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.

Herein disclosed is an asphalt roofing shingle, adapted to be laid up in courses on a roof, comprising an upper headlap portion, a lower tab portion, vertically spaced apart upper and lower edges, laterally spaced apart right and left edges and top and bottom surfaces. The bottom surface is configured to be laid up on a roof facing the roof and the tab portion of the top surface is configured to be substantially weather-exposed when laid up on a roof. The upper headlap portion is configured to be substantially covered by the tab portion of roofing elements in a next-overlying course of roofing elements when laid up on a roof. The upper headlap portion further comprises a plurality of parallel, evenly laterally spaced, first markings, the first markings being useful, at least, for aligning adjacent shingles, cutting books of shingles, forming starter shingles from full shingles and forming a grid of shingles without external measuring devices.

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 shingle assembly for installation on a roof structure is provided. The shingle assembly can include an insulative substrate, a surface sheet coupled to and extending across a substantial portion of the insulative substrate, and a hook-and-loop fastening system comprising a hook portion and a loop portion. The hook portion or the loop portion can be coupled to and extend along the insulative substrate adjacent the surface sheet. The other of the hook portion or the loop portion can be coupled to and extend along the surface sheet. The hook portion can be configured to mate with a loop portion of a first adjoining shingle assembly and the loop portion can be configured to mate with a hook portion of a second adjoining shingle assembly.

A system and method of roofing. The present invention includes a fabric sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface includes one of a hook and loop fastener and the lower surface is configured to be attached to a roof decking. The present invention further includes a plurality of tiles each having an upper edge, a lower edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The other of the hook and loop fastener is attached to the bottom surface. The plurality of tiles are releasably attached to the upper surface of the fabric sheet via the hook and loop fasteners.

A shingle assembly includes a panel that has a front side, a back side, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge. An upper coupler is attached to and extends along the upper edge. A lower coupler is attached to and extends along the lower edge and snappily engages an upper coupler of another one of the shingle assemblies. A flange is integrally attached to and extends along the second lateral edge such that the flange and the panel form a unitary member. The flange extends laterally away from the panel. A lip is coextensive with and extends forwardly of an upper edge of the flange and inhibits water from wicking upwardly beyond the upper edge of the flange.

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 novel roof shingle tile and method of installation is presented. The roof shingle may include a first side opposite a second side, a top edge opposite a bottom groove, a top gutter, and a side gutter. The bottom groove may extend along a bottom edge of the tile that includes a bottom edge of the side gutter, and the top edge may include a tongue portion sized to fit within the bottom groove of a vertically adjacent tile. The second side may also include an overhang portion sized to overlap the side gutter of a horizontally adjacent tile. When installed, the shingle tiles may create a water resistant roof surface.

This application relates to the ventilation of a solar roof. For example, a solar roof can include a solar roof tile and a spacer, batten or other ventilating components to space the solar roof tile from the roof deck, and provide ventilation to the solar roof tile, for reduced operating temperatures and improved efficiency in electricity generation.

A shingle support according to this invention is easily aligned on and affixed to roof rafters. Once affixed, the shingle support provides a support to roofing shingles, to facilitate installation. It also provides the function of creating a protective terminus to each shingle to prevent lifting and damage by wind. As a result of use of the shingle support according to this invention, roofers are provided with an apparatus, kit, system and method for roof shingle installation superior to that currently available. In addition, the resulting roof shingle installation is more robust than known roof shingle installations.