AU770335B2 - Roof capping - Google Patents

Description

S&FRef: 592022

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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.0*0 o :.000 0 Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Boral Montoro Pty Ltd Level 39, AMP Centre Bridge Street Sydney New South Wales 2000 Australia John Miller Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower,Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Roof Capping ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country [31] Applic. No(s) AU PR8190 The following statement is a full description of this invention, performing it known to me/us:- [32] Application Date 10 Oct 2001 including the best method of I? australia Docurnents ieceived D 8 Aa e43th Ndo ii 5815c (4 i 1 ROOF CAPPING Field of the Invention The present invention relates to roofing materials, and in particular relates to roof capping elements.

Background of the Invention A popular form of roof is a hip-type roof where successive courses of tiles are laid from the gutter at each peripheral edge of the roof up to a ridge at the top of the roof where opposing faces of the roof meet. In the hip style of roof, tiles are laid on front, rear and side faces of the roof, such that adjacent front and side (or rear and side) faces of the io roof meet along an angled line, known as a hip, extending from the corner of the gutter to the ridge.

Tiles are typically formed with a circular recess in the centre which is punched through with a nail, providing an aperture for securing the tile to an underlying batten in S the roof frame using the nail. Alternatively, a lug is formed on the under face of the tile, Is5 which lug is used to wire each tile to the underlying batten. At the hip juncture between adjacent faces of the roof, however, it is necessary to cut the side of the end tile on each .o 0.00face to allow for the angle of the juncture. Accordingly, the circular recess or securing .0 lug is often removed from such cut tiles, depending upon the amount of tile that needs to be cut to allow for the juncture. These cut tiles accordingly can not be secured to the roof frame in the usual manner.

b etweCutting of the tiles is not typically a precise exercise, and the rough joint formed .i between adjacent faces at the hip is typically covered by some form of hip capping. The most common form of hip capping is the use of individual hip capping tiles which are either overlapped in a similar manner to which adjacent courses of roofing tile are overlapped so as to form a stepped hip, or abutted end-to-end so as to form a straight line hip. The hip capping tiles are secured to the cut tiles at the edge of the adjacent roofing faces utilising mortar, which is intended to hold the cut end tiles in place. Over time, however, the mortar eventually deteriorates, a consequence of which is loosening of the cut tiles which often slip down out of place.

Similar capping tiles are utilised to cover the ridge juncture formed along the top of the roof, presenting a consistent finish to the tiled roof.

An alternative method of finishing hip and ridge junctures is to dispense with the capping tiles and cut the edge tiles precisely so as not to leave any appreciable gap between the tiles of adjacent faces. This requires mitre cutting of the edges of the roof [R:\LIBLL] 12804.doc:TCW:GJG 'i k 2 tiles to cater for the angle between the adjacent faces, allowing for the neat finish. This process of precisely cutting all of the tiles is, however, very labour intensive and is often not feasible if roofs are not manufactured precisely square, as is often the case.

A further alternative method of finishing hips and ridges that has been proposed involves the use of an elongate metallic extrusion bent to form two elongate faces generally lying in the plane of the adjacent roof face. For each hip, a single extrusion extends from the gutter at the base of the roof to the apex of the roof where the hip meets the ridge. The straight line provided by the continuous extrusion, however, conflicts with the stepped appearance of the remainder of the roof, and can look particularly io un-attractive on complex roofs. This continuous capping does not secure the cut tiles at the edge of the roof face.

On gable-type roofs, where only two opposing faces of the roof are tiled with the e end faces being defined by a vertical gable wall, present tiling methods also result in the .oo possibility of loose tiles at the edge, or barge, of the roof face. The roof face is not 15 always capped at the barge, and the end tiles cannot be secured to the underlying bargeboard or battens when a dry gable system is being utilised as a tray is placed under the edge tiles acting as a form of gutter. To prevent the end tiles slipping, it is currently o. usual to provide a clip for each tile to separately clip each tile to the underlying barge board.

20 Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a roof hip capping element formed of an elongate sheet material and having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, said capping element being bent about said longitudinal axis to provide opposing mutually inclined portions adapted to at least partially cover tiles in use lying adjacent to, and on opposing sides of, a roof hip, wherein said hip capping element is provided with a channel portion depending from each of said inclined portions at said capping element second end for receiving a lower end edge of a respective said adjacent tile, said channel portions each extending at an acute angle to said longitudinal axis selected so as to generally align with the respective said tile lower end edge.

