Novel rigid tile, rigid tile apparatus, methods of making and use are disclosed. One embodiment includes a method of mounting rigid tile with a nail gun providing a protruding nail tip used as a nail passage or depression finder in the rigid tile. Another embodiment includes a metal roof tile having at least one fastener passage having pre-formed spacer section extending from the upper surface of the metal roof tile to space a fastener head or end from the upper surface of the metal roof tile. Yet another embodiment provides interconnectable rigid rooftiles, with the interconnection provided by upwardly extending channel structure that can allow adjacent rigid rooftiles to positionally adjusted on a roof laterally across the roof with respect to each other. A tile bottom-side covering sealing bent T-trim can be utilized to cover open underside areas of a right roof tile. A novel installation method and rigid rooftile installation kit can utilize embodiments of the structures and methods stated above and, as desired, yet additional structure such as differently structured rigid rooftile components and trim components of differing shapes and sizes as desired.

A fastener plate for use in coupling an underlayment to a roof surface is disclosed. In use, the fastener plate is arranged and configured to enable subsequently applied liquid coatings to flow through a top surface of the fastener plate and into one or more cavities so that the liquid coating seals any openings created by introduction of the fastener. In one embodiment, the fastener plate may include a top surface, a bottom surface, a fastener opening for receiving a fastener, a plurality of openings formed in the top surface, and one or more cavities positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface, the one or more cavities being in fluid communication with the plurality of openings so that the liquid coating can flow through the plurality of openings formed in the top surface and into the one or more cavities to seal any voids created by the fastener.

A roofing, cladding or siding product which is light weight, easy to install, durable and resistant to environmental wear. The module comprises an underlapping region and an exposed region, wherein the underlapping region is adapted to be at least partially covered by the exposed region of an adjacent module when installed on a building surface. The module also includes a textured surface area on an upper surface of the underlapping region and/or an underside of the exposed region. In use, the textured surface (e.g. made up from a densely packed group of cones, pyramids or cylinders) presents an increased surface area for improved contact with an adhesive. The adhesive, e.g. in strip form, may by located on an aligning part of an adjacent module with the textured surface area.

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 tile system comprises at least two tiles and at least one elongate support. Each tile is generally rectangular in shape and has a first edge, and a second edge, the second edge being generally opposite the first edge. Each elongate support has an attachment portion and a support portion. Proximate the first edge each tile is provided with a groove, the groove being configured to receive the support portion of one of the elongate supports and a portion of an adjacent tile proximate its second edge.

Panels with substantially integrated watershedding features may be installed on the roof a house or other structure in lieu of traditional roofing materials. The panels include a body formed from a mixture of filler materials and polymeric binder materials, which can include recycled materials, with watershedding features generally formed with and/or integrated with the panels. The panels also can be installed in overlapping courses along a roof with the watershedding features incorporated along one or more peripheral edges. The watershedding features of adjacent panels further can cooperated to collect and divert water away from the upper surfaces and/or away headlap and/or sidelap joints defined between the panels.

A fastener plate for use in coupling an underlayment to a roof surface is disclosed. In use, the fastener plate is arranged and configured to enable subsequently applied liquid coatings to flow through a top surface of the fastener plate and into one or more cavities so that the liquid coating seals any openings created by introduction of the fastener. In one embodiment, the fastener plate may include a top surface, a bottom surface, a fastener opening for receiving a fastener, a plurality of openings formed in the top surface, and one or more cavities positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface, the one or more cavities being in fluid communication with the plurality of openings so that the liquid coating can flow through the plurality of openings formed in the top surface and into the one or more cavities to seal any voids created by the fastener.

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.

A fastener plate for use in coupling an underlayment to a roof surface is disclosed. In use, the fastener plate is arranged and configured to enable subsequently applied liquid coatings to flow through a top surface of the fastener plate and into one or more cavities so that the liquid coating seals any openings created by introduction of the fastener. In one embodiment, the fastener plate may include a top surface, a bottom surface, a fastener opening for receiving a fastener, a plurality of openings formed in the top surface, and one or more cavities positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface, the one or more cavities being in fluid communication with the plurality of openings so that the liquid coating can flow through the plurality of openings formed in the top surface and into the one or more cavities to seal any voids created by the fastener.

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.