GB2263713A

GB2263713A - Roofing system

Info

Publication number: GB2263713A
Application number: GB9202040A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Roger Harper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-01-31
Filing date: 1992-01-31
Publication date: 1993-08-04
Also published as: GB9202040D0

Abstract

A roofing component comprises: a sheet of plastics material, the shoot being in plan substantially parallelogram or rhomboidal; the sheet having a side formed by a moulding process to simulate a plurality of slate or other generally flat individual roofing elements laid in broken bond as shown. A method of roofing comprises the steps of cutting the sheet to provide a substantially rectangular end to the sheet as at c or c' and leaving a substantially triangular off-cut; locating the sheet on a roof with the rectangular end aligned with one end, or a rectangular boundary, of the roof; locating at least one further sheet of similar form to overlap the non-rectangular end of the first sheet; and using the off-cut from the first sheet to provide a closure for a generally triangular section of roof uncovered beyond a further sheet thereby making up the aligned row across the roof. <IMAGE>

Description

ROOFING SYSTEM This invention relates to a component for, and a method for the provision of, a roofing.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a roofing component comprising: a sheet of plastics material, the sheet being in plan view of substantially parallelogram or rhomboidal form; the sheet having one side formed by a moulding process to simulate an plurality of slate or other generally flat individual roofing elements the simulation providing that for each corner of the sheet which subtends more than one right angle a simulated separation between adjacent simulated elements extends at right angles at least in part from one side of the sheet to the opposite side to the one side to enable a cut to be made to provide a rectangular side to the sheet at one end thereof.

In a first preferred version of the present invention there is provided a sheet according to the present invention containing apertures for sheet retaining means such as nails or clips or built in components to assist in the fixing of the sheet once located in place.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of roofing comprising the steps of: fabricating a first sheet of plastic material to simulate an array of slate or other generally individual roofing elements; the sheet being in plan view of substantially parallelogram or rhomboidal form; 2 cutting the first sheet to provide a substantially rectangular end to the sheet and leaving a substantially triangular off-cut from the first sheet; 3 locating the first sheet on a roof with the rectangular end aligned with one end, or a rectangular boundary, of the roof; 4 securing the first sheet to the roof the sheet is aligned thereon; 5 locating at least one further sheet of similar form to overlap the non rectangular end of the first sheet; 6 juxtaposing the sheet with a further sheet in an aligned row across the roof; 7 using the off-cut from the first sheet to provide a closure for a generally triangular section of roof left uncovered at the line of sheets making up the aligned row across the roof.

Typically the method can be repeated to provide a series of aligned rows across an area to be roofed the sheets in a first such row being overlaid with another sheet in a row juxtaposed with the first row.

The proposed roofing sheet can be used to cover for an entire roof area or it can be used as a replacement for part of a conventionally tiled roof. It is possible to simulate most types of conventional tiles with sufficient realism, especially when the roof involved is normally viewed from the ground at a distance, to readily match conventional and simulated tiles.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of a roofing component of which: Figure 1 is a general view from above; Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of a side portion A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a detailed cross section of a portion B of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a plan view of a part of a house being roofed with roof components and method as described before; Figure 5 shows a component for securing the roof component; and Figure 6 shows the component of Figure 5 in use.

Figure 1 shows a sheet 11 of glass reinforced plastics material formed by resin transfer moulding to give on the upper side 12 a simulation of a section of slate roof of substantially matte appearance. The sheet 11 is substantially a parallelogram in shape forming a simulated slate surface made up of eight rows of slates with 12 slates in each row. This given overall dimensions of about 1.8 metres by 1.2 metres.

Upper edge of the sheet 11 has a lip 14 to enable the sheet 11 to be aligned with, and form a weather proof join with a further sheet or a ridging element. Lip 14 is only two thirds the width of a tile to provide for a weather tight overlapping joint between the upper edge of sheet 11 and the lower edge of a corresponding sheet juxtaposed with sheet 11.

A projecting integral extension 15 (shown in more detail in Figure 2) which serves to lie under an adjacent sheet or other roofing element to maintain alignment and to prevent water flow into the lower part of a completed roof.