[R:\LIBLL] 12804.doc:TCW:GJG Typically, said hip capping element has a length selected such that, in use, said first end extends beneath the next lowermost course to that of said adjacent tiles.

Typically, said channel portions are formed by bending said sheet material through two successive approximate right angles.

Preferably, each of said mutually inclined portions is provided with a longitudinally extending crease adjacent the free edge thereof, thereby inclining an edge region of said inclined portion downwardly with respect to the remainder of said inclined portion.

There is further disclosed herein a method of finishing a hip in a roof structure to comprising the steps of: a) laying a first course of roofing tiles on first and second adjacent roof faces meeting at a hip, cutting tiles at the edge of each said face adjacent said hip so as .o..not to extend beyond the respective said face, locating a hip capping element as defined above on said first course and S is spanning said hip with said mutually inclined portions at least partially covering said cut S. tiles of said first and second roof faces, c) receiving the lower end edge of cut tiles at the end of said course adjacent said hip in the respective said channel portion of said hip capping element, d) laying a second course of roofing tiles according to step with said hip capping element first end extending beneath said second course, e) securing said hip capping element to a substructure of said roof, f) repeating steps b) through e) for successive courses.

S. Typically, said hip capping element is secured in step e) by a fastener extending through an aperture provided in said hip capping element toward said first end thereof.

In one embodiment, a hip plate is located on top of cut tiles of said second course and spanning said hip, said fastener extending through an aperture in said hip plate, between said cut edge tiles of said second course, through said hip capping element and into said roof substructure.

In another embodiment, a support element, comprising a base portion and a flange portion upstanding from said plate portion, is located with said plate portion beneath cut tiles at said end of said second course adjacent said hip and with said flange portion abutting said lower end edge of said cut tiles, said fastener extending through an aperture in said plate portion, through said hip capping element and into said roof substructure, wherein the channel portion of the said hip capping element subsequently located on said second course extends over said flange portion of said support element [R:\LIBLL] 12804.doc:TCW:GJG 4 and is wedged between said plate portion of said support element and the underlying hip capping element located on said first course.

There is further disclosed herein a method of securing tiles at a hip juncture in a roof structure comprising the steps of: a) laying a first course of roofing tiles on first and second adjacent roof faces meeting at a hip, cutting tiles at the edge of each said face adjacent said hip so as not to extend beyond the respective said face, b) laying a second course of roofing tiles according to step a) with said second course overlaying said first course in an overlap region, c) locating a hip plate on top of cut tiles of said second course in said overlap region with said hip plate spanning said hip, d) extending a fastener through an aperture in said hip plate, between said .cut edge tiles of said second course, between cut edge tiles of said first course in said overlap region and into an underlying substructure of said roof.

5 Preferably, a hip capping element is located on said first course spanning said :hip prior to laying said second course, said hip capping element extending into said overlap region between said first and second courses, said fastener extending through said hip capping element.

Preferably, said hip capping element is as defined above.

There is further disclosed herein a roof barge capping element formed of an elongate sheet material and having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, said *capping element being bent about said longitudinal axis to provide a top portion adapted to at least partially cover the upper surface of an end tile in use lying adjacent a barge edge of a gable roof and a side portion adapted to cover the free side edge surface of said tile, wherein said barge capping element is provided with a channel portion depending from said top portion at said capping element second end for receiving a lower end edge of said tile, said channel portion each extending substantially perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis so as to generally align with said tile lower end edge.

Typically, said barge capping element has a length selected such that, in use, said first end extends beneath the next lowermost course to that of said end tile.

Typically, said channel portion is formed by bending said sheet material through two successive approximate right angles.

[R:\LIBLL] 12804.doc:TCW:GJG Preferably, said top portion is provided with a longitudinally extending crease adjacent the free edge thereof, thereby inclining an edge region of said top portion downwardly with respect to the remainder of said top portion.

There is further disclosed herein a method of finishing a barge edge in a gable roof structure comprising the steps of: a) laying a first course of roofing tiles on a roof face ending at a gable with a barge edge, b) locating a barge capping element as defined above on said first course at said barge edge, said top portion of said barge capping element at least partially covering the upper surface of a tile at the barge edge of said first course and said side portion covering the free side edge of said tile, c) receiving the lower end edge of said tile in said channel portion of said barge capping element, securing said barge capping element to a substructure of said roof, e) laying a second course of roofing tiles according to step with said barge capping element first end extending beneath said second course, f) repeating steps b) through e) for successive courses.

