Abstract: This invention relates to a novel thermoplastic profile roofing strip and an apparatus for welding the thermoplastic profile roofing strip to a thermoplastic roofing membrane.

Abstract: A ridge ventilation system includes a plurality of ridge vent sections configured to be arranged end-to-end along the ridge of a roof covering a vent slot formed therealong. Each ridge vent section has an elongated longitudinally flexible top panel with a central portion, edge portions terminating at extreme edges of the top panel, and ventilation grids extending beneath and along the edge portions spaced from extreme edges thereof. The space between the extreme edges of the top panel and the ventilation grids forms or defines an overhang configured to receive edges of shingles in a course of shingles installed next to the vent section and to inhibit the edges of the shingles from rising up. The ridge vent sections also have depending deflectors for deflecting blowing rain and snow that might enter through the ventilation grids and filter fabric may be affixed to the bottom of the ridge vent sections to provide additional deflection of rain and snow.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a novel and cost effective application of a thermoplastic heat-welding rod for welding thermoplastic standing seam profiles and other similar materials to thermoplastic roofing membrane, and providing secure attachment without roof penetration and profile/membrane separation. In addition, embodiments disclosed herein provide a welding attachment or apparatus for performing such heat-welding of thermoplastic materials. In one embodiment, an apparatus for welding a thermoplastic profile strip to a thermoplastic membrane may comprise a first nozzle configured to direct hot air along a portion of a first longitudinal edge of a horizontal base of a thermoplastic profile strip placed on a thermoplastic membrane. Also, such an apparatus may comprise a second nozzle configured to direct hot air along a portion of a second, opposing longitudinal edge of the thermoplastic profile strip.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel thermoplastic profile roofing strip and an apparatus for welding the thermoplastic profile roofing strip to a thermoplastic roofing membrane.

Abstract: An outside corner patch for TPO roofing is formed from a circular piece of TPO membrane material being vacuum formed to define an array of flutes that extend from the center of the piece toward its edges. The flutes form ridges and valleys that generally are shaped as conical sections with the apex of the conical sections located at the center of the patch. The number and size of the flutes is optimized in such a way that, when the flutes are stretched flat, the patch conforms to and fits flat against the surfaces of an outside corner formed by the intersection of a roof deck with an upward protrusion from the roof. The TPO outside corner patch is applied over the corner and thermally welded to surrounding TPO membranes on the roof deck and the protrusion to form a watertight seal at the outside corner.

Abstract: A roofing system includes battens and hangers for installing slate roofing shingles on a roof. Electrical conductors and other electronics are incorporated into the battens and the battens are connected together to form an electrical transmission grid beneath the shingles. Solar panels are installed in place of slate shingles in some locations on the roof and are configured to match or complement the surrounding slate shingles. Each solar panel includes a connector that connects the solar panel to the electrical transmission grid. The grid thus collects the electrical energy generated by all of the solar panels and delivers it for storage or use in a home. Microinverters may be coupled to smaller groups of the solar panels for converting their DC voltage to AC voltage and the outputs of the microinverters connected to a remote location for use or storage.

Abstract: A fascia vent for a roof structure includes a fascia board for attachment along the lower ends of roof rafters that support a roof deck above an attic space. The fascia vent has an exposed outside face and an inside face at least partly exposed to the attic space. In one embodiment, a plurality of slots are formed along the inside face of the fascia board with a lower end of the slots communicating with ambience along the bottom edge of the fascia board and an upper end of the slots communicating with the attic space. In another embodiment, a plurality of spaced vent pockets are formed in the inside face and a slot is formed along the bottom edge of the fascia vent communicating with the vent pockets. In still another embodiment for installing along the longer rafter tails of wider rafters, the fascia board is wider and plunge cuts are made along the bottom edge of the fascia board to form a flow path to the vent pockets and thus to an attic space.

