The invention relates to construction, in particular to a special tile, which provides thermal and heat insulation, not harmful to the environment, accumulates solar energy and generates electrical energy, and which can be used in the construction of roof coverings for roofs of industrial and public buildings and structures. A roof tile comprises an upper protective layer, under which a photovoltaic cell is mounted, wherein the upper protective layer is formed from polyethylene terephthalate, and the following are arranged consecutively under the photovoltaic cell: a heat-insulating and sound-insulating layer made from polyurethane foam, a cardboard layer, a technical layer formed from high-pressure polyethylene and a lower protective layer formed from polyethylene terephthalate with a metallized base. The metallized base is formed from aluminium. The upper protective layer is made transparent to allow solar energy to pass to the photovoltaic cell.

Disclosed is impact resistant roofing that utilizes a heavy glass mat substrate having a weight of at least 3.0 lbs/csf that meets high impact resistance roofing standards. The impact resistant roofing utilizes a heavy glass mat that is embedded between two layers of asphalt. The impact resistant roofing can be manufactured on standard, existing roofing lines without modification.

Disclosed is impact resistant roofing that utilizes a heavy glass mat substrate having a weight of at least 3.0 lbs/csf that meets high impact resistance roofing standards. The impact resistant roofing utilizes a heavy glass mat that is embedded between two layers of asphalt. The impact resistant roofing can be manufactured on standard, existing roofing lines without modification.

Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

A method of making a laminated shingle is provided. The method includes coating a shingle mat with roofing asphalt to make an asphalt-coated sheet, adhering a reinforcement member to a portion of the asphalt-coated sheet, covering the asphalt-coated sheet, and optionally covering the reinforcement member, with granules to make a granule-covered sheet, dividing the granule-covered sheet into an overlay sheet and an underlay sheet, wherein the overlay sheet has a tab portion normally exposed on a roof and a headlap portion normally covered-up on a roof, the headlap portion having a lower zone adjacent the tab portion and an upper zone adjacent the lower zone, and wherein the reinforcement member is adhered to the lower zone of the headlap portion and laminating the overlay sheet and the underlay sheet to make the laminated shingle.

The present disclosure relates generally to roofing elements and methods for making them. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a roofing element in the form of a roofing shingle that includes a body of a foamed cured cross-linked polymer, the body having a top surface and a bottom surface, the body extending substantially in a plane and having a thickness in the range of 0.5 mm to 35 mm; and a layer of weather-resistant roofing granules disposed on and adhered at the top surface of roofing element. The roofing element can be made by providing a body of wet foamed curable composition, and allowing the curable composition to cure to provide the body of foamed cured cross-linked polymer.

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 rearwardly 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 rearwardly 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.

This invention, in embodiments, relates to non-asphaltic coatings for roofing materials, to roofing materials made therefrom and to methods of preparing such coatings and roofing materials. By blending thermoplastic polymers with appropriate fillers and/or recycled materials, a composition is produced that can be pressed into a desired shape, or that can be additionally mixed with oils, resins and/or waxes to provide a liquid that can be poured onto an appropriate substrate.