Abstract: A siding product may include a panel having a substantially rectangular structure with a simulated pattern on a front face thereof. The panel may be formed from a polymer and may include color variegation. The panel may have a hollow back and be a single shake configuration that does not simulate more than one shake or more than one course of siding. The siding product may include a panel having a front face with a simulated pattern. The panel can include a hollow back, a longitudinal length extending in an x-direction, a lateral width extending in a y-direction, and a transverse depth extending in a z-direction. The panel can have a plurality of reinforcement ribs on the hollow back that extend longitudinally in the x-direction and transversely in the z-direction. In a version, none of the reinforcement ribs extend laterally in the y-direction.

Abstract: An injection molded product may include a corner shingle resembling a single course of tiles that differ in size. The corner shingle may be a semi-crystalline thermoplastic and having a wood grain direction. Streaks may be formed in the corner shingle that are substantially parallel to the wood grain direction. The streaks may extend through an interior of the corner shingle and appear as contrasting streaks on an exterior of the corner shingle to form a variegated wood grain appearance. In addition, an injection molded vestige may be formed in the corner shingle. The injection molded vestige may be located adjacent a perimeter of the corner shingle, and may comprise the location at which material entered an injection mold through a gate.

Abstract: A roll starter roofing product includes a starter sheet and a reinforcement component applied to the starter sheet. The starter sheet includes an adhesive portion which is operable to be adhesively applied to a roof deck surface and an overhanging portion operable to extend over an edge of the roof deck surface. The reinforcement component is operable to resist bending of the overhanging portion in a direction transverse to the edge of the roof deck surface upon installation.

Abstract: A manufactured panel includes a body having a front, back, top, bottom and side walls, the side walls extend between the front and back, and an interior volume located between the front, back, top, bottom and side walls. An insert having an interior portion is embedded within the interior volume of the body, and an exterior portion extends from the interior portion to an exterior of the body. The exterior portion includes stand-offs protruding from the body, such that at least some of the stand-offs are connected to each other inside the interior volume of the body. At least some of the stand-offs are independent and detached from each other on the exterior of the body.

Abstract: Photocatalytic roofing granules include a binder and inert mineral particles, with photocatalytic particles dispersed in the binder.

Abstract: A roof product has a thermal heat storage layer, a vent layer with channels for transferring excess heat through a length of the roof product, and a flame retardant to suppress fire through the vent layer. These three materials form a unitary structure. The roof product may have a radiant layer, the thermal heat storage layer and the vent layer to form the unitary structure. The roof products are assembled in an abutting configuration on the roof of a building. The vent layer vents excess heat from an eave of the roof up to a ridge of the roof and out to atmosphere. The roof products manage thermal energy in the roof by storing thermal heat with the unitary roof product during a heating cycle; venting excess heat through the unitary product; and releasing the stored thermal heat from the unitary product into or out of the building during a cooling cycle.

Abstract: A process of forming a building product can include providing a first layer having a first material, and providing a second layer having a second material that different from the first material, wherein the second layer has pores. The process can further include infiltrating a fluid into the pores of the second layer while the first layer is present and adjacent to the second layer, wherein the fluid includes a carbonate. The process can still further include reacting the carbonate with a metal compound within the second layer to form a metal carbonate within the second layer. In another aspect, a building product can include a first layer having a first material, and a second layer having a second material and a third material that includes a metal carbonate. The first material can be different from the second material, and the second and third materials can include the same metal element.

Abstract: A method of molding a building product may include providing an injection mold with a plurality of gates located adjacent a perimeter of the injection mold. The method may further include commingling a first material and a second material into a flow. The second material may be a color that contrasts with a color of the first material. The method may include injecting the commingled flow into the plurality of gates to form an injection molded building product, and removing the molded building product from the injection mold. In addition, the second material may extend through an interior of the molded building product and appear as contrasting streaks on an exterior of the building product to form a variegated grain appearance.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices, and more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which photovoltaic elements are affixed to roofing substrates. In one embodiment of the invention, a photovoltaic roofing panel comprising a roofing panel substrate having a top surface; and at least six discrete photovoltaic elements affixed to the roofing panel substrate with their photovoltaically-active areas exposed at the top surface of the roofing panel. Another embodiment of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing assembly comprising: a plurality of discrete photovoltaic roofing elements, each comprising one or more photovoltaic elements affixed to a roofing substrate; and a joining member, wherein the plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements are disposed on and affixed to the joining member and are electrically interconnected.

