GB2071179A

GB2071179A - Storm porch

Info

Publication number: GB2071179A
Application number: GB8107472A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Rust & Wright Shopfitters Ltd
Current assignee: Rust & Wright Shopfitters Ltd
Priority date: 1980-03-12
Filing date: 1981-03-10
Publication date: 1981-09-16

Abstract

A porch roof comprises a moulded roof of tank-like construction having a base 10 and side and end walls 12, 14, 16 and 18. The base 10 is formed with drainage channels 20, 22 for the collection of rainwater which may be discharged via a downpipe connected to outlet 24 or 26. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Storm porch This invention relates to storm porches and like structures.

Primarily for the purpose of improving insulation against draughts and against heat loss, it is known to add a vestibular porch adjacent to the outer door of a dwelling house. Considerable advantage can be attained even if the walls of the vestibule construction are largely glazed or of lightweight wood panels, rather than being fabricated in situ of the same materials as the house itself, for example bricks and mortar. The construction therefore lends itself to prefabrication for subsequent erection by the home handyman.

However the roof of such a structure has been a problem area. Utilisation of the same materials as the house, for example slates or concrete tiles is inappropriate if the panel walls do not also match the house walls in materials, and the weight of such roofing materials is too great for the wooden panel construction which is now preferred.

Asphalte and roofing felt are often used, but if cold laid the weatherproofing tends to be unsatisfactory. If hot-laid, that is with molten asphalte, the job is outside the scope of the handyman and because the roof of such a porch is relatively small, typically being of the order of 6 or 7 feet long and say 3 feet wlde, it is particularly inefficient and uneconomic to use professional asphalters.

The object of the present invention is to solve this problem.

In accordance with the invention a porch roof comprises a shallow tank-iike structure of fiber reinforced polyester resin made by laying the material in a cavity mould so that the external surfaces of the tank replicate the mould finish.

Such a structure may be light in weight so as to be easily handled for transport and installation.

The mould can be smooth and for example polished and this means that the outer surfaces of the tank can be well finished and attractive in appearance without requiring any painting or subsequent attention after installation. The materials may be self coloured so that the wooden or other structural parts of the porch can match the tank after they have been painted.

The tank may be generally parallelopiped in shape, that is rectangular in plan and elevations.

The underside of the base of the tank may form the ceiling of the porch, and again will not need any additional finishing due to the aesthetic possibilities of the material utilised.

In addition, the materials specified for the invention are effectively water resistant so that the roof will be weatherproof, and the tank may be ussd to collect rainwater and direct it to a drainage point, for example by providing a connection from the tank for a downpipe leading to a drain or rain collection tub.

Preferably the interior of the tank has the base strengthened by additional reinforcement located se that when a tank is supported on &commat; a truly horizontal plane, there is a natural fall from the centre of the base to the perimeter at all points, although the fall need only be slight, for example of the order of one eighth inch per foot run. The perimeter of the tank internally is preferably provided with a continuous drainage channel, and one or more shallow well-like recesses may be provided at corners of the tank, so that holes can be punched through the recesses to connect with drainpipes.

To improve the strength of the roof particularly in transport and storage, the side walls are preferably integral with a narrow inwardly extending flange which is substantially co-planar with the base and located at the top of the walls around the whole perimeter.

The roof may be constructed with successive layers of gel coat resin, for example at a nominal weight of 2 oz. per square foot, followed by a backup resin reinforced with two layers of chopped strand matt of a density of approxima.ing to 121 sz. per square foot and at an approximate resin to glass ratio of 3 to 1. The materials may be built up to a thickness of about one eighth inch but locally increased for example by rope reinforcement extending in a grid pattern particularly over the base area.

One example of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings to which reference is now made. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a porch roof; and Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view.

As shown, the roof is of tank-like construction having a generally rectangular base 10, side walls 12,14 and end walls 16, 18.The base 10 is moulded with a continuous drainage channel 20 around its perimeter which may be enlarged at one end (18) to form a gutter 22. A hole 24 (or 26) may be formed at one end, during installation of the roof, for connection of a downpipe depending on which side the downpipe is required.

The side walls and end walls are reinforced by a continuous flange 28 and the base 10 8 is reinforced by a grid of reinforcing elements such as rods or ropes 30 laid on the topside of the base 10 and overlaid with a coating of the resin gel. To assist drainage towards the sides and the end wall 18, the roof is produced so that the base 10 slopes in the manher indicated by the arrows 32, 34 and 36.

it will be observed that the underside of the base is recsssed at 4G because of the presence of the channels 20, 22. The bearers on which the roof is supported by fit inside this recess immediately adjacent the channels 20, 22 and the oaf may be fastened thereto by screws or like fasteners extending through the base 10 with sealing washers or like provided to prevent the ingress of water.

