GB2201435A - Roof with continuous eave strip underlying lowermost slates or tiles - Google Patents

Abstract

There is described a method of constructing a pitched roof covered with slates, tiles or the like arranged in a plurality of overlapping horizontal courses. the lowermost course resting on a continuous elongate impermeable eave strip desirably having a width not greater than the width of a course of slates 8, 10, tiles or the like. The eave strip 20 is positioned so that its lower longitudinal edge is adjacent the lowermost edge of the lowermost course of slates, and is held in position by nails 9 or staples extending through the eave strip into a roofing batten 1. The eave strip may be configured or contoured to correspond to the undersides of tiles etc. to be laid thereon, and may be formed with ventilation channels or passages extending transversely of the strip. <IMAGE>

Description

ROOFING ELEMENT The present invention relates to roofing, and is particularly concerned with pitched roofs of slate, tiles or the like.

It has long been known that in a slated or tiled roof, the course of slates or tiles at the lower edge of the roof will have to be specially shaped. This has hitherto been achieved in the case of tiled roofs by the provision of eave tiles which are shorter than the normal tiles and in the case of slates the slater forms each individual eave slate from a normal slate, a task which is time-consuming and wasteful since a large number of breakages is usual.

The present invention has as its objective the elimination of the disadvantages of conventional technique, in that the need for special eave tiles and slates is eliminated and the work of the roofer thus simplified and accelerated.

According to the present invention, the eaves course of tiles or slates or the like in a roof is replaced by a continuous eave strip, preferably formed from synthetic plastics material. The strip is preferably supplied in lengths sufficient to provide an entire eaves course as a single piece, but shorter lengths may be used. The eave strip is preferably coloured to suit the remaining roofing elements, be they slates, tiles, shingles, etc. and may be formed with channels on its underside for ventilation purposes.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 shows a partial perspective view of an eave portion of a conventional slated roof; and Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing an eave strip replacing the eave course of slates.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a roof comprising a plurality of parallel battens 1,2,3 on which slates rest and to which they are attached. The lower edge of the roof is defined by a fascia board 4. Current practice is for the extreme lower edges of the lowest slates (the eaves course) to project some 5cm beyond the fascia board 4, and the eave slates 5 of the roof of Fig. 1 are shown projecting in this manner. The eave slates 5 are individually cut to the required length, in that they must extend only up to the centre of the first roof batten 1, and holes are formed to allow nails 6 to fix the eave sltes to the batten 1, leaving the upper part of the batten 1 exposed as at 7 for reasons which are explained below.

The next course of slates is then laid, these slates 8 extending from the free edge of the eave slates 5 up to the centre of the second roof batten 2, thus covering the eave slates. Holes are formed in the slates 8 at their mid-region to allow nails 9 to secure the slates 8 to the upper part 7 of the first roof batten 1. The batten must be exposed in this region, since the nails 6 cannot pass through the slates without breakage. The slates 8 are displaced by half the width of one slate in relation to the eave course, to avoid overlapping joints.

The third and subsequent courses of slates 10 are laid to extend from midway up slates 9 to the centre of the next exposed batten 3, the slates 10 being fixed to the upper part of batten 2 left exposed by slates 8 by means of nails 11. The major difficulty in such a roof is the cutting of slates to form the eave course 5, since each slate must be cut to the length required to extend from the midpoint of batten 1 and to overhang the fascia board 4 by the requisite 5cm. Once cut to size, the holes for nails 6 must be pierced, and it is at this stage that many breakages occur. Turning now to Fig. 2, there is seen the roof of Fig. 1 with the eave slates 5 replaced by an eave strip 20. The eave strip 20 extends from between the first and second roof battens 1 and 2 to the fascia board 4 and overhangs the fascia board by the required 5cm.The eave strip 20 is preferably the same thickness and colour as the slates 8 and 10, and may taper in thickness towards its upper edge 21.

In use, the eave strip is simply laid over the first batten 1 so that it overhangs the fascia board 4 by the required amount, and is secured to the batten by nails, staples, or similar fixings. There is no necessity to cut the eave strip off so as to expose part of batten 1. With the eave strip in place, the next slates 8 are laid over the eave strip 20 and are secured by nails 9 as before, but with the nails 9 also passing through the eave strip. The remaining courses of slates 10 are then laid in the conventional manner.

