GB2151685A - Retaining slates or battens on roofs - Google Patents

Abstract

Roofs are made, repaired or renovated by bonding retaining elements 6 to slates 2 or battens 4 so that elements 6 engage battens 4 or rafters 12 to prevent the slates or battens from slipping down the roof. Elements 6 are made from a non-flammable mineral material (e.g. expanded vermiculite) in a binder. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Roofs This invention relates to roofs and particularly, although not exclusively, to a method of repairing a slate roof.

A slate roof normally comprises slates which overlap one another and are nailed to battens which themselves are nailed to rafters. Sometimes the slates are nailed directly to rafters, with no battens being provided. Such roofs are subject to a condition known as "nail sickness", in which the nails fixing the slates to the battens or rafters rust or otherwise deteriorate, allowing the slates to slip out of position down the roof. When battens are provided, the nails fixing them to the rafters may rust or otherwise deteriorate, allowing the slates and battens to slip as one. In either event, water can then penetrate the roof.

British Patent No. 1337323 discloses a method of strengthening a roof to prevent the deterioration by fixing a so-called "angle member" to a loose slate, the angle member engaging one of the battens to prevent slipping of the slate. Patent No. 1337323 discloses various materials for the angle members, such as wood, metal, rigid plastics or synthetic rubber. All of these materials are relatively heavy and thus significantly increase the weight of a roof to which they are applied. Most of them are also flammable and may seriously increase the fire risk.

British Patent No. 1337653 discloses angle members of foamed plastics material, such as polyurethane. While such a material is light in weight, it is flammable and gives off highly toxic fumes when subjected to flame. This, again, is undesirable, particularly where the angle members are used in premises which are likely to be occupied by people.

According to the present invention there is provided a roof comprising roof elements mounted on battens or rafters, a retaining element being bonded to at least one of the roof elements and engaging one of the battens or rafters to prevent that roof element from slipping relatively to the rest of the roof, the retaining element comprising a substantially non-flammable mineral material in a binder.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of treating a roof comprising a plurality of roof elements mounted on battens, the method comprising bonding a retaining element to one of the roof elements in a position such thatthe retaining element engages one of the battens, the retaining element comprising a substantially nonflammable mineral material in a binder.

Athird aspect of the present invention provides a roof comprising roof elements mounted on battens supported by rafters, a retaining element being bonded to at least one of the battens and to at least one of the rafters to prevent that batten, and any roof elements mounted on it, from slipping relatively to the rest of the roof, the retaining element comprising a substantially non-flammable mineral material in a binder.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a method of treating a roof comprising roof elements mounted on battens supported by rafters, the method comprising bonding a retaining element to one of the battens and to one of the rafters to secure the batten to the rafter, the retaining element comprising a non-flammable mineral material in a binder.

The present invention also provides a retaining element in a roof, or for use in a method of treating a roof, as defined in any one of the four preceding paragraphs.

The substantially non-flammable mineral material of the retaining element is preferably very light and may have voids which are not filled by the binder.

For example, the material may be an expanded mineral material such as expanded vermiculite (exfoliated mica- 22Mg0.5Al2O3.Fe2O3.22Si0.40H20), or material available underthe names "Pearlite" or "Microlite". The mineral material may also comprise so-called "metaspheres", which comprise hollow spheres of glass or other mineral materials.

The mineral material should be substantially inert, even when subjected to flame.

The binder is preferably non-flammable and may, for example, be a resin or a silicone adhesive. The binder preferably constitutes a small proportion, by volume of the retaining element, for example less than 10% of the total volume.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic partial sectional view of a roof comprising slates mounted on battens; Figure 2 is perspective view of one of the slates of the roofof Figure 1; Figure 3 is an underneath view of a roof comprising slates mounted directly on rafters; and Figure 4 is an underneath view of a roof showing a batten secured to a rafter.

The roof of Figure 1 comprises a plurality of roof elements in the form of slates 2 mounted on battens 4. During construction of the roof, the slates 2 are fixed to the battens 4 by nails which pass through holes near the top edge of each slate. It will be appreciated that, if the nails break or otherwise become ineffective, the slates would be held in position only by friction, and would invariably slip down the roof. To remedy or avoid this condition, each slate is provided with a block 6, constituting a retaining element, which is bonded to the underside of the slate approximately midway along its length.

