Abstract: Algae-resistant roofing granules include a mineral core and an exterior coating including clay, colloidal silica, phosphate, a metal oxide, and a photocatalytic particulate having an average size under 100 nm. By varying the proportions of the components to the binder for the exterior coating, improved control of the pot life of the coating composition can be achieved, and the binder can be formulated to accommodate different manufacturing conditions.

Abstract: A roofing shingle includes a shingle body having a buttlap portion with a butt edge and a headlap portion with a head edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. An exposure zone extends from the butt edge toward the headlap portion and is configured to be exposed to the environment when the shingle is installed on a roof. A water impermeable sheet is attached to the shingle body and has a width, length, first end and second end. The width extends from between about the butt and head edges to beyond the head edge of the shingle body. The length extends from between about the first and second side edges to beyond the first side edge. The sheet is formed from a different material than the shingle body.

Abstract: A roofing shingle has a shingle body with a butt edge, a headlap portion, a head edge, and first and second side edges. An exposure zone has a width that extends from the butt edge toward the headlap portion and is configured to be exposed to the environment when the shingle is installed on a roof. A water impermeable sheet is attached to the shingle body. The sheet has a width with upper and lower edges. The width extends from between about the butt and head edges to beyond the head edge of the shingle body. The width of the shingle body is such that a first distance between the head edge of the shingle body and the upper edge of the water impermeable sheet is equal to or greater than the width of the exposure zone. The sheet is formed from a different material than the shingle body.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising: an encapsulated photovoltaic element having a top surface and a bottom surface, a top layer material at its top surface and a bottom layer material at its bottom surface; a roofing substrate having a top surface; and a tie layer system disposed between the encapsulated photovoltaic element and the roofing substrate and joining the bottom surface of the encapsulated photovoltaic element to the top surface of the roofing substrate.

Abstract: Roofing granules include a core having an average ultraviolet transmission of greater than 60 percent and an average near infrared reflectance of greater than 60 percent and a UV coating layer on the exterior surface. The coating provides UV opacity, while the core provides near infrared reflectance.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to electrical systems. The present invention relates more particularly to electrical wiring systems suitable for use in roofing applications. One aspect of the invention is a wiring system on a roof comprising a roof deck having a slope and one or more roofing elements disposed on the roof deck, the wiring system including one or more wires extending along the roof on top of the roofing elements; and a wire covering disposed over the one or more wires.

Abstract: An exterior surface covering has a colored outer layer that transmits infrared radiation and an inner layer with a thermochromic pigment that absorbs heat at low temperature and reflects at high temperatures. The outer layer conceals the color change of the thermochromic pigment.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for producing a continuous filament reinforced thermoplastic profile having consistent cross section. A continuous reinforcing filament is pre-wetted with a first thermoplastic resin and introduced into a die, where it is contacted with a second thermoplastic resin extruded from an extruder at melt state. The temperature of the die is carefully controlled so that the pre-wetted filament and first resin do not cure or solidify until after they have contacted and mixed with the second thermoplastic resin. The mixture temperature is then controlled to make a substantially solidified profile pre-shape. A capping layer comprising a third thermoplastic resin is then co-extruded onto the outer surface of the pre-shape. A multistage die for bringing together the filament and thermoplastic resins and for maintaining appropriate temperatures at each stage of the profile-forming process is also disclosed.

Abstract: An asphalt-based sheet roofing material includes capsules on its upper surface. When struck, as by hailstones, the capsules break to release a film forming fluid that spreads over the surface to heal the damage created by the hailstones.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for producing a continuous filament reinforced thermoplastic profile having consistent cross section. A continuous reinforcing filament is pre-wetted with a first thermoplastic resin and introduced into a die, where it is contacted with a second thermoplastic resin extruded from an extruder at melt state. The temperature of the die is carefully controlled so that the pre-wetted filament and first resin do not cure or solidify until after they have contacted and mixed with the second thermoplastic resin. The mixture temperature is then controlled to make a substantially solidified profile pre-shape. A capping layer comprising a third thermoplastic resin is then co-extruded onto the outer surface of the pre-shape. A multistage die for bringing together the filament and thermoplastic resins and for maintaining appropriate temperatures at each stage of the profile-forming process is also disclosed.