Typically, said barge capping element is secured in step d) by a fastener extending through an aperture provided in said barge capping element toward said first end thereof.

Step e) may proceed step d).

Preferably, said aperture is provided in said side portion of said barge capping element.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hip capping element.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the hip capping element of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the hip capping element of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an upper end elevation view of the hip capping element of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a lower end elevation view of the hip capping element of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a partially finished hip using the hip capping element of Figure 1.

[R:\LIBLL] I 2804.doc:TCW:GJG

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t I 6 Figure 7 is a perspective view of a finished hip using the hip capping element of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a hip plate.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the hip plate of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a side elevation view of the hip plate of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is an end elevation view of the hip plate of Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a right/start barge capping element.

Figure 13 is a side elevation view of the barge capping element of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is an inverse plan view of the barge capping element of Figure 12.

Figure 15 is an end elevation view of the barge capping element of Figure 12.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a left/finishing barge capping element.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of a finished barge using the barge capping element of Figure 12.

i Figure 18 is a perspective view of a ridge capping element.

Figure 19 is a plan view of the ridge capping element of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a side elevation view of the ridge capping element of Figure 18.

Figure 21 is an end elevation view of the ridge capping element of Figure 18.

Figure 22 is a perspective view of an unfinished ridge using the ridge capping element of Figure 19.

Figure 23 is a perspective view of a finished ridge using the ridge capping element of Figure 19.

S° Figure 24 is a perspective view of a ridge plate.

*Figure 25 is a plan view of the ridge plate of Figure 24.

Figure 26 is a side elevation view of the ridge plate of Figure 24.

Figure 27 is a first end elevation view of the ridge plate of Figure 24.

Figure 28 is a second end elevation view of the ridge plate of Figure 24.

Figure 29 is a perspective view of an apex capping element.

Figure 30 is a plan view of the apex capping element of Figure 29.

Figure 31 is a side elevation view of the ridge capping element of Figure 29.

Figure 32 is a perspective view of an unfinished apex using the apex capping element of Figure 29.

Figure 33 is a perspective view of a finished ridge capping using the apex capping element of Figure 29.

Figure 34 is a perspective view of a support element.

Figure 35 is a plan view of the support element of Figure 34.

[R:\LIBLL] 12804.doc:TCW:GJG S i 7 Figure 36 is a front elevation view of the support element of Figure 34.

Figure 37 is a side elevation view of the support element of Figure 34.

Figure 38 is a perspective view of a partially finished hip using the hip capping element of Figure 1 and support element of Figure 34.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments A roof capping system comprises various elements, the first of which is a hip capping element 100 depicted in Figures 1 through 5 of the accompanying drawings. The hip capping element 100 is formed of an elongate sheet metallic material and has a longitudinal axis and first and second ends 101, 102. The hip capping element is bent 0to about the longitudinal axis to provide opposing mutually inclined portions 103, 104. A channel portion 105 depends from each of the inclined portions 103, 104 at the capping element second end 102. Here the channel portions are formed by bending the sheet material through two successive approximate right angles, forming a channel end wall 106 and a channel flange 107 extending from the end wall 105 towards the capping element first end 101, thereby defining a recess for receiving the lower end edge of a tile, as will be discussed below. An aperture 108 is located on the capping element towards the first end 101 at the bend line between the inclined portions 103, 104.

Each of the inclined portions 103, 104 is provided with a longitudinally extending crease 109, 110 adjacent the free edge of the inclined portion. The crease 109, 20 110 inclines an edge region of inclined portion 103, 104 downwardly with respect to the remainder of the inclined portion.

With reference to Figures 6 and 7, depicting a hip utilising the hip capping element 100 to finish the same, it can be seen that the inclined portions 103, 104 of the hip capping element 100 are configured to at least partially cover tiles 1 which lie adjacent to and on opposing sides of the roof hip. The lower end edge l a of the tiles 1 at the edge of the course of tiles adjacent the hip are received in the channel portion 105 of the respective capping element 100. The channel portions 105 extend at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis, with this angle being selected such that the channel generally aligns with the lower end edge l a of the tiles as is evident from Figures 6 and 7.

