Abstract: A method of manufacturing a building product from a mix (6) including particulate material and a thermoplastic binder which comprises heating the mix at least to a temperature at which the thermoplastic binder in the mix liquefies, subjecting the heated thermoplastic mix to a pressing action that shapes the heated mix, and cooling the shaped heated thermoplastic mix to solidify the thermoplastic binder and form the product (FIG. 4).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a building product from a mix (6) including particulate material and a thermoplastic binder which comprises heating the mix at least to a temperature at which the thermoplastic binder in the mix liquefies, subjecting the heated thermoplastic mix to a pressing action that shapes the heated mix, and cooling the shaped heated thermoplastic mix to solidify the thermoplastic binder and form the product (FIG. 4).

Abstract: A roof tile adapted for flat-packing includes on its under surface at least one region spaced from the or each hanging nib where the tile is deeper in cross-section than any other part of the tile. The underside of the or each region is configured so that when the tile is superposed on a second said tile, the tiles lie parallel and the underside lies in substantial contact with the upper surface of the second tile and prevents the hanging nib(s) of the first tile from contacting the upper surface of the second tile. By creating a region that is deeper than the depth at the hanging nibs, no load is borne by the nibs during stacking and the risk of the nibs breaking off during stacking and/or subsequent transportation is significantly reduced. In addition, because the tiles are specifically adapted to be flat-packed, the packs are particularly stable.

Abstract: An extruded roof tile (30) has an upper surface (11), which is contoured to give the appearance of a profiled tile and which is, for example, provided by projections (32, 34) extending between the upper and lower edges (13) and (14a) respectively of the tile, and an under surface (12) having a shape which is other than a contoured shape which generally follows that of the upper surface (11) of the tile (30). For example, the under surface (12) may have a shape which corresponds to that of a flat tile.