Each block 6 abuts one of the battens 4 to prevent slippage of the slates. The blocks 6 may be bonded not only to its slate 2, but also to the adjacent batten 4.

The blocks 6 are made from a non-flammable mineral material in a binder which is also non flammable or substantially non-flammable.

Although various mineral materials may be used, it is presently envisaged that expanded vermiculite is suitable. Expanded vermiculite has a very high void content, and consequently a low density, which means that the fitting of the blocks 6 will increase the total weight of the roof by only a very small amount. The binder may be a resin or a silicone adhesive and its function is merely to bind together the particles of vermiculite. It can therefore be used in relatively small quantities, and does not fill the voids of the vermiculite. The blocks 6 may be bonded to the slates and/or battens 4 by means of an adhesive having the same composition as the binder.

In the roof shown in Figure 3, slates 8 are secured directly to rafters 10. There are no battens. A retaining block 6, which may be identical to those of Figures 1 and 2, is bonded, at adjacent faces, to each of the slates 8 and to the rafter on which that slate rests.

Figure 4 shows a batten 4 supported on a rafter 12. The batten may, for example, be one ofthe battens 4 shown in Figure 1. The batten 4 is fixed to the rafter 12 by a retaining block 6, which may be identical to the blocks 6 of Figures 1 to 3. The block 6 is bonded, at adjacent faces, to the batten 4 and the rafter 12 to hold the batten, and the slates fixed to it, securely in position.

It will be appreciated that, although the blocks 6 may be fitted to a sound roof, or during the construction of a new roof, it is likely that their use will be mainly in the treatment of defective roofs where slate slippage has already occurred. In such cases, it may be necessary to treat only those slates which have become detached from the battens or rafters, or only those battens which have become detached from the rafters, without treating all of the slates and battens of the roof. Also, the invention is applicable to flat roofs and vertical wall cladding as well as to sloping roofs, and to tiled or shingle roofs as well as to slate roofs.

Claims (17)

1. A roof comprising roof elements mounted on battens or rafters, a retaining element being bonded to at least one of the roof elements and engaging one of the battens or rafters to prevent that roof elementfrom slipping relativelytothe restofthe roof, the retaining element comprising a substantially non-flammabie mineral material in a binder.

2. A method of treating a roof comprising a plurality of roof elements mounted on battens, the method comprising bonding a retaining element to one of the roof elements in a position such that the retaining element engages one of the battens, the retaining element comprising a substantially non flammable mineral material in a binder.

3. A roof comprising roof elements mounted on battens supported by rafters, a retaining element being bonded to at least one of the battens and to at least one of the rafters to prevent that batten, and any roof elements mounted on it, from slipping relatively to the rest of the roof, the retaining element comprising a substantially non-flammable mineral material in a binder.

4. A method of treating a roof comprising roof elements mounted on battens supported by rafters, the method comprising bonding a retaining element to one of the battens and to one of the rafters to secure the batten to the rafter, the retaining element comprising a non-flammable mineral material in a binder.

5. A roof or a method of treating a roof as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the mineral material of the retaining element is an expanded mineral material.

6. A roof or a method of treating a roof as claimed in claim 5, in which the expanded mineral material is expanded vermiculite.

7. A roof or a method of treating a roof as claimed in claim 5, in which the expanded mineral material is pearlite or microlite.

8. A roof or a method of treating a roof as claimed in claim 5, in which the expanded mineral material comprises metaspheres.

9. A roof or a method of treating a roof as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the mineral material comprises voids which are not filled by the binder.

10. A roof or a method of treating a roof as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the binder is non-flammable.

11. A roof or a method of treating a roof as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the binder is a resin.

12. A roof or a method of treating a roof as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the binder is a silicon adhesive.

13. A roof or a method of treating a roof as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, in which the binder comprises less than 10%, by volume, of the retaining element.

14. A retaining element for use in a roof or in a method of treating a roof in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, the retaining element comprising a substantially non-flammable mineral material in a binder.

15. A roof substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of treating a roof as claimed in claim 2 or 4 and substantially as described herein.

17. A retaining element, for use in a roof or in a method of treating a roof, as claimed in claim 14 and substantially as described herein.