GB2071732A - Tiled roofs - Google Patents

Abstract

A tiled roof comprises a plurality of tiles (14, 15) having interlocking edges (18, 20) which form conventional waterproof interlock joints. The ends of each row of tiles (14, 15) are finished with verge members (1, 1A) which have interlock profiles (8, 8A) forming waterproof interlock joints with the adjacent edges. The verge members (1, 1A) are secured to barge boards (6, 6A) and hold the edges of the roof tiles (14, 15) in position without the use of a mortar bed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tiled roofs This invention relates to a tiled roof, and more particularly to a tiled roof in which the tiles at the side edges of the roof are secured in place by means of a dry verge system.

The term "dry verge system" as used herein means a system for finishing the lateral edges of a tiled roof without the use of a mortar bed and in a manner to hold the end tiles of each row in position and to prevent the ingress of water between the end tiles and the adjacent vertically extending facing. The nature of the vertically extending facing will depend on the particular building provided with the roof. The vertically extending facing may, for example, be constituted by a brick wall or by a barge board secured to a flying rafter.

Dry verge systems have been proposed, but have for various reasons not proved satisfactory.

For example, in one proposed dry verge system a length of extruded plastics material is secured to the barge board of a roof and includes an elongate flange under which the edges of the roof tiles are fitted. In order to ensure that the correct fit is obtained between the flange and the tiles this system requires the use of specific sized tile battens. Further, the continuous elongate extrusion running along the barge boarding of the building looks unsightly. Further, because the tiles lie at an angle to the barge board a gap is formed at the headlap of each tile between the tile and the flange, allowing the penetration of rain.

According to one feature of the present invention a roof comprises: a plurality of rows of tiles, each tile having interlock profiles at the lateral edges thereof, the interlock profiles of adjacent tile edges forming a waterproof interlock joint; and, for each row of tiles, a respective verge member located at each end of the row, the verge members being generally inverted L-shaped in transverse cross-section with a vertically extending limb secured to an adjacent vertically extending portion of the building having the roof, and a horizontally extending limb, each horizontally extending limb including an interlock profile which mates with the interlock profile of the adjacent end tile to form a waterproof interlock joint therewith.

The term "waterproof interlock joint" as used herein means a joint formed by assembling together two roof cladding members having mating joint forming edges, which, because of the profile of said edges, prevents substantial relative movement between the members in at least one direction, provides a substantially step-free obverse surface at the joint, and is effective to prevent the penetration of water through the roof without the use of a joint sealant.

In the preferred embodiment, at one end of each row of tiles the horizontally extending limb will overlie its mating tile and will thus secure the end tile in position. At the other end of each row the horizontally extending limb will underlie its mating tile and at this end a clip is provided to secure the end tile to the verge member In this manner, the verge members and clips not only secure the free edge of the tiles at the ends of the rows in position, but utilise an interlock profile to form a waterproof joint at each end of the row.

Accordingly, the need to provide a mortar bed for the tiles at the end of each row is obviated, and this considerably reduces the time and cost of installing a rodf.

The verge members are preferably integral mouldings of plastics material, and are preferably provided with a surface which is coloured and textured to simulate the appearance of the tiles of the roof.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of a roofing system, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a verge member; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the verge member of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is an end view of the verge member of Figure 1; FIGURES 4 and 5 are respectively crosssections on the lines IV--IV and V-V of Figure 1; FIGURES 6-10 are views corresponding to Figures 1-5 of a second verge member; FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view of a roof provided with dry verge members; and FIGURE 12 is a side view of the roof of Figure 11.

Referring firstly to Figures 1-5 and Figure 11 a dry verge member 1 is shown which is generally inverted L-shaped in transverse cross-section and which includes a vertically extending limb 2 and a generally horizontally extending limb 3. The vertically extending limb 2 is provided with screw holes 4 through which screws 5 extend to secure the member 1 to the barge board 6 of a roof 7.

The holes 4 are preformed to be somewhat smaller than the diameter of the screws 5 so that when the screws are driven home a waterproof joint is formed at the holes 4.