When used with slates, the eave strip 20 will be substantially planar. The tapered region adjacent edge 21 allows this region to fit easily between the roofing battens without obstructing the second slate course. The eave strip may be provided with transverse lines of weakness to facilitate cutting the strip to length, and may optionally include a depending drip lip extending along its edge opposite edge 21.

If the eave strip is to be used with tiles, it will preferably have its upper surface configured to mate with the undersurfaces of the tiles to be laid on it, so that wind gaps are eliminated.

Clearly, the eave strip may be used when constructing a new roof or when refurbishing an existing roof. Since the eave strip will be preferably non-porous and non-absorbent, the problem of rotting fascia boards due to the penetration of water through tiles will be eliminated. The eave strip, when used with tiles, may incorporate ventilation passages extending transversely through the strip to ventilate the roof, utilising the undulations of the upper surface to accommodate the channels.

Claims (20)

1. A pitched roof having an array of parallel horizontal battens supporting an outer covering comprising a plurality of horizontally extending overlapping courses of slates, tiles or the like, wherein there is positioned below the lowermost course of slates, tiles or the like a continuous impervious eave strip which has one of its longitudinally extending edges positioned adjacent the lowermost edge of the said lowermost course of slates, tiles or the like, and has a width such that its other edge at least partially overlaps the lowermost batten of the array.

2. A roof according to Claim 1, wherein the lowermost course of slates, tiles or the like and the eave strip are coterminous at their respective lowermost edges.

3. A roof according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the eave strip does not extend upwardly beyond the lowermost batten.

4. A roof according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the outer covering of the roof comprises slates, and wherein the eave strip extends into the region between the lowermost batten and its adjacent batten.

5. A roof according to any preceding Claim, wherein the upper surface of the eave strip is contoured to correspond to the undersides of the tiles or slates of the lowermost course.

6. A roof according to any preceding Claim, wherein the underside of the eave strip is formed with transversely extending ventilation channels.

7. A roof according to any preceding Claim, wherein the eave strip has a tapered longitudinal edge region reduced in thickness relative to the remainder of the strip, the tapered edge region being uppermost.

8. A roof according to any preceding Claim, wherein transverse ventilation passages extend through the eave strip.

9. A method of constructing a pitched roof, including the steps of:

1. fixing a plurality of parallel battens extending horizontally across the roof,

2. positioning an elongate eave strip so that one of its longitudinal edges is at or adjacent the lower edge of the roof and its other longitudinal edge region at least partially overlies the lowermost batten,

3. fixing the eave strip to the lowermost batten by driving fasteners through the eave strip, and

4. laying a conventional array of slates, tiles or the like in horizontal courses over the roof, the lowermost edges of the slates, tiles or the like of the lowermost course being adjacent to the lowermost edge of the eave strip.

10. A method according to Claim 9, wherein the eave strip completely overlies the lowermost batten.

11. A method according to Claim 10, wherein the eave strip extends beyond the lowermost batten, and slates are laid over the eave strip and battens.

12. A method according to any of Claims 9 to 11, wherein the lowermost course of slates, tiles or the like is fixed to the lowermost batten by means of fasteners passing through the slates, tiles or the like of the lowermost course and through the eave strip.

13. An eave strip for use in constructing a pitched roof covered with overlapping courses of slates, tiles or the like, the eave strip being an elongate continuous impermeable strip having a width not greater than the width of a course of the slates, tiles or the like, the eave strip being formed of a plastics material and capable of being fastened by nails or staples passing through the eave strip.

14. An eave strip according to Claim 13, wherein lines of weakness extend transversely across the strip at intervals.

15. An eave strip according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein a surface of the eave strip is configured to correspond to the undersides of a course of slates, tiles or the like to be laid thereon.

16. An eave strip according to Claim 13, wherein transversely extending ventilation channels are formed on a face of the strip.

17. An eave strip according to Claim 13, wherein transversely extending ventilation passages extend through the strip.

18. A roof substantially as herein described with reference to figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of constructing or refurbishing a roof substantially as herein described with reference to figure 2 of the drawings.

20. An eave strip for use in the construction or refurbishment of a roof, substantially as herein described.