A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each having a mat with an edge and a spacer with an edge, the edge of the mat being attached to the edge of the spacer. The spacer includes a plurality of support members and a solar module mounted to the support members. Each of the support members includes a ledge. The solar module and the ledge form a space therebetween. The space is sized and shaped to receive an edge of a solar module of another of the photovoltaic modules. The spacer of one of the photovoltaic modules overlays the mat of another of the photovoltaic modules.

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, particularly as photovoltaic modules having the appearance of a plurality of roofing tiles that each have photovoltaic cells. Each photovoltaic module may include a metal backer, photovoltaic cells, and light transmissive top sheets adhered to both the metal backer and the photovoltaic cells. BIPV systems can also include non-photovoltaic modules that appear similar to photovoltaic modules, but do not collect solar energy.

A metal shingle having a body with left, right, top and bottom parts. The body is substantially planar and rectangular and has a front, a rear, left and right sides, a top and a bottom. The left and right parts extend from the left and right side respectively. One of the left and right parts is folded over the front and the other is folded over the bottom. The top and bottom parts extend from the top and bottom respectively. One of the top and bottom parts is folded over the front and the other is folded over the bottom. In use, the shingles are positioned in each of side-to-side and top-to-bottom abutting relation so that adjacent sides are interlocked. The body defining a hollow adjacent to one of the interlocking top and bottom parts.

A metallic roof material 1 according to the present invention comprises: a front substrate 10 made of a metal sheet, the front substrate 10 comprising a body portion 100 formed into a box shape; a back substrate 11 arranged on a back side of the front substrate 10 so as to cover an opening of the body portion 100; and a core material 12 filled between the body portion 100 and the back substrate 11, the metallic roof material 1 being tightened to a roof base by driving at least one tightening member into the body portion 100, wherein a top plate portion 101 of the body portion 100 comprises at least one protruding rib 3 comprised of at least one protrusion 30 disposed along a side of a polygon or along a circle, and wherein the metallic roof material 1 is configured such that the tightening member is driven into an inner region 3a of the protruding rib 3.

An improved roofing system including a batten assembly comprising support battens and clips. The clips are made of metal wire having one portion shaped to retain roof outer coverings and a further portion shaped to secure the clip to the batten by spring torsion force of part of the clip acting against the batten.

A method and apparatus for installing roofing shingles on a roof deck in a top-to-bottom manner is disclosed. Engineered battens am positioned and installed on the roof deck in a bottom-to-top manner. Each batten has a female mating area which allows complementary shingles to be securely attached to the battens by sliding a corresponding mating portion of a shingle into the mating area of the batten resulting in a snap-fit engagement which secures the shingles onto the roof deck without nails. The method and apparatus have several unique advantages, such as allowing shingles to expand and contract (“breathe”) without buckling and/or tearing when the ambient temperature fluctuates. In addition, since the manner of installation is from top-to-bottom, this allows roofers to use the rows of nailed battens as safety scaffolding improving roofers' traction and ultimately enhancing their safety while performing this inherently dangerous job.

An integral nail/disk structure that eliminates the need of having any exposed nails associated with a shingled roof having a color matching body member integrally formed with a roofing nail. Another embodiment including a fastener such as a nail or screw having an enlarged head and an associated gasket member for fastening sheet metal to a roof structure. The gasket member has a sealant on both of its top and bottom surfaces so as to adhere both to the underside of the enlarged head portion of the nail or screw, and to the sheet metal to create a waterproof seal. Still another embodiment includes an enlarged cap member associated with a gasket member attached to its underside portion wherein the cap/gasket member can be attached over a fastener hole in a roof, or over a faulty roofing nail or screw in lieu of caulking techniques usually used to cure leaks where the faulty fastener attaches sheet metal to a roofing structure.

A metal shingle having a body with left, right, top and bottom parts. The body is substantially planar and rectangular and has a front, a rear, left and right sides, a top and a bottom. The left and right parts extend from the left and right side respectively. One of the left and right parts is folded over the front and the other is folded over the bottom. The top and bottom parts extend from the top and bottom respectively. One of the top and bottom parts is folded over the front and the other is folded over the bottom. In use, the shingles are positioned in each of side-to-side and top-to-bottom abutting relation so that adjacent sides are interlocked. The body defining a hollow adjacent to one of the interlocking top and bottom parts.

A solar energy roof tile, thermally and/or electrically conductively connected to an adjacent solar energy roof tile, includes a lower face for placing on at least some regions of a roof construction, an upper face opposite the lower face formed at least in some regions by a solar energy utilisation module, two opposite lateral walls, a rear face connecting the two lateral walls, and a front face opposite the rear face that connects the lateral walls. The two lateral walls, the rear face and front face together connect the lower and upper faces, such that a cavity is formed between the two lateral walls, the rear face, front face, and lower and upper faces. The lower face has, in the region of the front face, a lower opening for providing access. The upper face has, in the region of the rear face, an upper opening for providing access into the cavity.

The present disclosure relates generally to a roofing system including flashing, for example, suitable for protecting a roof from water leakage. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a roofing system including first, second, and third courses of shingles, where the second course overlaps the first and the third course overlaps the second. A flashing plate is disposed over the first course of shingles and partially under the second course of shingles. The flashing plate and the third course of shingles are spaced apart by a gap in a direction of the slope of the roof between a top edge of the flashing plate and a lower edge of the third course of shingles.