The Master Tile™ Installation Process

Description:

• With an existing clay tile, concrete, or slate roof, a Green Convergence roofing expert will visit your home to view and inspect the condition of the roof.
• If your home is a new construction, the installation will start with a plywood or metal deck, and the system will be built from the ground up.

Description:

• In the area where the solar is installed, the tile, underlayment, flashings, and fasteners are all removed.
• The plywood or wood board desk is then inspected for deficiencies, and repairs are made to the roof if necessary.
• If there are vents in the location of the array, they will be relocated elsewhere on the roof.

Why is this important?

• Roof removal ensures that your roof deck is clean, nailed properly, and structurally sound as it supports your solar panels for decades to come.
• Moving vents allows the solar panels to be installed without any gaps for vents or flashings, making your solar appear as a skylight or building integrated photovoltaic system (BIPV).

Description:

• As an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, Green Convergence installs an Owens Corning Self-Adhered WeatherLock® Barrier over the plywood, at the perimeter of the solar array, and where the metal flashings or vents will be installed.

Why is this important?

• WeatherLock® is a thick, rubberized membrane that self-seals around nails and fasteners used to hold flashings in place. It also provided superior protection against water infiltration, wind-driven rains and normal water flow around eaves, rakes, valleys, vents, chimneys, and solar mounts.

Description:

• Green Convergence has designed a unique flashing specifically for solar installations called, "The Positive Water Cutoff." On the inner shingle side of the array, there are individual pieces of tin overlapped by shingles that step up the vertical surface, while the outer tile side acts as a gutter by directing away from your roof. The Positive Water Cutoff is constructed in 28-gauge bowdlerized steel and is pre-painted to match the tile and solar panels.

Why is this important?

• The Positive Water Cutoff protects against roof leaks by channeling water away from your roof and directing it down on top of the tile at the bottom of the solar array.
• This step and pan flashing guards from critters sneaking underneath the solar into your home, and protects the array from blowing embers in a fire.

Description:

• Owens Corning Deck Defense® Roof Underlayment is a synthetic, long-term moisture protection for your roof. Unlike standard felt underlayment that offers only basic water penetration, Deck Defense® is installed as a component of the Owens Corning Roofing System and comes with a 50-Year Limited Warranty. Deck defense does not degrade over time, withstanding the constant abuse of heat and cold, rain and ice, to maintain a waterproof barrier 5x better than felt alone.

Why is this important?

• Deck Defense® acts as a flexible, non-absorbent, secondary water-shedding barrier.
• This produces a high-traction, slip-resistant surface with tear resistance.
• It reduces water intrusion when exposed to the elements.
• Deck Defense® has a UL 790 Class A Fire Resistance.

Description:

• Installed over Deck Defense® at the bottom of the solar array, Tapered Fesco Edge Strip is manufactured from Johns Manville's Fesco Board, which is composed of expanded perlite (a volcanic ore), and blended with selected binders and fibers.

Why is this important?

• Tapered Fesco Edge Strip is used to raise the shingles that will be installed above it, and direct the water under the array back on top of the tile so it can flow down to the gutters. This gives the shingles a solid foundation they need to last the lifetime they are warrantied.

Description

• A continuous strip of aluminum 20" tall is applied over the entire length of the tapered insulation, and hand-molded on top of the tile. The top of the roll is nailed and sealed with ice and water shield, and the shingles are then applied over the upper edge to cover the nails and protect against roof leaks.

Why is this important?

• Many installers miss this critical step which is so vital to ensure that water does not cause major roof damage. This aluminum and hand-molded sheet ensures that water is brought back on top of the shingles, providing a solid foundation for the shingles and protecting the tapered insulation from the elements.

Description:

• Owens Corning WeatherLock® is installed at the transition between the aluminum roll and the Deck DefenseR Underlayment. This is the same material that was used earlier in the installation.

Why is this important?

• All metal should be sandwiched between two pieces of underlayment to ensure the seal is tight for years to come.

Description:

• The Owens Corning Starter Shingle is mechanically installed at the bottom of the solar array.

Why is this important?

• Starter Shingles provide a secure seal of protection under the first row of shingles at the bottom of the solar array or the eave's edge.

Description:

• Owens Corning Shingles are installed per manufactures recommendations for a lifetime, 50-year warranted system. Tin Shingles are also installed to complete the step flashing at the "Positive Water Cutoff" between the shingle and tile roof.

Why is this important?

• TruDefinition Duration Shingles with SureNail Technology is America's #1 roofing brand. This shingle is the culmination of 75 years of refinement. It has a triple layer of reinforcement protection, featuring a tough woven engineered reinforcing fabric. It has superior adhesion and exceptional wind resistance. This shingle, when used in conjunction with the other Owens Corning system accessories, will last a life time.
• Both the tin shingles and step flashing redirect the water back onto the shingle. Even if one piece of step flashing should fail, the flashing and shingle below restart the process.

Description:

• IronRidge FlashFoot2™ replaces more invasive mounts with an all-in-one design that incorporates both structural and waterproofing features. This prepares the roof for the next step of installation: the IronRidge railings.

Why is this important?

• FlashFoot2 is an all-in-one roof attachment for mounting XR Rails to composition shingle roofs. Its' integrated design incorporates both structural and waterproofing features into a single assembly. This eliminates the need for other mounting features such as separate standoffs, flashings, and L-feet, and reduces the overall number of installation procedures.

Description:

• XR Rails are installed and attached to the mounts on the roof.

Why is this important?

• XR Rails are the backbone of the solar array. Their unique curved profile increases structural strength and spanning capability, allowing for fewer roof penetrations and more cost-effective system designs.

Description:

• SolaDeck combines "flashed roof penetration protection" with the ability to transition, pass through, or combine solar PV strings.
• A metal bird stop is installed on the top of the array, filling the space that was once between the tile and the roof.

Why is this important?

• SolaDeck is flashed to protect the roof and installed with a low-profile that fits under the solar panel. With no exposed conduit, this allows for the wires to pass through the attic and be protected from the elements.
• The bird stop is installed to prevent birds and rodents from getting underneath the array.

Description:

• SunPower solar panels are now installed. Multiple panels are available for use. SunPower EquinoxTM, for example, has microinverters built-in to the back of the panel.
• A metal bird stop is installed on the top of the array, filling the space that was once between the tile and the roof.

Why is this important?

• SunPower solar panels lead the industry in durability and performance. Simply put: SunPower panels hold the world-record for energy production, period. They've shown to deliver 55% more energy in the same space as conventional panels, and outperform other brands during minimal light conditions. With their modular design, they've also proven to be the easiest to install and reconfigure.

Description:

• In this final step, the previously removed tile is cut and installed at the top and sides of the array. This is done to give the look of a building-integrated photovoltaic system, while at the same time finishing off the roofing system as it was designed to be installed.
• A metal bird stop is installed on the top of the array, filling the space that was once between the tile and the roof.

Why is this important?

• With this type of installation, the "Master Tile Solar System" will last and perform more than 40 years. It keeps birds and varmints from nesting under the array, improves the performance of the panels by cutting down wind uplift, and in turn reduces the strain on the mounts and rails. This system looks like it was integrated into the initial design of the house and adds to the overall look of the home.