Abstract: A lightweight roofing shingle or tile having an elongated body with top and bottom surfaces that taper lengthwise of the body as provided by beveling of underside ribs. The shingle or tile has a composition consisting of expanded perlite, Portland cement, and an ingredient or ingredients selected from the group consisting of pumice and expanded shale, all ingredients being mixed particulate form, hydrated and cured.

Abstract: A structural article of manufacture having a specific gravity less than about 1.5, composed of a compressed, dry cementitious composition comprising a particulate aggregate substantially free from particles smaller than about minus 80 mesh.

Abstract: A lightweight roofing shingle or tile having an elongated body with top and bottom surfaces that taper lengthwise of the body, the body having laterally spaced, elongated edges; the body having a mid-region and a recess sunk upwardly into the mid-region, from the bottom surface; the recess extending widthwise of the body to intersect the body laterally spaced edges whereby the recess is adapted to receive a batten to support the body mid-region when installed on a roof. A secondary taper on the tile bottom surface engages the roof to provide leverage resisting wind up-lift forces exerted on the lightweight tile acting to rotate the tile about a nailing point fulcrum.

Abstract: A formula of lightweight aggregates, fiber, and Portland Cement, which, when graded, prepared and mixed as described produces a lightweight, fire and thermal resistive concrete which can be successfully and easily extruded into shapes for use in construction, principally, roofing tiles, shingles and shakes. This mix can also be pressed into the same shapes and brick and block shapes. The resultant compressed product is homogeneous and uniform thus creating superior strength characteristics. This "concrete" is approximately half the weight of traditional concrete (specific weight is 0.85 to 1.0, or expressed in metric, 0.85 gr. per cc.) and is greater than half as strong and absorbs the same amount of water.

Abstract: A roof shake having an elongated body with top and bottom surfaces that extend lengthwise of the body, the body having laterally spaced, elongated edges, and opposite ends. The body bottom surfaces have a taper angled to flatly engage the roof near an upper end of the shake, whereby the shake may be nailed to the roof in spaced relation to the end so that the taper engagement with the roof provides leverage resisting wind up-lift forces exerted on the shake near a lower end of the shake installed in spaced relation to the roof. The bottom surface has hollow shallow cavities to reduce weight. The length and width are such as to reduce number of shakes in installation.