Abstract: Roofing granules having a color coating layer are covered with a clear, transparent or translucent outer coating composition including a functional material, such nanoparticles of anatase titanium dioxide.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cladding for covering a building surface, for example suitable for covering the exterior surface of a building. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a siding panel including a panel body having a length, a width, a front face, and a rear face. The panel body further includes a first strip extending along the length of the panel body with a three dimensional surface texture. The three dimensional surface texture is a geometric pattern repeating along the front face of the panel body. The panel body includes a second strip extending along the length of the panel body adjacent to the first strip with a surface texture that is different than that of the first strip. The siding panel further includes a first lock, a second lock, and a fastening strip secured to the first lock.

Abstract: A solar thermoelectric power generation system includes roofing products such as shingles with solar heat reflective areas and roofing products with solar heat absorptive areas. Thermoelectric power generating elements are provided in thermal contact with the solar heat reflective areas and the solar heat absorptive areas.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cladding, for example, suitable for use covering the exterior surface of a building. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a siding panel including a light source. The siding panel includes a panel body having a length extending from a first end to a second end, a width extending from a first edge to a second edge, a front face, and a rear face. A first lock extends along the first edge of the panel body and a second lock extending along the second edge of the panel body. A fastening strip is coupled to the first lock. A light source extending along the length of the panel body is secured to the panel body so as to provide light from the front face of the panel body.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to polymer structures, for example, suitable for construction products. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a thermoplastic construction product including a coextruded layer structure having a base layer including a first thermoplastic material, an outer layer including a second thermoplastic material, and an infrared-reflective intermediate layer that is coextruded with the base layer and the outer layer and is disposed between the base layer and the outer layer. In some embodiments the intermediate layer has a thickness of at least 30 micrometers. In some embodiments the infrared-reflective intermediate layer includes a reflective pigment dispersed in a matrix of one of the first thermoplastic material or the second thermoplastic material.

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: The present disclosure relates generally to an insulation-retaining sheet, e.g., for blown-in insulation, that includes an integral vapor-retarding membrane. In one aspect, the disclosure provides an insulation-retaining sheet including a sheet of mesh having an air permeability of at least 200 cfm per square foot; and one or more strips of vapor-retarding membrane, the one or more strips of vapor-retarding membrane being laminated to the sheet of mesh, the first side edge each of the strips of vapor-retarding membrane extending to the first side edge of the sheet of mesh, the second side edge each of the strips of vapor-retarding membrane extending to the second side edge of the sheet of mesh, wherein the insulation-retaining sheet has a plurality of open zones extending laterally from the first side edge of the sheet of mesh to the second side edge of the sheet of mesh in which no vapor-retarding membrane is laminated to the mesh.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to insulated building structures. In one aspect of the disclosure, an insulated building structure includes a longitudinally-extending cavity bound by a first lateral surface, a second lateral surface, a back surface and a front surface, the cavity having a cross-sectional area in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of the cavity; one or more shelves extending into the cavity, each having an occluded area in the plane that is less than the cross-sectional area of the cavity; and loose-fill insulation disposed in the cavity, loose-fill insulation being positioned above and below each of the shelves.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to roofing granules, such as colored solar-reflective roofing granules, and to methods for making and their use in roofing products. One aspect of the disclosure provides a collection of colored solar-reflective roofing granules, wherein substantially each roofing granule includes an inner layer of a porous ceramic material, the pore size and material of the inner layer being selected such that the inner layer is substantially reflective of infrared radiation; and disposed about and substantially surrounding the inner layer, an outer layer of a substantially colored ceramic material, the outer layer of substantially colored ceramic material being substantially transmissive to infrared radiation, the collection of colored solar-reflective roofing granules having a L* of no more than 60 and a solar reflectivity of at least 30%.

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: One aspect of the disclosure is a siding system including a first panel having a first end and a second end, where the second end of the first panel includes a locking clip, and where the second end of the first panel forms a first portion of a channel. The siding system also includes a second panel having a first end and a second end, where the first end of the second panel includes a locking leg sized to engage the locking clip of the first panel, and where the first end of the second panel forms a second portion of the channel when the first panel and the second panel are engaged. The system also includes a batten sized to be removably engaged within the channel.

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 building surface panel including an elongate panel body having a length, a width, a front face, a rear face, a first edge, a second edge, a first end, and a second end. A lock is disposed at the second edge of the panel body and a catch disposed at the first edge of the panel body. The catch is configured to receive a corresponding lock of a neighboring building surface panel having a similar construction, where the catch includes a plurality of recesses. Each recess is configured to hold the corresponding lock in a respective position such that the catch is configured to secure the lock in any of a plurality of selectable positions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cladding, for example, suitable for use covering the exterior surface of a building. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a siding panel including a light source. The siding panel includes a panel body having a length extending from a first end to a second end, a width extending from a first edge to a second edge, a front face, and a rear face. A first lock extends along the first edge of the panel body and a second lock extending along the second edge of the panel body. A fastening strip is coupled to the first lock. A light source extending along the length of the panel body is secured to the panel body so as to provide light from the front face 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 photovoltaic module includes an encapsulated photovoltaic element and an infrared-transmissive decorative overlay simulating conventional roofing.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a method of manufacturing a siding panel including providing a siding panel having a front face, a rear face, top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, providing a support member having a top edge, a bottom edge, two side edges, a first face, and a second face, applying adhesive on a first face of the support member from one side edge of the support member to the other side edge of the support member, placing the support member on the rear face of the siding panel so the support member extends substantially from the first side edge to about ½ in. to about 2¼ in. away from the second side edge, completely securing the two side edges of a support member to the rear face of the siding panel, and laminating the support member to the siding panel.

Abstract: Processes for making algaecidal roofing granules are disclosed. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method includes providing composite nanoparticles comprising algaecidal nanoparticles and a carrier material; coating granule cores with the coating material to form a coating layer having an exterior surface; and applying the composite nanoparticles to the exterior surface of the coating layer to provide the algaecidal nanoparticles at exterior surfaces of the algaecidal roofing granules. In another aspect of the disclosure, a method includes dispersing composite nanoparticles in a coating material, the composite nanoparticles including a carrier material and algaecidal nanoparticles, then coating the granule cores with the coating material to form a coating layer; and curing the coating layer, the cured coating layer providing algaecidal nanoparticles at exterior surfaces of the algaecidal roofing granules.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to roofing granules, such as solar-reflective roofing granules having one or more of low crystalline silica content, high stain resistance and algae resistance. The present disclosure provides a mineral roofing granule having at its mineral outer surface a first fired mixture comprising an aluminosilicate clay, the first fired material having no more than 2 wt % crystalline silica. The present disclosure also provides a mineral roofing granule having a mineral body and a mineral outer surface, the mineral roofing granule having at its mineral outer surface a first fired material, the first fired material being a first fired mixture comprising an aluminosilicate clay; one or more of a feldspar, a sodium silicate and a nepheline syenite; and, optionally, a zinc source.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates more particularly to kits and systems of roofing shingles that can provide a variety of shingle coverage thicknesses and patterns while simplifying design and installation. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a roofing system comprising a first array of overlapping first shingles disposed on a roof. The system includes a first number, n>=2, of overlapping horizontally-extending courses of linearly arranged first shingles, with horizontal and vertical offsets between courses. Each first shingle includes a top headlap portion extending from the first lateral edge to the second lateral edge and a bottom tab portion formed of a plurality of tabs extending from the headlap portion toward the bottom edge of the first shingle, the bottom tab portion having an open area that is at least 20% of the total area of the bottom tab portion.