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 roofing elements and methods for making them. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a roofing element in the form of a roofing shingle that includes a body of a foamed cured cross-linked polymer, the body having a top surface and a bottom surface, the body extending substantially in a plane and having a thickness in the range of 0.5 mm to 35 mm; and a layer of weather-resistant roofing granules disposed on and adhered at the top surface of roofing element. The roofing element can be made by providing a body of wet foamed curable composition, and allowing the curable composition to cure to provide the body of foamed cured cross-linked polymer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cladding for covering a building surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a method of manufacturing a building surface panel. The method includes providing a foam piece having a 30 day/23° C. residual shrinkage of no more than 0.2%. The foam piece having the 30 day/23° C. residual shrinkage of no more than 0.2% is attached to a rear side of an outer shell so as to form the building surface panel. In some embodiments, a front side of the outer shell forms a visible surface of the building surface panel. The foam piece can be provided, e.g., by aging the foam piece for a time and at a temperature such that the 30 day/23° C. residual shrinkage is no more than 0.2%. The foam piece to be aged can, in some embodiments, be cut from a body of foam.

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 cladding for covering a building surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly a method of manufacturing a building surface panel. The method includes providing a foam piece having a 30 day/23° C. residual shrinkage of no more than 0.2%. The foam piece having the 30 day/23° C. residual shrinkage of no more than 0.2% is attached to a rear side of an outer shell so as to form the building surface panel. In some embodiments, a front side of the outer shell forms a visible surface of the building surface panel. The foam piece can be provided, e.g., by aging the foam piece for a time and at a temperature such that the 30 day/23° C. residual shrinkage is no more than 0.2%. The foam piece to be aged can, in some embodiments, be cut from a body of foam.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cladding for covering a building surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly to flat siding panels that form a visible surface over a support structure. The siding panel includes a panel body having a front wall extending across the length and height of the panel body. Each of an upper wall, lower wall, first side wall, and second side wall extends rearward from the front wall along edges of the panel body. The panel body also includes a support projection disposed between the upper wall, lower wall, first side wall, and second wall and extending rearward from a rear surface of the front wall. A fastening strip is coupled to the upper wall of the panel body. An upper lock is disposed along a top edge of the panel body, and a lower lock is disposed along a bottom edge of the panel body.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to building surface panel systems, for example, suitable for covering a building surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a building surface panel kit for attachment to a support structure. The building surface panel kit includes a clip configured to secure the building surface panel system to the support structure. The kit also includes a first building surface panel having first and second ends, a front face, and a rear face.

Abstract: A roofing system includes a plurality of riser blocks disposed on a support surface. The riser blocks include a group that is aligned in a row. A batten extends along the row and is supported by the group of riser blocks. The batten includes a first clip portion. A group of roofing panels is disposed along the row and is supported by the batten. Further, each of the roofing panels of the group includes a front surface, a rear surface, and a second clip portion extending from the rear surface. The second clip portion is configured to engage the first clip portion of the batten so as to secure the roofing panels to the batten.

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: The present disclosure relates to roofing shingles and palleted pluralities thereof that have a reduced susceptibility to damage during shipment.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a recycled asphalt shingle pellet can include a core including a recycled asphalt shingle waste and a softening agent; and a shell including no greater than 5% recycled asphalt shingle waste. The recycled asphalt shingle pellets can be a part of a batch of recycled asphalt shingle pellets having a large fiberglass sieve factor, FL, of at least 98.2 wt. %. The batch can also have a small fiberglass sieve factor, Fs, of at least 99.1 wt. %.

Abstract: A siding panel includes a hanger section adjacent to an upper edge and a lower locking section adjacent to a lower edge. When installed, the lower locking section of an upper siding panel partially overlaps, extends into, and interlocks with a hanger section of a lower siding panel in an interference fit.

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: Methods and systems for real-time visualization of building structures are disclosed. A computing system may calculate physical illumination characteristics for each of a plurality of predefined virtual external building-surface elements layered in simulation at specified surface locations of a virtual three-dimensional (3D) model of a building structure, wherein the virtual 3D model is constructed based on data descriptive of the building structure. Each of the plurality of predefined virtual external building-surface elements may be associated with its calculated illumination characteristics in a database. A spatially-manipulable rendered image of the building structure may displayed on an interactive display in real-time based on the virtual 3D model. On the interactive display device, one or more of the plurality of the predefined virtual external building-surface elements may be rendered in real-time at respectively specified locations on the rendered image.

Abstract: A method of forming an asphalt mixture includes mixing a polyol with a bio-source material to form a bio-asphalt. The method can further include mixing the bio-asphalt with a bitumen source different from the bio-asphalt to form an asphalt mixture. The bio-source material can include an oil, such as a vegetable oil, an animal fat, or any combination thereof. The bitumen source can include a petroleum-based asphalt. The method can further include adding a modifier, such as a fatty acid, a polycarboxylic acid, a polyacrylic acid, a polyacrylate comprising a copolymer, or any combination thereof. Moreover, a roofing grade asphalt mixture includes a bio-asphalt. The bio-asphalt includes an alkyd, wherein the alkyd is a reaction product of a polyol and a bio-source material. The roofing grade asphalt mixture further includes a bitumen source material and particles.

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.