Abstract: In accordance with the disclosed principles, a novel thermoplastic profile roofing strip and an apparatus for welding the thermoplastic profile roofing strip to a thermoplastic roofing membrane is disclosed. In one embodiment, the thermoplastic profile roofing strip may comprise a horizontal base extending longitudinally and having a notched profile. In addition, the thermoplastic profile strip may comprise a vertical central portion laterally connected at one edge and normal to the horizontal base. In such embodiments, the vertical central portion extends longitudinally along the horizontal base to provide the improved profile. Related methods of welding a thermoplastic strip to a thermoplastic membrane are also disclosed.

Abstract: A ridge ventilation system includes a plurality of ridge vent sections configured to be arranged end-to-end along the ridge of a roof covering a vent slot formed therealong. Each ridge vent section has an elongated longitudinally flexible top panel with a central portion, edge portions terminating at extreme edges of the top panel, and ventilation grids extending beneath and along the edge portions spaced from extreme edges thereof. The space between the extreme edges of the top panel and the ventilation grids forms or defines an overhang configured to receive edges of shingles in a course of shingles installed next to the vent section and to inhibit the edges of the shingles from rising up. The ridge vent sections also have depending deflectors for deflecting blowing rain and snow that might enter through the ventilation grids and filter fabric may be affixed to the bottom of the ridge vent sections to provide additional deflection of rain and snow.

Abstract: An outside corner patch for TPO roofing is formed from a circular piece of TPO membrane material being vacuum formed to define an array of flutes that extend from the center of the piece toward its edges. The flutes form ridges and valleys that generally are shaped as conical sections with the apex of the conical sections located at the center of the patch. The number and size of the flutes is optimized in such a way that, when the flutes are stretched flat, the patch conforms to and fits flat against the surfaces of an outside corner formed by the intersection of a roof deck with an upward protrusion from the roof. The TPO outside corner patch is applied over the corner and thermally welded to surrounding TPO membranes on the roof deck and the protrusion to form a watertight seal at the outside corner.

Abstract: A fascia vent for a roof structure includes a fascia board for attachment along the lower ends of roof rafters that support a roof deck above an attic space. The fascia vent has an exposed outside face and an inside face at least partly exposed to the attic space. In one embodiment, a plurality of slots are formed along the inside face of the fascia board with a lower end of the slots communicating with ambience along the bottom edge of the fascia board and an upper end of the slots communicating with the attic space. In another embodiment, a plurality of spaced vent pockets are formed in the inside face and a slot is formed along the bottom edge of the fascia vent communicating with the vent pockets. In still another embodiment for installing along the longer rafter tails of wider rafters, the fascia board is wider and plunge cuts are made along the bottom edge of the fascia board to form a flow path to the vent pockets and thus to an attic space.

Abstract: A roofing system includes battens and hangers for installing slate roofing shingles on a roof. Electrical conductors and other electronics are incorporated into the battens and the battens are connected together to form an electrical transmission grid beneath the shingles. Solar panels are installed in place of slate shingles in some locations on the roof and are configured to match or complement the surrounding slate shingles. Each solar panel includes a connector that connects the solar panel to the electrical transmission grid. The grid thus collects the electrical energy generated by all of the solar panels and delivers it for storage or use in a home. Microinverters may be coupled to smaller groups of the solar panels for converting their DC voltage to AC voltage and the outputs of the microinverters connected to a remote location for use or storage.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a novel and cost effective application of a thermoplastic heat-welding rod for welding thermoplastic standing seam profiles and other similar materials to thermoplastic roofing membrane, and providing secure attachment without roof penetration and profile/membrane separation. In addition, embodiments disclosed herein provide a welding attachment or apparatus for performing such heat-welding of thermoplastic materials. In one embodiment, an apparatus for welding a thermoplastic profile strip to a thermoplastic membrane may comprise a first nozzle configured to direct hot air along a portion of a first longitudinal edge of a horizontal base of a thermoplastic profile strip placed on a thermoplastic membrane. Also, such an apparatus may comprise a second nozzle configured to direct hot air along a portion of a second, opposing longitudinal edge of the thermoplastic profile strip.