1. A porch rooS which comprises a shallow eank-sike structure of fiber reinforced polyester resin made by laying the materiel in a cavity mould

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Storm porch This invention relates to storm porches and like structures. Primarily for the purpose of improving insulation against draughts and against heat loss, it is known to add a vestibular porch adjacent to the outer door of a dwelling house. Considerable advantage can be attained even if the walls of the vestibule construction are largely glazed or of lightweight wood panels, rather than being fabricated in situ of the same materials as the house itself, for example bricks and mortar. The construction therefore lends itself to prefabrication for subsequent erection by the home handyman. However the roof of such a structure has been a problem area. Utilisation of the same materials as the house, for example slates or concrete tiles is inappropriate if the panel walls do not also match the house walls in materials, and the weight of such roofing materials is too great for the wooden panel construction which is now preferred. Asphalte and roofing felt are often used, but if cold laid the weatherproofing tends to be unsatisfactory. If hot-laid, that is with molten asphalte, the job is outside the scope of the handyman and because the roof of such a porch is relatively small, typically being of the order of 6 or 7 feet long and say 3 feet wlde, it is particularly inefficient and uneconomic to use professional asphalters. The object of the present invention is to solve this problem. In accordance with the invention a porch roof comprises a shallow tank-iike structure of fiber reinforced polyester resin made by laying the material in a cavity mould so that the external surfaces of the tank replicate the mould finish. Such a structure may be light in weight so as to be easily handled for transport and installation. The mould can be smooth and for example polished and this means that the outer surfaces of the tank can be well finished and attractive in appearance without requiring any painting or subsequent attention after installation. The materials may be self coloured so that the wooden or other structural parts of the porch can match the tank after they have been painted. The tank may be generally parallelopiped in shape, that is rectangular in plan and elevations. The underside of the base of the tank may form the ceiling of the porch, and again will not need any additional finishing due to the aesthetic possibilities of the material utilised. In addition, the materials specified for the invention are effectively water resistant so that the roof will be weatherproof, and the tank may be ussd to collect rainwater and direct it to a drainage point, for example by providing a connection from the tank for a downpipe leading to a drain or rain collection tub. Preferably the interior of the tank has the base strengthened by additional reinforcement located se that when a tank is supported on &commat; a truly horizontal plane, there is a natural fall from the centre of the base to the perimeter at all points, although the fall need only be slight, for example of the order of one eighth inch per foot run. The perimeter of the tank internally is preferably provided with a continuous drainage channel, and one or more shallow well-like recesses may be provided at corners of the tank, so that holes can be punched through the recesses to connect with drainpipes. To improve the strength of the roof particularly in transport and storage, the side walls are preferably integral with a narrow inwardly extending flange which is substantially co-planar with the base and located at the top of the walls around the whole perimeter. The roof may be constructed with successive layers of gel coat resin, for example at a nominal weight of 2 oz. per square foot, followed by a backup resin reinforced with two layers of chopped strand matt of a density of approxima.ing to 121 sz. per square foot and at an approximate resin to glass ratio of 3 to 1. The materials may be built up to a thickness of about one eighth inch but locally increased for example by rope reinforcement extending in a grid pattern particularly over the base area. One example of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings to which reference is now made. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a porch roof; and Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view. As shown, the roof is of tank-like construction having a generally rectangular base 10, side walls 12,14 and end walls 16, 18.The base 10 is moulded with a continuous drainage channel 20 around its perimeter which may be enlarged at one end (18) to form a gutter 22. A hole 24 (or 26) may be formed at one end, during installation of the roof, for connection of a downpipe depending on which side the downpipe is required. The side walls and end walls are reinforced by a continuous flange 28 and the base 10 8 is reinforced by a grid of reinforcing elements such as rods or ropes 30 laid on the topside of the base 10 and overlaid with a coating of the resin gel. To assist drainage towards the sides and the end wall 18, the roof is produced so that the base 10 slopes in the manher indicated by the arrows 32, 34 and 36. it will be observed that the underside of the base is recsssed at 4G because of the presence of the channels 20, 22. The bearers on which the roof is supported by fit inside this recess immediately adjacent the channels 20, 22 and the oaf may be fastened thereto by screws or like fasteners extending through the base 10 with sealing washers or like provided to prevent the ingress of water. CLAIMS

1. A porch rooS which comprises a shallow eank-sike structure of fiber reinforced polyester resin made by laying the materiel in a cavity mould so that the external surfaces of the tank replicate the mould finish.

2. A porch roof as claimed in Claim 1 in which the perimeter of the tank base is provided with a continuous drainage channel.

3. A porch roof as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the base is upwardly convex at least in transverse section.

4. A porch roof as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the underside of the base of the tank constitutes the ceiling of the porch.

5. A porch having a roof as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4.

6. A porch roof substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.