Abstract: A corner siding product may include a plurality of panels. Each panel may include a front face with a simulated pattern, a hollow back, a longitudinal length extending in an x-direction, a lateral width extending in a y-direction, and a depth extending in a z-direction. In addition, the corner siding product may include a living hinge extending in the y-direction between the panels along side edges thereof. The corner siding product can have an uninstalled configuration wherein it is substantially planar. Embodiments of the corner siding product also can have an installed configuration wherein the living hinge permits the panels to be non-planar relative to each other, such that they are complementary in shape to a corner of a building.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic arrays for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. Aspects of the present invention provide a variety of photovoltaic roofing elements and systems that include, for example, interlocking geometries to provide for water handling and integration with conventional roofing materials; and wire management features that can protect wiring and associated electrical components from physical and/or environmental damage.

Abstract: A support structure may have a base having surfaces including a top, a bottom, a front, a rear and sides. A first top slot may be formed in the top and may extend at least partially between the front and the rear. A second top slot may be formed in the top and may extend at least partially between the sides. In addition, a bottom slot may be formed in the bottom. A system for attic storage can include an attic having attic joists. A plurality of support structures, each comprising a base, may be mounted to the attic joists. At least two conventional lumber studs may be included and may extend between adjacent ones of the bases. In addition, a plurality of lumber panels may be mounted to at least one of the bases and the lumber studs.

Abstract: A roof system is secured to a roof deck on a building. The roof system has a thermal energy absorbing product including a desiccant located between the roof deck and a roof barrier. The desiccant reversibly absorbs moisture, and in response thereto, heat is released and absorbed by the desiccant to effect a thermal management of the roof system.

Abstract: A roof panel includes a planar body having top and bottom edges, with a downturn edge extending therebetween, and an opposing channel edge. The downturn edge overlays a channel edge of an adjacent panel. The bottom edge overlays a top edge of another adjacent panel. A plurality of courses extends between the channel and downturn edges. Each course includes a nesting ridge to receive the downturn edge of an adjacent panel and to position a top surface of the panel flush with adjacent panels. Surface channels and contoured ridges are defined within each course. A drain aperture of the drip edge aligns with an adjacent channel edge to direct material through the drain aperture and onto adjacent panels. A gable member engages an edge when the panel has one or fewer laterally adjacent panels, wherein the gable member is flush with the adjacent planar body.

Abstract: Provided are construction material granules. In one embodiment, the granules include a core enclosed by a layer comprising a conductive material and a layer comprising a dielectric material. Also provided are related methods of constructing such materials.

Abstract: A roofing product can include a ceramic base material and a recycled roofing material. In a particular embodiment, an open structure of the ceramic base material is filled with a bituminous material that has no greater than approximately 5 weight % of abrasive particles or 0.1 weight % metal content. The recycled roofing material can be disposed along one or both sides of the ceramic base material. The bituminous material may have a characteristic particle size that is smaller than a characteristic particle size of the recycled roofing material. In another embodiment, the roofing product having the recycled roofing material can have tear strength characteristics as compared to a different roofing product having a substantially the same construction but having abrasive particles embedded within the ceramic base material.

Abstract: A roofing granule can include a base particle having a base material and a layer covering the base particle of the roofing granule. The layer can has a first material and a second material that includes a metal carbonate, wherein the first and second materials include a same metal element, and the base material is different from the first material. In a process of forming the roofing granule, the layer can have pores. The process can include infiltrating a fluid into the pores of the layer while the base particle is present and adjacent to the layer, wherein the fluid includes a carbonate. The process can further include reacting the carbonate with a metal compound within the layer to form a metal carbonate within the layer. The roofing granules can be used in roofing products.