Abstract: In accordance with the disclosed principles, a novel thermoplastic profile roofing strip and an apparatus for welding the thermoplastic profile roofing strip to a thermoplastic roofing membrane is disclosed. In one embodiment, the thermoplastic profile roofing strip may comprise a horizontal base extending longitudinally and having a notched profile. In addition, the thermoplastic profile strip may comprise a vertical central portion laterally connected at one edge and normal to the horizontal base. In such embodiments, the vertical central portion extends longitudinally along the horizontal base to provide the improved profile. Related methods of welding a thermoplastic strip to a thermoplastic membrane are also disclosed.

Abstract: A unitary single piece fascia and gutter is extruded from plastic material or a composite and is formed with a relatively flat fascia portion sized to cover the ends of rafters along an edge of a roof. A gutter portion projects upwardly and outwardly from the fascia portion and the gutter portion and fascia portion together bound and define a gutter trough for receiving rainwater and directing the rainwater to a drainage location. The fascia and gutter is installed along an edge of a roof by being positioned along the edge with the fascia portion covering the edge and the gutter portion projecting outwardly from the edge, and securing the fascia and gutter to the edge of the roof with appropriate fasteners.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel thermoplastic profile roofing strip and an apparatus for welding the thermoplastic profile roofing strip to a thermoplastic roofing membrane.

Abstract: A ridge vent with powered forced air ventilation includes a ridge vent that is configured to be installed along the ridge of a roof covering an elongated ridge slot on either side of a ridge beam of the roof. Hot air from the attic below escapes by convection through the ridge slot and is expelled to ambient atmosphere through the ridge vent. A blower is mounted in a blower opening formed at a predetermined location along the ridge vent on one side of the ridge beam. The blower includes a blower housing forming an inlet within the attic and an outlet oriented to force air upwardly through the vent slot to be expelled through the ridge vent. A pair of baffles are hingedly secured to the housing adjacent its outlet and can be hinged up for dropping the blower through the blower opening during installation, and then hinged down and attached to a roof deck covering the blower opening and a portion of the ridge slot on the other side of the ridge beam.

Abstract: An outside corner patch for TPO roofing is formed from a circular piece of TPO membrane material being vacuum formed to define an array of flutes that extend from the center of the piece toward its edges. The flutes form ridges and valleys that generally are shaped as conical sections with the apex of the conical sections located at the center of the patch. The number and size of the flutes is optimized in such a way that, when the flutes are stretched flat, the patch conforms to and fits flat against the surfaces of an outside corner formed by the intersection of a roof deck with an upward protrusion from the roof. The TPO outside corner patch is applied over the corner and thermally welded to surrounding TPO membranes on the roof deck and the protrusion to form a watertight seal at the outside corner.

Abstract: A solar insert for shingled roofs includes an insert with a generally wedge-shaped body designed to be installed beneath a shingle and a face that is exposed and extends along a lower edge of the shingle. The face preferably is angled with respect to the shingle and a solar collector in the form of a thin-film solar strip is mounted to and extends along the face. The inserts of multiple shingles are electrically coupled together to form an electrical grid for aggregating the electrical energy of the individual solar collectors and delivering it to a remote location for storage or use. In a second embodiment, a shingle has a solar collector strip mounted to its surface extending along a forward edge of the shingle, and in another, the solar collector surrounds the tabs of their shingles. The solar collectors not only generate electrical energy from the sun; they also enhance the appearance of a shingled roof by providing a look of increased thickness and texture.

Abstract: A fascia vent for a roof structure includes a fascia board for attachment along the lower ends of roof rafters that support a roof deck above an attic space. The fascia vent has an exposed outside face and an inside face at least partly exposed to the attic space. A plurality of slots are formed along the inside face of the fascia board with a lower end of the slots communicating with ambience along the bottom edge of the fascia board and an upper end of the slots communicating with the attic space. In use, hot air vented from the attic is replaced by fresh air that flows through the lower ends of the slots and into the attic space.