The inclined portions 103, 104 of the hip capping element are bent about the longitudinal axis at an angle which results in the inclined portions 103, 104 lying generally parallel to the planes of the adjacent roof faces. The crease 109, 110 formed adjacent each edge of the capping element 100 results in the capping element 100 resting on the tiles 1 only along the edges, with the bulk of the capping element 100 being raised [R:\LIBLL]12804.doc:TCW:GJG slightly above the tiles 1 rather than lying flush with the tiles. This greatly reduces the size of the interface between the tiles 1 and the hip capping element 100, thereby substantially eliminating any capillary action drawing moisture up along the interface between the tiles 1 and capping element 100 and potentially into the roof space s underneath the next lowermost course. The creases 109, 110 also serve to increase the longitudinal bending stiffness of the hip capping element, enabling the hip capping element 100 to be made from a relatively thin sheet material without compromising the structural integrity of the hip capping element 100.

The length of the hip capping element is here selected such that the first end 101 extends beneath the next lowermost course as is apparent from Figure 6. This improves the appearance of the hip, and further assists in securing the hip capping element 100 as will be discussed below.

To finish the hip in a roof structure, the first course of roofing tiles is first laid on the adjacent roof faces meeting at the hip, with tiles at the edge of each face adjacent the S 15 hip being cut in the usual manner so as not to extend beyond the respective roof face. To "help ensure the corresponding courses on the adjacent roof faces align at the hip, the horizontal battens to which tiles are secured should be equally spaced and aligned on adjacent roof faces. The hip capping element 100 is then located on the first course so as to span the hip with the mutually inclined portions 103, 104 at least partially covering the cut tiles 1 of the adjacent roof faces.

The hip capping element 100 is located such that the lower end edge l a of the cut tiles 1 at the end of the course adjacent the hip are received in the channel portions 105 of the hip capping element 100. The cut tiles, which will typically have the securing lugs cut therefrom as discussed above, are accordingly restricted from slipping down the roof face by way of the channel portion 105.

A second course of roofing tiles is then laid in the same manner as the first, with the hip capping element first end 102 extending beneath the second course as depicted in Figure 6. The hip capping element 100 is then secured to a substructure of the roof, here being a hip rafter. The hip capping element 100 is secured by way of a fastener 140.

For further security of the cut tiles 1 of the second course, a hip plate 150 is located on top of the cut tiles 1 of the second course, spanning across the hip in a region where the tiles of the first and second courses overlap. The hip plate 150 is depicted in greater detail in Figures 8 through 11. The fastener 140 (which secures the hip capping element 100 associated with the first course) extends through aperture 151 in the hip plate, between the cut edge tiles 1 of the second course, through the aperture 108 of the [R:\LIBLL] 12804.doc:TCW:GJG z' 9 underlying hip capping element 100, and into the underlying roof substructure, being the hip rafter. The hip plate 150 acts to further secure the edgemost cut tiles and the hip capping element 100 lying therebeneath, which has its first end 102 clamped between the tiles 1 of the adjacent courses. The hip plate 150 and hip rafter act to sandwich the cut tiles of the first and second courses and the hip capping element 100, securing the same.

It is also envisaged, although less preferred, that the hip capping element 100 might be separately secured rather than being sandwiched by the hip plate 150.

Further hip capping elements 100 are located on successive courses as they are laid, providing a finished hip as depicted in Figure 7. The finished hip has a clean, 1o stepped finish, which approximates that of a hip formed from precisely cut and mitred tiles at the hip without the use of hip capping. With the use of the hip capping element 100, however, there is no need for great precision in cutting of the tiles, as is apparent o oo from Figure 6, and the cut tiles are held firmly in place.

*o For use at the barge end of a gabled roof, a barge capping element 200 is utilised, Is as depicted in Figures 12 through 15. The barge capping element 200 depicted in these figures is for use along the barge edge on the right hand or 'start' side of a gable, as viewed whilst facing the gable from outside of the building, with a mirror image barge capping element 200', as depicted in Figure 16, being utilised at the left hand or 'finish' °*ob side.

The barge capping element 200 is formed of an elongate sheet metal material and has a longitudinal axis and first and second ends 201, 202. The barge capping element ;*200 is bent about the longitudinal axis to provide a top portion 203 which, as depicted in Figure 17, at least partially covers the upper surface of an end tile 1 lying adjacent the barge edge of the gable roof, and a side portion 204 extending downwardly from the top portion to cover the free side edge surface of the edge tile 1. The capping element 200 will typically be bent at right angles, such that the side portion 204 extends vertically downwardly over the barge board 2, however it could extend at an angle to provide an alternative appearance if so desired.

