EP0377001B1

EP0377001B1 - Roofing system

Info

Publication number: EP0377001B1
Application number: EP19890905429
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas George Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-04-19
Filing date: 1989-04-19
Publication date: 1992-11-11
Also published as: WO1989010456A1; EP0377001A1; GB8928358D0; GB2228278A; IE65714B1; IE891254L; GB8809163D0

Abstract

A roofing system comprises a plurality of plate members (10), a series of side edge members (14) and a series of fascia edge members (22) all of synthetic material to be fitted over a prepared roof support structure (12). Each side edge member (14) has a plate portion (16), a barge portion (18) and a soffit portion (20). Each fascia edge member (22) has a plate portion (24), a fascia board portion (26) and a soffit portion (28). Adjacent members are interconnected together to form waterproof joints and provide a waterproof covering for the roof support structure (12). Each fascia edge member (22) incorporates a drainage channel (32) provided in the plate portion (24).

Description

This invention relates to roofing systems for buildings particularly, but not exclusively, to roofing systems whose obverse face is fashioned to simulate thatching.
Roofing systems for buildings have been proposed heretofore such as described in the following patent specifications.
GB 2 094 365A discloses a roofing system comprising a plurality of roofing panels (10) of synthetic resinous material to be fitted over a prepared roof support structure with a series of end panels (22) each having a ledge (24) to fit beneath the underside of the panels (10) and a barge portion. A conventional gutter is shown attached to a roof support structure at the lower end of the roofing panels (10). US-A-4631 875 discloses a gutter assembly for fitment to the lower edge of a roof support structure. The assembly has a gutter 20 formed with a front wall (86), a rear wall (32), a bottom portion (70) and a leaf guard (22) having unperforated portions (82, 84). The rear wall has flanges (36, 38) for use with mounting brackets (28) in attaching the gutter assembly to the overhang roof edge. A separate soffit strip (30) is attached to a lower portion of the mounting brackets (28) between the rear wall (32) and a wall (34). DE-A-3 220 536 discloses a roofing system having the obverse face of plate members (21) provided with a covering of natural or synthetic reeds (23.1) forming a thatch thereover with anchoring elements (22) being provided on the members for securing the thatch covering thereto.
Accordingly, the present invention is a roofing system comprising a plurality of plate members of synthetic material to be fitted over a prepared roof support structure and a series of side edge members of synthetic material, each formed to provide a plate portion and a barge portion to be fitted along lateral sides of the plate members and the structure characterised in that each side edge member also has an integral soffit portion to be secured to a gable wall below the structure, and a series of fascia edge members of synthetic material, each formed to provide a plate portion, a fascia board portion and a soffit portion, the plate portion and the fascia board portion being fitted along the lower edge of the assembled plate members and the structure with the soffit portionto be secured to a wall below the structure, the plate portion of each fascia edge member having an integral drainage channel parallel to and spaced from the fascia board portion, adjacent members being interconnected together to form waterproof joints and provide a waterproof covering for the roof support structure.
Preferably, the drainage channels in the fascia edge members are assembled together with watertight joints and a downpipe is provided to convey away any collected rainwater. The drainage channel in each fascia edge member is preferably open-topped. Alternatively, the drainage channel in each fascia edge member is formed under the plate portion with a series of slots being provided therein to communicate with the channel. A series of top capping members of synthetic material is preferably provided to extend along the apex of the roof when formed of the assembly of plate members and side edge members.
Preferably also, the joints between the members are scarfed joints and a plurality of clips are provided for securing the members to the roof support structure.
Preferably further, the obverse face of the plate members, the plate portion of the side edge members and the plate portion and soffit portion of the fascia edge members are provided with a pattern thereover representing lengths of natural thatch. The representation of thatch may preferably include representation of ropes across the simulated reeds. The fascia board portion of the fascia edge member is preferably provided with a pattern thereover representing the ends of natural thatch.
Alternatively, the obverse face of the plate members, the side edge members and the plate portion and soffit portion of the fascia edge members are provided with a covering of natural or synthetic reeds forming a thatch over the assembly of members with anchoring elements in the form of apertured fixtures, being provided on the members for securing the thatch covering thereto with the use of a flexible element threaded through the apertures of the fixtures. The fascia board portion of the fascia edge member is preferably provided with a covering of reed ends.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a roof showing a roofing system according to the present invention, each side of the roof being shown in a different form;
Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a detail of a joint;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a detail of a fascia edge member showing one part of a first form of drainage channel;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of anchoring elements on plate members and plate portions; and
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one end of a roofing system on a building, showing a second form of drainage channel.