Lower edge 16 of the sheet 11 is formed to simulate a projecting line of slates. Figure 3 shows the provision of a lip 17 which effectively doubles the thickness of the sheet along the edge of the sheet 11.

Side edges 18, 19 of sheet 11 are each formed as a stepped sequence of simulated whole slates with each row being stepped with a half pitch length offset P from the row above and beneath it. By providing a sheet 11 substantially in the form of a parallelogram or rhombus each sheet can be linked to a horizontally similar neighbouring sheet by way of an angled joint. Furthermore the angled joint between horizontal neighbours is offset from a similar joint between sheets located in a line above or beneath the horizontally disposed sheets so providing a stepped angled joint line of sheet joints from the ridge to the guttering edge of a roof so avoiding providing a continuous path for water flow from the top to the bottom of the roof.

The simulation of the slates in sheet 11 is such as to provide that a line C can be projected from lower right hand corner 20 of the sheet lies along edge CI of tile 22 in tile row T1 and along simulated edge junctions C2 between tiles 23, 24 in row T3, simulated edge junction C3 between tiles 25, 26 in tile row T5, and edge junction C5 in tile row T7. The line C also extends mid way along tiles 27, 28, 29 and 30 in, respectively, tile rows T2, T4, T6 and T8.

The simulation of the slates in sheet 11 further provides that a line C' projected from upper left hand corner 33 of the sheet lies along edge D1 of tile 34 in tile row T8 and along simulated edge junctions D2 between tiles 35, 36 in row T6, along simulated edge junction D3 between tiles 37, 38 in tile row T4 and junction D4 between tiles 39, 40 in tile row T2. Elsewhere the line C' extends mid way along tiles 41, 42, 43 and 44 in, respectively, tile rows T7, T5, T3 and T1.

The line C, C' provide for the sheet to be cut to provide a lateral edge to the sheet which is perpendicular to the upper and lower edges of the sheet and so enable the cut sheet to be aligned with a wall or other end of a structure to be roofed. The lines C, C' further ensure that when the sheet is cut along one or other line the sheet still maintains a good simulation of roof end.

Figures 4 shows a number of sheets being used in roofing a building. They variously show side walls 50A, B and end walls 50C, 50D of a house 51 which is to be roofed.

Conventional wooden rafters, typically rafter 52, are located extending at an angle to the vertical between wall plates 53, 54 and a ridge purlin 55 First sheet S1 is cut along line C (corresponding to line C in Figure 1) to provide an triangular offcut Xl and the remainder of sheet SI is consequently left with a straight rectangular end El extending between from lower edge E2 and upper edge E3. The cut panel S1 which is raised to roof level and then aligned so that end El overlaps end wall 50D, upper edge E3 extends towards the ridge purlin 55 for subsequent covering by a ridge element and lower edge E2 lies half way down the roof area towards wall plate 53. Sheet SI is then secured to the rafters by stainless steel fitments as will be briefly described in connection with Figures 5 and 6.

Sheet S2 is then duly secured to the rafters with the projecting simulated edge tiles of the right hand end of sheet S2 overlapping the corresponding projecting tiles on the left hand end of sheet S1 to provide a weather tight diagonal join between sheets SI, 52. Sheet S3 is likewise secured overlapping sheet S2 in a similar manner to the way sheet S2 overlaps sheet SI.

Sheets S3 and S4 are similarly added to provide a band of four sheets extending from the ridge purlin 55 (as seen in Figure 4) towards roof plate 53.

Once lower left hand corner of 60 of sheet S4 is secured to the rafters a triangular space T1 is left and is filled by using the triangular off-cut X1 obtained by cutting sheet 51.

The remaining space between the first band of sheets and the wall 50A is then filled by aligning and securing a second row of sheets in a similar manner to that of sheets S1 to S4. The upper edges of the second row of sheets interengages with the lower edge of the sheets S1 to S4 to provide a weather tight joint therebetween. The lower edge of the second row extends over the top of wall 50A.