A channel portion 205 depends from the top portion 203 for receiving the lower end edge 1 a of a tile 1 in a similar manner to the channel portion 105 of the hip capping element described above. The channel portion 205 is formed by bending the sheet material through two successive approximate right angles, forming a channel end wall 206 and a channel flange 207 extending from the end wall 206 towards the capping element first end 201, thereby defining a recess for receiving the tile lower end edge la.

An aperture 208 is located on the side portion 204 toward the first end 201.

[R:\LIBLL] I 2804.doc:TCW:GJG In a similar manner to the hip capping element 100, the top portion 203 and side portion 204 of the barge capping element 200 are each provided with a longitudinally extending crease 209, 210 adjacent their free edge. The creases 209, 210 stiffen the capping element 200 and substantially eliminate capillary action between the tile 1 and top portion 203 and the barge board 2 and side portion 204 respectively.

The channel portion 205 extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the barge capping element 200, so as to generally align with the lower end edge la of the tiles.

The side portion 204 has a greater depth at the second end 202 than at the first end 201 to account for the step between adjacent courses resulting from the overlap of successive tiles and accordingly between successive barge capping elements 200. The side portion 204 is configured such that a continuous straight line is provided by the lower edge of the side portions 204 of successive barge capping element 200.

In a similar manner to the hip capping element 100, the length of the barge is capping element 200 is here selected such that the first end 201 extends beneath the next lowermost course as is apparent from Figure 17.

To finish the barge edge of a gable roof structure, the first course of roofing tiles is first layed, with some tiles at the barge edge of the face being cut in the usual manner if required so as not to extend beyond the roof face. The barge capping element 200 is then located on the first course with the side portion 204 abutted against the free side edge of the tile 1 and the underlying barge board 2.

The barge capping element 200 is located such that the lower end edge l a of the tiles at the barge edge are received in the channel portions 205 of the barge capping element 200 so as to secure the tiles. The hip capping element 200 is then secured to the roof substructure, here in the form of the barge board 2. The barge capping element is secured to the barge board 2 utilising a fastener passing through the aperture 208 in the barge capping element side portion 204.

A second course of roofing tiles is then layed in the same manner as the first, with the barge capping element first end 202 extending beneath the second course. A further barge capping element 200 is then installed in the same manner described above.

The above process is then repeated for successive courses.

Rather than securing the barge capping element 200 to the barge board prior to laying of the successive course of tiles and installation of the next barge capping element, the barge capping element 200 can be secured once the next element 200 is in place by passing a fastener through the overlapped region of the side portions of the successive [R:\LIILL]12804.doc:TCW:GJG barge capping element 200 and into the barge board 2. This will ensure that each barge capping element is secured toward both the first and second ends thereof providing a more secure installation.

To provide a similar appearance to hips and barge ends finished utilising the hip and barge capping elements 100, 200 described above, a ridge capping element 300 as depicted in Figures 18 through 21 can be utilised to finish the ridge of a roof structure.

The ridge capping element 300 is also formed of an elongate sheet metallic material and has a longitudinal axis and first and second ends 301, 302. The ridge capping element 300 is bent about the longitudinal axis to provide opposing mutually inclined portions 303, 304. An aperture 308 is located on the ridge capping element toward the first end 301 at the bend line between the inclined portions 303, 304. Each of the inclined portions 303, 304 is provided with a longitudinally extending crease 309, 310 in the same general o o ,o..manner as the other capping elements. The ridge capping elements 300 may be of any o• :suitable length, but will typically have a length of the order of the width of three to five S 15 roofing tiles 1.

In finishing the ridge of a roof as depicted in Figures 22 and 23, a ridge plate 350 as depicted in Figures 24 through 27 is utilised. The ridge plate 350 is formed of sheet material and bent in a similar manner to the ridge capping element 300. The ridge plate 350 is folded over at a first end thereof so as to form flaps 351 defining a recess therebeneath. An aperture 352 is provided along the bend line of the ridge plate.

