through a gate.

Abstract: A roofing shingle has side edges, an upper unexposed area, and a lower exposed area. The lower exposed area has a lower edge. The lower edge can include an uneven profile. The uneven profile can include a symmetry element. The symmetry element can only pertain to the course of the uneven profile.