Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to building surface panels, for example, suitable for covering a support structure of a building. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a building surface panel including a hollow panel body, a fastening strip attached to the panel body, and an overhang attached to the panel body and extending along the lower side of the building surface panel. The building surface panel includes a rear-facing engagement surface disposed at the upper side of the building surface panel and a front-facing engagement surface disposed at the lower side of the building surface panel. The front facing engagement surface is configured to engage a rear facing engagement surface of a lower neighboring building surface panel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to siding, for example, suitable for covering a wall surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a frame for a wall panel. The frame includes a support strip extending in a lateral direction across the width of the wall panel and has first and second ends. The frame also includes a row of columns extending in a first direction from the support strip. Each column includes a proximal end attached to the support strip and a free distal end. The row of columns includes a first column disposed at a first end of the row of columns and laterally offset from the first end of the support strip, and a second column disposed at a second end of the row of columns and laterally offset from the second end of the support strip.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to methods, devices and systems for insulation, e.g., of cavities associated with walls, ceilings, floors and other building structures, with foam insulation. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for providing a cavity of a building with a predetermined amount of foam insulation. The method includes actuating a valve to begin dispensing foam insulation into the cavity, the actuation being performed by a user, the actuation by the user fixing a start time and/or a zero volume of a time and/or volume meter; then, dispensing the foam insulation from the insulation dispenser into the cavity as the time and/or volume meter counts time and/or volume dispensed; then when a predetermined time after the start time elapses or a predetermined volume of the foam insulation beyond the zero volume is dispensed as measured by the time and/or volume meter, actuating the valve to stop dispensing the foam insulation into the cavity.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to flame retarding building materials and methods for making them. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to flame retarding building materials that have both flame retardant character and desirable water vapor permeability values. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a flame retardant vapor retarding membranes comprising: a building material substrate sheet having a melt viscosity of about 1 Pa·s to about 100,000 Pa·s at about 300° C. at 1 rad/s; and a polymeric coating layer disposed on the building material substrate layer, wherein the coating layer has a melt viscosity of about 1 Pa·s to about 100,000 Pa·s at about 300° C. at 1 rad/s.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for determining the density of insulation. For example, one aspect of the disclosure is a device that includes a first unit that includes a sound generator and a second unit that includes a sound sensor and a probe. The probe is configured to be inserted into insulation such that the sound sensor is outside of the insulation and is configured to detect sound that is generated by the sound generator outside of the insulation and transmitted through the insulation and the probe to the sound sensor. The device also includes a control system configured to cause the sound generator to generate the sound and to use the sound detected by the sound sensor to generate output that represents the density of the insulation.

Abstract: An example plasterboard includes a layer of hardened plaster material having a first surface and an opposed second surface and a layer of molded material having a surface that faces away from the layer of hardened plaster material. The surface of the layer of molded material has one or more raised features. The plasterboard also includes a liner between the first surface of the layer of hardened plaster material and the layer of molded material. Other examples include a method of forming such plasterboards and a method for installing such plasterboards.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to loose fill insulation installation systems, for example, suitable for installing loose fill insulation to an installation site. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a loose fill insulation hose including a first hose section, a second hose section and a first connection module including a first side attached to a distal end of the first hose section and a second side attached to a proximal end of the second hose section. The first connection module includes an interior surface including a conductive area. The loose fill insulation hose also includes a grounding wire electrically connected to the conductive area of the interior surface of the first connection module. The grounding wire is electrically isolated from the internal surface of the first hose section and the internal surface of the second hose section.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cladding, for example, suitable for covering a building surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a building surface panel including a longitudinal panel body and a fastening element. The longitudinal body extends along a length from a first end to a second end and having a first edge and a second edge. The fastening element includes a longitudinal strip extending along the first edge of the panel body, a first aperture passing through the longitudinal strip, and a first reinforcing projection extending outward from a perimeter edge of the first aperture.