To finish a hip, courses of tiles are layed up to adjacent the ridge line as depicted o in Figure 22. To install each ridge capping element 300, a ridge plate is first fastened to :the underlying ridge rafter by way of a fastener passing through the aperture 352 in the ridge plate. The ridge capping element second end 302 is then layed on top of the ridge plate 350 and inserted into the recess beneath the ridge plate flaps 351, to thereby secure the ridge capping element second end 302. The ridge capping element first end 301 is then secured to the ridge rafter by way of a further fastener passing through the aperture 308 toward the ridge capping element first end 301. A further ridge plate 350 is then secured to the ridge rafter so as to overlap the secured first end 301 of the first ridge capping element 300. If so desired, the ridge capping element first end 301 and next ridge capping plate 350 can be secured to the ridge rafter utilising a single fastener passing first through the ridge plate aperture 352 and then through the ridge capping element aperture 308 and into the ridge rafter.

The apex defined at the intersection of two ridges and a hip, as depicted in Figure 32, or two hips and a ridge, as depicted in Figure 33 can be finished utilising an [R:\LIBLL]12804.doc:TCW:GJG apex capping element 400 as depicted in Figures 29 through 31. The apex capping element 400 is formed of sheet metal material and is formed to define first, second and third ends 401, 402 and 403 each having a bent profile matching that of the hip and ridge capping elements 100, 300. To install the apex capping element, apex plates 450 as depicted in Figure 32 are first secured to the ridge rafters adjacent the apex for an apex where two ridges meet a hip. The apex plates 450 are of effectively the same configuration as the ridge plates 350, having folded over flaps 451 defining a recess therebeneath. The apex capping element second and third ends 402, 403, being those ends which are mutually perpendicular, are then fitted underneath the flaps 451 of the lo apex capping elements 450. Tabs 404 extend from each opposing side of the apex capping element first end 401. These tabs are folded underneath the side edges of the hip capping element 100 lying beneath the apex capping element 400 so as to complete the installation securing the apex capping element.

In an alternative hip configuration to that described in relation to Figures 1 to 11, S 15s the hip plate 150 described in relation to Figures 8 to 11 is replaced with a support element 550 as depicted in Figures 34 to 37. The support element 550 comprises a plate portion 551 and a flange portion 552 upstanding from the plate portion 551. The plate portion 551 is bent about a longitudinal axis to provide opposing mutually inclined regions of the plate portion, matching the planes of the adjacent roof faces at the hip. The flange portion 552 is divided into two sections extending at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis in the same manner as the channel portions 105 of the hip capping element 100, such that the two sections of the flange portion 552 generally align with the lower end edge 1 a of the cut tiles 1.

As depicted in Figure 38, the support element 550 is located such that the plate portion 551 is beneath the end cut tiles 1 with the flange portion abutting the lower end edge la of the cut tiles 1. The flange portion 552 accordingly retains the cut tiles 1 in position and prevents the same from sliding down the hip. A fastener 140 is then driven through an aperture in the support element plate portion 551 and through the underlying hip capping element 100 and into the roof substructure. Securing the cut edge tiles 1 in this manner prevents the lower end edge 1 a of the cut tiles from kicking upward as may occur when utilising the hip plate 150 of the arrangement of Figures 1 to 11 which results from the application of downward pressure toward the top end of the lowermost cut tiles.

Once the support element 550 has been secured in place, the next hip capping element 100 is located in position with the channel portion 105 extending over the support element flange portion 552 with the channel flange 107 being wedged between [R:\LIBLL] 12804.doc:TCW:GJG 13 the support element plate portion 551 and the underlying first hip capping element 100.

This holds the leading edge of the upper hip capping element 100 secure, and results in the end edge of the lowermost cut tiles 1 effectively being received within the channel portion 105 of the hip capping element 100.

The various capping elements described above can be utilised in various combinations are required to finish the hips, barges, ridges and apexes of rooves of various and complex configurations as required, providing a uniformed finished appearance to the various roof face junctures. Whilst the capping elements described are particularly suitable for use with flat tiles, it is envisaged that the capping elements will also be suitable for contoured tiles with appropriate modifications to the capping element profiles.

0.

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Claims (18)

1. A roof hip capping element formed of an elongate sheet material and having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, said capping element being bent about said longitudinal axis to provide opposing mutually inclined portions adapted to at least partially cover tiles in use lying adjacent to, and on opposing sides of, a roof hip, wherein said hip capping element is provided with a channel portion depending from each of said inclined portions at said capping element second end for receiving a lower end edge of a respective said adjacent tile, said channel portions each extending at an acute angle to said longitudinal axis selected so as to generally align with the respective said tile lower end edge.