The upper surface of the limb 3 is provided with an interlock profile 8 comprising upstanding ribs 9, 10 and relieved portions 11, 12.

A clip 13 is located at one end of the limb 3 to hold in place the free edge of a roofing tile, to be described in more detail hereinafter.

The entire dry verge member 1 is preferably an integral moulding of suitable plastics material, for example PVC, and all exposed surfaces of the member are preferably coloured and textured to simulate the appearance of a concrete roofing tile with which the member is used.

Referring now to Figures 6-10 a second dry verge member 1 a is shown which comprises a vertically extending limb 2A and a horizontally extending limb 3A. Holes 4A are provided to receive fixing of screws to secure the member 1 A to the barge board of a roof. The lower surface of the limb 3A is provided with an interlock profile 8A which is complementary to the interlock profile 8 of the member of Figures 1-5 and which comprises ribs 9A and 1 OA and relieve portions 11Aand 12A.

Referring now to Figure 11 a cross-section of a roof is shown. It will be appreciated that whilst the roof shown in Figure 11 comprises only two tiles 14, 1 5 the roof may in practice comprise any number of identical tiles. Opposite lateral edges of each tile are provided with interlock profiles which are complementary to each other such that when the tiles are correctly overlapped as at 1 6 the interlock profiles interlock to form a waterproof joint between the tiles. The joint between adjacent tiles is not sealed in any way, and according it will be appreciated that the term "waterproof joint" as used herein means a joint which is effective to exclude water under all normal weather conditions even though the joint is not capable, in absolute terms, of preventing the ingress of water.

It will be noted from Figure 11 that the interlock profile 8 of the verge member 1 is identical to the interlock profile 1 7 at the inner edge 18 of the tile 14. Accordingly, the free edge of the tile 14 forms a waterproof interlock joint with the interlock profile 8 in the same manner as it would form a waterproof interlock joint with an adjacent tile. Similarly, the interlock profile 8A of the verge member 1A is identical to the interlock profile 1 9 at the inner edge 20 of the tile 1 5, and accordingly the interlock profile 8A forms a waterproof interlock joint with the free edge a tile 1 5. It will further be appreciated that the verge member 1 A holds the free edge of the tile 1 5 against movement away from the barge board 6A at that edge of the roof.In the case of the verge member 1 the lower edge 21 of the member is substantially flush with the lower edge of the tile 14, and the lower outside corner of the tile 14 is located under the clip 13. This holds the lower outside corner of the tile 14 in position. The upper edge of the tile 14 is, of course, located under the lower edge of the new adjacent row up the roof, and is accordingly held firmly in position.

In constructing the above described roof, the spacing of the barge boards 6, 6A is selected so that each row of tiles contains an integral number of tiles and the end tiles of each row terminate relative to the barge boards as illustrated in Figure 11. Each row of tiles is then laid and at the end of each row the verge members 1, 1 A are secured in position to the barge boards. The length of each verge member 1, 1 A is sufficient to allow headlamps between adjacent rows of tiles of between 75 mm and 100 mm, and accordingly the verge members accommodate the maximum and minimum laps which are normally encountered with the use of interlock roofing tiles.

Further, the verge members can accommodate variations in roof pitch. Since the verge members are not secured to the barge boards until after the tiles have been laid, the exact thickness of the battens upon which the tiles are mounted is not critical, and a watertight joint is assured at each edge of each row of tiles despite variations in batten thickness.

Referring now to Figure 12 an end view of a gabled roof fitted with the above described dry verge system is shown. A special ridge tile 22 having a depending flange is provided at each end of the ridge to provide a waterproof joint between the top two verge members on each side of the ridge. The verge members give a neat and symmetrical appearance and, if coloured and textured to match the tiles of the roof give a particularly pleasing visual effect. Further, since the verge members completely exclude water from a substantial part of the barge board, they significantly reduce the risk of damage to the barge board by water penetration. Preferably, the surfaces of the verge members which engage the barge boards are profiled to prevent capillary attraction of water between the verge members and the barge board, and to prevent sweating of the timber of the barge board.For example, the inner surface of the verge members may be knurled or maybe provided with upstanding ridges so as to reduce the area of contact between the verge members and the barge boards.