Referring to the drawings, a roofing system comprises a plurality of plate members 10 of synthetic material to be fitted over a prepared roof support structure 12. A series of side edge members 14 of synthetic material is provided each having a plate portion 16, a barge portion 18 and a soffit portion 20. A series of fascia edge members 22 of synthetic material is provided each having a plate portion 24, a fascia board portion 26 and a soffit portion 28. Each member 10, 14, 22 has jointing edges. Adjacent members 10, 14, 22 are interconnected together at their edges to form waterproof joints and provide a waterproof covering for the roof support structure. The joints between the members 10, 14, 22 are scarfed joints as shown in Fig. 2, and a plurality of clips 30 are provided for securing the members to the roof support structure 12.
The fascia edge members 22 each incorporate a drainage channel 32 provided in the plate portion 24. The drainage channels 32 are assembled together with watertight joints and one or two downpipes 34 are provided at one or at each end of the assembly respectively to convey away any collected rainwater. The drainage channel 32 in each fascia edge member 22 is open-topped as shown in Fig. 5 or alternatively, the drainage channel 32 in each fascia edge member 22 is secured under the plate portion 24 with a series of slots 36 being provided therein to communicate with the channel 32 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
A series of top capping members 38 of synthetic material is provided to extend along the apex of the roof when formed of the assembly of plate members 10 and side edge members 14.
The obverse face of the plate members 10, the portions of the side edge members 14 and the plate portion 24 and soffit portion 28 of the fascia edge members 22are provided with a pattern thereover representing lengths of natural thatch as shown on the right hand side of the roof in Fig. 1. The representation of thatch includes representation of ropes across the simulated reeds of the thatch, and the slots 36 are provided in the representations of the ropes in the manner as shown in Fig. 3. The fascia board portion 26 of the fascia edge member 22 is provided with a pattern thereover representing the ends of the reeds of natural thatch as shown in Fig. 3.
In a modification as shown on the left hand side of the roof in Fig. 1, the obverse face of the plate members 10, the portions of the side edge members 14 and the plate portion 24 and soffit portion 28 of the fascia edge members 22 are provided with a covering 40 of natural of synthetic reeds forming a thatch over the assembly of members 10, 14, 22. Anchoring elements, in the form of fixtures 44, are provided secured, or to be secured, in a spaced apart relationship to the members 10, 14, 22 for use in securing the thatch covering thereto by threading a flexible element 46 through apertures provided in said fixtures 44 as shown in Fig. 4. The fascia board portion 26 of the fascia edge member 22 is provided with a covering 42 of reed ends.
The synthetic material can be of plastics material or formed from moulding composite or multi-ply materials.
In use, a roof covering is formed over the roof support structure 12 with plate members 10, the clips 30 being fastened to the strappings across the rafters of the structure 12 making sure that the Joints are waterproof. The side edge members 14 are then fitted, followed by the capping members 38 and the fascia edge members 22. The downpipe 34 is then fitted into place as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the slots 36 are angled (as the ropes would be) and spaced from each other in overlapped fashion. Rainwater running down the roof flows into the slots 36 (which are of sufficient width to prevent rainwater bridging) into the channels 32 and into the downpipe(s). In the case of the thatch covering, the rainwater first percolates through the covering onto the roof then runs down as described before.
The above-described invention is advantageous with the obverse face of the plate members and plate portions of the side edge and fascia edge members being provided with a pattern thereover representing lengths of natural thatch since it displays all the benefits of a thatched roof without the accepted and known disadvantages i.e. fire hazard, fungal and/or chemical deterioration, infestation by vermin, high level continuous repair due to low weathering resistance of natural materials, scarcity of natural raw materials and skilled thatchers and inability of providing a practical and effective guttering system.
Joints, other than scarf joints, for example lapped or finger joints can be used at the jointing edges.

Claims

A roofing system comprising a plurality of plate members (10) of synthetic material to be fitted over a prepared roof support structure (12) and a series of side edge members (14) of synthetic material, each formed to provide a plate portion (16) and a barge portion (18) to be fitted along lateral sides of the plate members (10) and the structure (12), each side edge member (14) having an integral soffit portion (20) to be secured to a gable wall below the structure (12), and a series of fascia edge members (22) of synthetic material, each formed to provide a plate portion (24), a fascia board portion (26) and a soffit portion (28), the plate portion (24) and the fascia board portion (26) being fitted along the lower edge of the assembled plate members (10) and the structure (12) with the soffit portion (28) to be secured to a wall below the structure (12), adjacent members (10, 14, 22) being interconnected together to form waterproof joints and provide a waterproof covering for the roof support structure (12), characterised in that the plate portion (24) of each fascia edge member (22) has an integral drainage channel (32) parallel to and spaced from the fascia board portion (26).
Roofing system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the drainage channels (32) in the fascia edge members (22) are assembled together with watertight joints and a downpipe is provided to convey away any collected rainwater.
Roofing systems as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the drainage channel (32) in each fascia edge member (22) is open-topped.
Roofing systems as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the drainage channel (32) in each fascia edge member (22) is formed under the plate portion (24) with a series of slots (36) being provided therein to communicate with the channel (32).
Roofing systems as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that a series of top capping members (38) of synthetic material is provided to extend along the apex of the roof when formed of the assembly of plate members (10) and side edge members (14).
Roofing systems as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the joints between the members are scarfed joints.
Roofing systems as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that a plurality of clips are provided for securing the members (10, 14, 22) to the roof support structure (32).
Roofing systems as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the obverse face of the plate members (10), the plate portion (16) of the side edge members (14) and the plate portion (24) and soffit portion (28) of the fascia edge members (22) are provided with a pattern thereover representing lengths of natural thatch.
Roofing systems as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that the representation of thatch includes representation of ropes across the simulated reeds.
Roofing systems as claimed in Claim 9, characterised in that the series of slots (36) are provided in the representations of the ropes on the plate portion (24) above the drainage channel (32).
Roofing systems as claimed in Claim 8, 9 or 10, characterised in that the fascia board portion (26) of the fascia edge member (22) is provided with a pattern thereover representing the ends of natural thatch.
Roofing systems as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the obverse face of the plate members (10), the side edge members (14) and the plate portion (24) and soffit portion (28) of the fascia edge members (22) are provided with a covering of natural or synthetic reeds forming a thatch over the assembly of members (10, 14, 22) with anchoring elements, in the form of apertured fixtures (44), being provided on the members (10, 14, 22) for securing the thatch covering thereto with the use of a flexible element (46) threaded through the apertures of the fixtures (44).
Roofing system as claimed in Claim 12, characterised in that the fascia board portion (26) of the fascia edge member (22) is provided with a covering (42) of reed ends.