2. The roof hip capping element of claim 1, wherein said hip capping element has a length selected such that, in use, said first end extends beneath the next lowermost course to that of said adjacent tiles.

3. The roof hip capping element of either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein 15 said channel portions are formed by bending said sheet material through two successive :approximate right angles.

4. The roof hip capping element of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of said mutually inclined portions is provided with a longitudinally extending crease adjacent the free edge thereof, thereby inclining an edge region of said inclined portion downwardly with respect to the remainder of said inclined portion.

A method of finishing a hip in a roof structure comprising the steps of: laying a first course of roofing tiles on first and second adjacent roof S° faces meeting at a hip, cutting tiles at the edge of each said face adjacent said hip so as not to extend beyond the respective said face, b) locating a hip capping element as defined above on said first course and spanning said hip with said mutually inclined portions at least partially covering said cut tiles of said first and second roof faces, c) receiving the lower end edge of cut tiles at the end of said course adjacent said hip in the respective said channel portion of said hip capping element, d) laying a second course of roofing tiles according to step with said hip capping element first end extending beneath said second course, e) securing said hip capping element to a substructure of said roof, f) repeating steps b) through e) for successive courses. [R:\LIBLL] 12804.doc:TCW:GJG s n

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said hip capping element is secured in step e) by a fastener extending through an aperture provided in said hip capping element toward said first end thereof.

7. The method of either one of claims 5 and 6, wherein a hip plate is s located on top of cut tiles of said second course and spanning said hip, said fastener extending through an aperture in said hip plate, between said cut edge tiles of said second course, through said hip capping element and into said roof substructure.

8. The method of either one of claims 5 and 6, wherein a support element, comprising a base portion and a flange portion upstanding from said plate portion, is 1o located with said plate portion beneath cut tiles at said end of said second course adjacent said hip and with said flange portion abutting said lower end edge of said cut tiles, said fastener extending through an aperture in said plate portion, through said hip capping o oor o element and into said roof substructure, wherein the channel portion of the said hip capping element subsequently located on said second course extends over said flange 15 portion of said support element and is wedged between said plate portion of said support element and the underlying hip capping element located on said first course.

9. A roof barge capping element formed of an elongate sheet material and having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, said capping element being bent *099 about said longitudinal axis to provide a top portion adapted to at least partially cover the upper surface of an end tile in use lying adjacent a barge edge of a gable roof and a side portion adapted to cover the free side edge surface of said tile, **wherein said barge capping element is provided with a channel portion :depending from said top portion at said capping element second end for receiving a lower end edge of said tile, said channel portion each extending substantially perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis so as to generally align with said tile lower end edge.

The roof barge capping element of claim 9, wherein said barge capping element has a length selected such that, in use, said first end extends beneath the next lowermost course to that of said end tile.

11. The roof barge capping element of either one of claims 9 and wherein said channel portion is formed by bending said sheet material through two successive approximate right angles.

12. The roof barge capping element of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein said top portion is provided with a longitudinally extending crease adjacent the free edge thereof, thereby inclining an edge region of said top portion downwardly with respect to the remainder of said top portion. [R:ULIBLL] 12804.doc:TCW:GJG 16

13. A method of finishing a barge edge in a gable roof structure comprising the steps of: a) laying a first course of roofing tiles on a roof face ending at a gable with a barge edge, b) locating a barge capping element as defined above on said first course at said barge edge, said top portion of said barge capping element at least partially covering the upper surface of a tile at the barge edge of said first course and said side portion covering the free side edge of said tile, c) receiving the lower end edge of said tile in said channel portion of said barge capping element, d) securing said barge capping element to a substructure of said roof, e) laying a second course of roofing tiles according to step with said @600 :ooo•barge capping element first end extending beneath said second course, OSOO f) repeating steps b) through e) for successive courses. S 15

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said barge capping element is secured S. o* in step d) by a fastener extending through an aperture provided in said barge capping element toward said first end thereof.

15. The method of either one of claims 13 and 14, wherein step e) proceeds 0*SO •oo0 step d).

16. The method of any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein said aperture is provided in said side portion of said barge capping element.

17. A roof hip capping element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A roof barge capping element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 12 to 16 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this Twenty-Seventh Day of March, 2002 Boral Montoro Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON [R:\LIBLL] I 2804.doc:TCW:GJG