Whilst in the embodiment shown above the generally horizontally extending limbs of the verge members are formed as solid mouldings having interlock profiles identical to the interlock profile of the associated roofing tiles, it will be appreciated that other arrangements are possible.

For example, the generally horizontally extending limbs may be formed by a shell of material having substantially the same thickness as the vertically extending limbs, and provided with suitable reinforcing ribs. In a particularly preferred embodiment the horizontally extending limb of the verge member 1 is formed by an upper wall having the same thickness as the limb 2 and defining the interlock profile 8, and by reinforcing the ribs which extend transversely to the length of the verge member 1 and have the same shape as the solid generally horizontally extending limb 3 illustrated in Figures 3-5. Similarly, in a particularly preferred embodiment of overlapping verge member the horizontally extending limb is formed by an upper wall having the same thickness as the vertically extending limb 2A and defining the upper curved surface of the horizontally extending limb 3A. Transverse reinforcing ribs having the same profile as the solid horizontally extending limb 3A illustrated in Figures 8-10 are provided at intervals along the length of the verge member and a longitudinally extending reinforcing rib is provided depending from the upper wall and extending the entire length of the verge member. This rib extends downwardly to a point corresponding to the lower edge of the rib 9A and accordingly provides a continuous longitudinal interlock joint. It will be appreciated that, in this embodiment, the form of the interlock profile provided on the horizontally extending limb is not identical to that of the associated tile, but nonetheless a mating waterproof interlock joint is formed.

The clip 13 may be a plastic clip moulded integrally with the verge member 1 or may be a separately fabricated clip. In this case, the clip can be permanently moulded into position when the verge member 1 is produced, or can be subsequently pushed into an aperture provided in the verge member 1. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the clip is a metal clip which simply clips in position under ridges provided on the underside of the generally horizontally extending limb. This arrangement is particularly advantageous when the horizontally extending limb is formed by a relatively thin upper wall with transverse reinforcing ribs as described above, in which case the transverse reinforcing ribs at the lower end of the verge member are preferably shaped to provide a seating for the clip.

Finally, it will be appreciated that whilst the invention is described with reference to a roof provided with barge boards, the roof can be terminated flush with the walls of the building, in which case the vertically extending limbs of the verge members are secured directly to the wall. In this case, the verge members provide a neat finish to the roof, and can provide a significant reduction in the cost of building as compared with the use of conventional building techniques involving the use of flying rafters and barge boards.

Claims (9)

1. A roof comprising: a plurality of rows of tiles, each tile having interlock profiles at the lateral edges thereof, the interlock profiles of adjacent tile edges forming a waterproof interlock joint; and, for each row of tiles, a respective verge member located at each end of the row, the verge members being generally inverted L-shaped in transverse cross-section with a vertically extending limb secured to an adjacent vertically extending portion of the building having the roof, and a horizontally extending limb, each horizontally extending limb including an interlock profile which mates with the interlock profile of the adjacent end tile to form a waterproof interlock joint therewith.

2. A roof according to claim 1 wherein at one end of each row of tiles the horizontally extending limb of the verge member overlies the edge of its mating tile to secure the end tile in position, and at the other end of each row of tiles the horizontally extending limb of the verge member underlies the edge of its mating tile and a clip is provided to secure the end tile to the verge member.

3. A roof according to claim 2 wherein the clip is a generally U-shaped metal clip one arm of which is located under the horizontally extending limb of the verge member and the other arm of which extends over the upper surface of the tile.

4. A roof according to any preceding claim wherein the side of each vertically extending limb which is adjacent the vertically extending portion of the building is profiled to prevent capillary attraction of water between the verge member and the portion of the building to which it is secured.

5. A roof according to any preceding claim wherein the verge members are secured to barge boards which, in turn, are secured to flying rafters.

6. A roof according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the verge members are secured to the wall of the building.

7. A roof according to any preceding claim wherein the upper and lower edges of the vertically extending limb of each verge member converge along the length of each verge member.

8. A roof according to any preceding claim wherein each verge member is injection moulded from plastics material.

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