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to siding, for example, suitable for covering the exterior surface of a building. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a siding repair clip including a hub configured to be secured to a replacement siding panel so as to be rotatable with respect to the replacement siding panel. The siding repair clip also includes a leg extending from the hub in a first radial direction and configured to engage with a lip of a bottom lock of an upper siding panel. A positioning member extends from the hub in a second radial direction and includes a first detent configured to impede rotation of the hub with respect to the replacement siding panel. The siding repair clip further includes a rotating member configured to rotate the siding repair clip about the hub in a first circumferential direction with respect to the replacement siding panel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to surface panels for covering a building surface. The disclosure relates more particularly to a surface panel kit and system including a set of panels for attaching to a support structure. Each of the panels includes opposing ends, and each end includes one of a group of end configurations. A first end configuration is mateable with a first portion of the group and is unmateable with a second portion of the group, and a second end configuration is mateable with a third portion of the group and is unmateable with a fourth portion of the group. The set of panels includes at least three panel types including a first panel type with the first and second end configurations, a second panel type with the first and without the second end configurations, and a third panel type with the second and without the first end configurations.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to building surface panels, for example, polymer siding suitable for covering the exterior surface of a building. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a siding panel having a depth extending from a rear elevation to a front elevation. The siding panel includes a fastening strip at the upper side, an upper lock adjacent to the fastening strip, a lower lock at the lower side, and a panel body extending from the upper lock to the lower lock. The panel body has a contoured profile including an upper edge that is disposed at the front elevation and abuts the upper lock, a lower edge that is disposed at the front elevation and abuts the lower lock, and a first section disposed between the upper edge and the lower edge that projects toward the rear elevation of the siding panel to a first trough.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to siding, for example, suitable for use covering the exterior surface of a building. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a siding attachment accessory including an attachment platform having a front face and a rear face. The attachment accessory also includes at least one siding hanger extending forward from the front face of the attachment platform that is configured to hold a siding component. Each siding hanger of the attachment accessory includes a retaining arm having a proximal end attached to the front face of the attachment platform and a distal end spaced from the attachment platform.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an extruder for producing an extrudate. The present disclosure relates more particularly to an extruder including an extruder body having at least one material inlet and an exit opening. A rotatable outlet is coupled to the exit opening of the extruder body and is configured to rotate as the extrudate is expelled from the extruder body.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to methods, devices and systems for insulation, e.g., of cavities associated with walls, ceilings, floors and other building structures, with foam insulation. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for providing a cavity of a building with an expanded foam insulation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to silicone-coated mineral wool insulation materials, methods for making them using specific coating methods, and methods for using them. One aspect of the disclosure is a method for making a silicone-coated mineral wool, the method comprising: providing a mineral wool comprising a collection of mineral wool fibers; applying to the mineral wool a solvent-borne coating composition comprising a silicone, the silicone of the coating composition having a number-average molecular weight of at least 25 kDa; and allowing the solvent to evaporate to provide silicone-coated mineral wool.

Abstract: A method of making the asphalt shingles includes applying a substrate to a layer of shingle-forming material, the substrate having indicators at predetermined spaced-apart distances, with the indicators being sensed as the shingle-forming layer is moved along a predetermined path, with adhesive zones being applied to the shingle such that the application of the adhesive zones is synchronized in response to sensing the locations of the indicators, and with the shingle-forming layer then being cut into individual shingles.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is an exterior cladding panel including one or more courses of simulated shingles, a locking clip extending from a front face of the exterior cladding panel, and a locking leg extending from a rear face of the exterior cladding panel. The exterior cladding panel also includes a first plurality of tabs extending from a top edge of the exterior cladding panel, where each tab in the first plurality of tabs includes at least one projection extending approximately perpendicular to the front face. A respective top end of each tab in the first plurality of tabs extends a common distance from the top edge of the exterior cladding panel. A second plurality of tabs extends from the top edge of the exterior cladding panel, where a respective top end of each tab in the second plurality of tabs extends the common distance from the top edge.