Lightweight, durable wood shake alternative for wildfire, hail regions molded form rigid PU foam

14-Feb-09

US-based roofing systems provider, Eagle Roofing Products, a division of Burlingame Industries, has acquired the rights from Endurall Technologies to manufacture and distribute Ce-DUR™, an incredibly lightweight and durable wood shake replacement molded from Bayer MaterialScience's Baydur® 630 rigid polyurethane foam. These shakes, the company claims, look just like wood but meet the needs of consumers and insurers in wildfire, hail regions especially in the US' 'hail belt' region which experience golf ball-sized hails. The company says that Ce-DUR™ delivers the durability and unsurpassed weather protection benefits most often found in concrete roof tile and is manufactured using a modified reaction injection molding (RIM) system. In addition, the shake uses no trees or lumber but is molded from actual cedar samples to create a realistic wood appearance. Ce-DUR™ shakes, the company adds, offer superior protection from snow and hail, and provide self-healing capabilities that make minor hail damage temporary. Ce-DUR™ is a closed-cell material that compresses at impact; as heat is absorbed through normal sun exposure, the compression relaxes and the cells return to their original state, repairing dents. The company claims that Ce-DUR™ has a wind rating of up to 100 mph, and a 110 mph rating can be achieved by reducing the exposure and using special fasteners. It weighs approximately 170 pounds per roofing square requiring no additional roof support or engineering and a Class A fire rating is achievable with the installation of readily available and approved underlayment. Compared to traditional hand-spilt cedar, Ce-DUR™ is also virtually non-absorbent, eliminating the freeze/thaw cycle effects that can cause snow release/sliding, splitting, warping, rotting or fungus growth common in a standard wood shake.