New Ideas

Reflective coatings reduce heat

Duranar® SPF Coatings, which are said to reduce a roof system's heat absorption, have been introduced by PPG Industries Inc.'s Coil and Extrusion Coatings Group. Meeting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's and Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR® criteria, the cool roof coatings can lower costs and energy consumption by reducing heat, as well as lengthen a roof system's life span with the reduction of heat-induced metal expansion and contraction.

The coatings use infrared reflective pigments and can be used with medium- and dark-colored roof systems, providing more energy-friendly color options. Reportedly, the coatings resist stress caused by acid rain and ultraviolet exposure, as well as gloss and color fading.

Repair tape is versatile

Eternabond has introduced its repair tape, which can be used on various roof systems, including EPDM, TPO and metal, as well as roof accessories, such as skylights, gutters and flashings. Available in many finishes and colors, the product can be applied in temperatures from 20 F to more than 100 F. The 50-foot roll of tape is available in 4- to 48-inch widths.

Software saves time

Coutts Design Inc. has released ZiPCAD™ |View and ZiPCAD™ |Plans, software applications said to speed up the roof system design and installation processes. Used on Palm OS handheld devices, ZiPCAD|View is a DXF viewer and ZiPCAD|Plans is a sketching application.

ZiPCAD|View's capabilities include calculating length and area, viewing large technical drawings and providing easy access to drawing archives. ZiPCAD|Plans allows users to produce technical drawings and download them into desktop computer-assisted design workstations, as well as make drawing alterations, eliminating the step of drawing field conditions by hand.

Utility knife offers comfort

IDEAL INDUSTRIES INC. has introduced its 35-300 Electrician's Utility Knife, which has an advanced ergonomic grip with a Santoprene® overmold.

Said to have easy blade removal, the knife also has a cushioned blade slide and eight blade-locking positions. In addition, the product has a rope-cutting function.

Tile is handcrafted

The Pilgrim tile from Northern Roof Tiles is a handcrafted roof tile made from 100 percent clay and is individually hand-finished, creating a variety of colors and textures. Available in Canterbury red, York brown and Westminster black colors, the Pilgrim tile is 15 inches by 7 1/4 inches. The tile can be installed directly to a roof deck, and specialty fittings are offered.

Nails have holding power

The Pneu-Fast Co. has released Pneu-Fast® Pro-Nails™ with an acrylic coating said to provide excellent adhesion in all types of wood. The Hold-Fast™ coating spreads along the nails' length when driven into wood, and a resin-coated tape, Hi-Bond,™ collates the nails to provide a rigid, durable clip.

Vent controls moisture

Cor-A-Vent's new Purlin Vent creates a path that diffuses moisture in a roof system. Made of polypropylene, the vent provides cross ventilation between purlins and is said to allow maximum airflow with minimum loss caused by friction. The product can support a concentrated load up to 7,653 pounds per square foot.

Roof system generates energy

Sarnafil Inc. and Solar Integrated Technologies have introduced the SR-2001 photovoltaic roof system that is said to save money by generating energy. The system includes a 10- by 40-foot flexible solar roof panel made from Uni-Solar's photovoltaic cells and Sarnafil's EnergySmart Roof® thermoplastic membrane.

The panel is wired to the electrical system of a building, creating a solar electrical roof system. The system can generate power for electricity, as well as protect the inside of a building.

Company offers metal shingle

Follansbee Steel® now offers a stamped diamond-pattern metal shingle for commercial and residential projects. Conklin Metal Industries creates the shingle from Follansbee Steel's Terne II,® TCS II® and KlassicKolors.® All three materials are coated with a zinc and tin alloy to prevent corrosion.

With the ability to be installed over existing asphalt shingles, the durable, watertight metal shingle has a side-lock system allowing for quick installation, as well as thermal expansion and contraction.