Abstract: Synthetic polymer based roofing elements of the shingle or tile type are provided whereby adjacent roofing elements have projecting tabs or nibs that are adapted to engage against side edges of adjacent shingles or tiles when laid up in courses on a roof, and wherein there are relatively flexible stress relief zones in the shingle or tile adjacent the tab or nib projections, adapted to be deformed within their elastic limit when the shingles or tiles are subjected to stresses due to thermal expansion and contraction, with the stress relief zones also being adapted to return to their original non-deformed condition when such thermal expansion and contraction forces are relieved.

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: A roofing product can include a substrate and a heater. The roofing product may be placed along portions of a roof where heat can help to reduce the likelihood of water freezing into ice while along a roof. In an embodiment, the heater can be located in a headlap portion of the roofing product. A roofing product can include plurality of heaters that can provide sufficient heating should a particular heater fail. Method of fabricating the roofing product can be adapted for a fabrication line that can operate continuously.

Abstract: A roofing product can include a substrate and a heater. The roofing product may be placed along portions of a roof where heat can help to reduce the likelihood of water freezing into ice while along a roof. In an embodiment, a hinge can be used in a roofing product to aid in folding of the roofing product or to retain a non-planar shape of the roofing product. The roofing product may or may not include a self-adhesive backing. A roofing product can include plurality of heaters that can provide sufficient heating should a particular heater fail. Method of fabricating the roofing product can be adapted for a fabrication line that can operate continuously.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes an encapsulated photovoltaic element and an infrared-transmissive decorative overlay simulating conventional roofing.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices, and more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising a roofing substrate; one or more photovoltaic cells disposed on the roofing substrate; and a colored or patterned layer disposed on the roofing substrate and visible in the area surrounding the photovoltaic cells; and an encapsulant layer disposed over the photovoltaic cells and the patterned colored layer.

Abstract: A hip, ridge or rake shingle is provided, in which a pair of substantially rigid panel portions are connected by a hinge portion, and wherein the shingle is pre-assembled, but can conform to a variety of different angles to accommodate different angular relationships between surfaces of a hip, ridge or rake of a roof. The substantially rigid panel portions are connected by a hinge and may or may not have a reinforcement member, and all of the panels, hinges and reinforcement members are of synthetic thermoplastic polymeric construction and are welded together by ultrasonic or vibratory welding techniques.

Abstract: A plurality of hip, ridge or rake shingles, and the shingles produced thereby and stacks and packages of such shingles are provided. An adhesive impregnated mat is moved longitudinally, and granules are provided onto adhesive, in predetermined bands. An overlay band of adhesive, continuous or discontinuous is provided, with granules thereon, increasing the thickness of the shingle material being made, in predetermined bands, relative to the remainder of the shingle material. The shingle material is slit longitudinally, and one portion can be laminated to another portion, preferably creating a multiple-ply laminated shingle material with thickened overlay portions and optionally with shadow line portions. The material is then slit longitudinally, and cut transversely into a plurality of hip, ridge or rake shingles, which may be individually separated from each other, or which may comprise a plurality of connected together shingles. The shingles are then stacked and wrapped.

Abstract: The present invention relates particularly to photovoltaic roofing systems in which photovoltaic elements are integrated on a roof deck with conventional roofing materials. In one aspect, a photovoltaic roofing system includes a two-part tee element disposed on a roof deck, the two-part tee element comprising a base piece including a central portion; two opposed horizontally-extending first and second flanges extending from the central portion, and a top piece attachment feature formed in the central portion, and a top piece including a base piece attachment feature mated with the top piece attachment feature of the base piece; and a vertically extending portion extending from the base piece attachment feature. A first photovoltaic element can be disposed on the roof adjacent the base piece with its edge disposed on the horizontally-extending first flange of the base piece of the two-part tee element.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to roofing products. The present invention relates more particularly to roofing products for use with photovoltaic elements, and to photovoltaic systems that include one or more photovoltaic elements joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, a roofing product includes a flexible roofing substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more granule-coated zones thereon capable of acting as a receptor zone or an exposure zone, each zone being adapted to receive one or more photovoltaic elements; and an adhesive suitable for securing photovoltaic elements to one or more of the granule-coated zones, the adhesive capable of forming a bond to the granules and the top surface of the flexible roofing substrate and to the bottom surface of the photovoltaic elements.