The roofing sequence is then repeated for the roof on the other side of the ridge purlin 55.

Rather than starting at the top of the roof against the ridge purlin the first row can be laid from the bottom edge of the roof to initially cover the wall and then proceed up the roof in rows with the top of a lower row being covered by the bottom of the next row above it until the ridge purlin is reached. Finally a set of ridge tiles are used to complete the roof.

The use of a plastic sheet enables cutting lines and angles to be displayed on the underside of the sheet to facilitate the preparation of a given sheet on site. In particular where all or part of an edge of a sheet is to juxtaposed with some other part of the roof or a projection such as a chimney or hipped roof end cut lines at angles other than 90" to a sheet edge may be required.

Figure 5 shows a stainless steel clip 60 used to secure a sheet to a rafter. The hook has a spike end 61 and a clip end 62.

Figure 6 shows a part of a sheet S located on a wooden rafter R between ridge purlin 55 and wall plate 53. A sequence of stainless steel clips 60 are hammered into the rafter at intervals corresponding to the pitch V between individual simulated end tiles of rows of the sheet S. The sheet S is then located in position on the rafter aligned and the individual elements of the 'tiles' are engaged with each clip end 62 of the clip 60 nailed into the rafter. The use of a number of clips for each side of sheet S provides for satisfactory securing of the sheet ensures that the sheets once in position will readily sustain wind loads of any likely occurrence without heavy local stressing arising when only a few securing devices are used.

It will be apparent that by using a sheet of plastic material moulded to simulate a slate, or any other roofing material, a number of benefits accrue. The roof material is considerably lighter than the material it simulates for a given area without loss of strength or protection. The sheets are readily handled and the alignment and in the case of the exemplary embodiment the securing of each sheet corresponds to the laying of 96 tiles.

The use of a parallelogram shaped sheet provides for the ready making of a junction between adjacent sheets which will not establish vertical channels for flow distribution. The use of a limited number of stainless steel clips and loops serves to prevent corrosion arising from the use of mild steel nails or other fittings. Such fixings avoid the problem of nail sickness which can arise in conventional slate roofs.

While the exemplary embodiment refers particularly to a slate roof it will be apparent that any type of finish can be simulated as long as it can be moulded. In addition if necessary additional features are readily moulded into the sheets such as ventilators or other apertures. In addition the sheets are readily cut either when in place or before being put in place to provide for the mounting of windows or large ducts.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A roofing component comprising: a sheet of plastics material, the sheet being in plan view of substantially parallelogram or rhomboidal form; the sheet having one side formed by a moulding process to simulate an plurality of slate or other generally flat individual roofing elements the simulation providing that for each corner of the sheet which subtends more than one right angle a simulated separation between adjacent simulated elements extends at right angles at least in part from one side of the sheet to the opposite side to the one side to enable a cut to be made to provide a rectangular side to the sheet at one end thereof. 2 A roofing component as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the sheet contains apertures, for sheet retaining means such as nails or clips, or built in components to assist in the fixing of the sheet once located in place. 3 A method of roofing comprising the steps of:

1 fabricating a first sheet of plastic material to simulate an array of slate or other generally individual roofing elements; the sheet being in plan view of substantially parallelogram or rhomboidal form;

2 cutting the first sheet to provide a substantially rectangular end to the sheet and leaving a substantially triangular off-cut from the first sheet;

3 locating the first sheet on a roof with the rectangular end aligned with one end, or a rectangular boundary, of the roof;

4 securing the first sheet to the roof the sheet is aligned thereon;

5 locating at least one further sheet of similar form to overlap the non rectangular end of the first sheet;

6 A method of roofing as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6 juxtaposing the sheet with a further sheet in an aligned row across the roof; ;

7 using the off-cut from the first sheet to provide a closure for a generally triangular section of roof left uncovered at the line of sheets making up the aligned row across the roof.

4 A method of roofing as claimed in Claim 3 when repeated to provide a series of aligned rows across an area to be roofed the sheets in a first such row being overlaid with another sheet in a row juxtaposed with the first row.

5 A roofing component as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.