A device for use in creating custom tiles for installation adjacent an angled vertical surface is disclosed. An example device includes first and second elongated members coupled via a hinge configured to selectively prevent pivoting at the hinge. The device further includes a slide piece coupled to the first member and configured to slide lengthwise along the first member. The slide piece may be selectively operated to prevent movement along the first member. The slide piece may further include a body. The body may comprise a longitudinal alignment element and a perpendicular lateral alignment element that together define a recess configured to receive a corner of an installed tile. The body may further include a spacer configured to selectively extend from or retract into the body. The spacer and the lateral alignment element may define a space therebetween.

A device for use in creating custom tiles for installation adjacent an angled vertical surface is disclosed. An example device includes first and second elongated members coupled via a hinge configured to selectively prevent pivoting at the hinge. The device further includes a slide piece coupled to the first member and configured to slide lengthwise along the first member. The slide piece may be selectively operated to prevent movement along the first member. The slide piece may further include a body. The body may comprise a longitudinal alignment element and a perpendicular lateral alignment element that together define a recess configured to receive a corner of an installed tile. The body may further include a spacer configured to selectively extend from or retract into the body. The spacer and the lateral alignment element may define a space therebetween.

A method for installing a roof tile covering on a roof structure comprising: providing a plurality of roof tiles comprising a porcelain body and an attachment hole above the roof structure; placing and fixing a part of the plurality of roof tiles onto the roof structure, forming a horizontal row; interrupting the horizontal row at a distance from a hip or valley of the roof structure; cutting a roof tile to provide a triangular or trapezoidal piece comprising one or more attachment holes; placing and fixing the triangular or trapezoidal piece onto the roof structure over the hip or valley, leaving a gap between the triangular or trapezoidal piece and the plurality of roof tiles in the horizontal row; and placing and fixing at least one roof tile on the roof structure over the gap, wherein the roof tile covering comprises a plurality of horizontal rows of roof tiles.

A method for installing a roof tile covering on a roof structure comprising: providing a plurality of roof tiles comprising a porcelain body and an attachment hole above the roof structure; placing and fixing a part of the plurality of roof tiles onto the roof structure, forming a horizontal row; interrupting the horizontal row at a distance from a hip or valley of the roof structure; cutting a roof tile to provide a triangular or trapezoidal piece comprising one or more attachment holes; placing and fixing the triangular or trapezoidal piece onto the roof structure over the hip or valley, leaving a gap between the triangular or trapezoidal piece and the plurality of roof tiles in the horizontal row; and placing and fixing at least one roof tile on the roof structure over the gap, wherein the roof tile covering comprises a plurality of horizontal rows of roof tiles.

A roof integrated photovoltaic (RIPV) system has a plurality of solar tiles that are mounted to a roof. The tiles may be mounted using a metal batten and hanger system or some other attachment system. Each tile has an electrical edge junction extending reawardly from its top edge. The edge junction is coextensive with or contains the plane of the solar tile and may be slightly thicker than the solar tile. Sockets on opposed ends of the edge junction receive plugs of electrical cables for interconnecting the array of solar tiles together electrically. The edge junctions provide for a low profile installation that mimics the appearance of a traditional roofing tile such as a slate tile. The slightly thicker edge junctions may raise solar tiles of one course above the surfaces of solar tiles of a next lower course to provide ventilation for the RIPV array and to provide accommodating space for system wiring.

A roof integrated photovoltaic (RIPV) system has a plurality of solar tiles that are mounted to a roof. The tiles may be mounted using a metal batten and hanger system or some other attachment system. Each tile has an electrical edge junction extending reawardly from its top edge. The edge junction is coextensive with or contains the plane of the solar tile and may be slightly thicker than the solar tile. Sockets on opposed ends of the edge junction receive plugs of electrical cables for interconnecting the array of solar tiles together electrically. The edge junctions provide for a low profile installation that mimics the appearance of a traditional roofing tile such as a slate tile. The slightly thicker edge junctions may raise solar tiles of one course above the surfaces of solar tiles of a next lower course to provide ventilation for the RIPV array and to provide accommodating space for system wiring.

A novel cutting device useful for cutting asphalt shingles and other roofing products features a blade having a top edge, a bottom edge located on an opposite side of the blade relative to the top edge, and left and right edges; a lower cutting edge adjacent the left or right edge; an upper sharpened edge positioned above the lower cutting edge and adjacent the same edge as the lower cutting edge, wherein the upper sharpened edge and the lower cutting edge are configured for cutting; at least one inner edge emanating from the bottom edge and angled towards the top edge, wherein the inner edge is tangent to the upper sharpened edge; and at least on fin or nodule disposed between the lower cutting edge and the upper sharpened edge, wherein the bottom edge is parallel to and shorter than the top edge.

A novel cutting device useful for cutting asphalt shingles and other roofing products features a blade having a top edge, a bottom edge located on an opposite side of the blade relative to the top edge, and left and right edges; a lower cutting edge adjacent the left or right edge; an upper sharpened edge positioned above the lower cutting edge and adjacent the same edge as the lower cutting edge, wherein the upper sharpened edge and the lower cutting edge are configured for cutting; at least one inner edge emanating from the bottom edge and angled towards the top edge, wherein the inner edge is tangent to the upper sharpened edge; and at least on fin or nodule disposed between the lower cutting edge and the upper sharpened edge, wherein the bottom edge is parallel to and shorter than the top edge.

Devices configured to operate on an angled surface (e.g., a roof), and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, representative systems include an apparatus with a body assembly, an arm assembly coupled to the body assembly, and a material handling assembly coupled to the arm assembly. The body assembly can include a body frame, and a plurality of positioning assemblies coupleable to cables and configured to position and/or orient the body frame on the surface. The arm assembly includes a proximal end portion rotatably coupled to the body portion and a distal end portion opposite the proximal end portion. The material handling assembly is coupled to the distal end portion of the arm assembly and is configured to carry a surface material to be positioned on the angled surface.

Devices configured to operate on an angled surface (e.g., a roof), and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, representative systems include an apparatus with a body assembly, an arm assembly coupled to the body assembly, and a material handling assembly coupled to the arm assembly. The body assembly can include a body frame, and a plurality of positioning assemblies coupleable to cables and configured to position and/or orient the body frame on the surface. The arm assembly includes a proximal end portion rotatably coupled to the body portion and a distal end portion opposite the proximal end portion. The material handling assembly is coupled to the distal end portion of the arm assembly and is configured to carry a surface material to be positioned on the angled surface.