GB2277540A

GB2277540A - Slate roofing system

Info

Publication number: GB2277540A
Application number: GB9308858A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Charles John Cooke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-04-29
Filing date: 1993-04-29
Publication date: 1994-11-02
Also published as: GB9308858D0

Abstract

A roofing system comprises natural slates (32) or other natural stone having side edges (34) machined to define stepped portions, the edges being arranged to engage and overlap the complementary edges of adjacent slates. <IMAGE>

Description

ROOFING SYSTEM This invention relates to a roofing system, and in particular to an improved roofing system using natural materials, such as sheets of slate and sandstone.

Conventional roofing slates are typically planar, rectangular sheets and are arranged in overlapping courses on sloping roofs to provide a weatherproof roof covering.

The form of the slates requires a relatively large number of slates to cover a given roof area. In contrast, preformed concrete or clay roof tiles are typically formed with edges arranged to overlap and interlock, which reduces the number of tiles required to provide a weatherproof covering over a given roof area. This provides a significant cost advantage for tile-based roofing systems which have, in recent times, largely displaced slate and other natural roofing materials.

However, concrete tiles tend to fade with age, in contrast to natural slate which, in time, develops an attractive patina.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved roofing system which permits provision of a roof of slate or another natural material, such as sandstone, which requires fewer slates and is therefore more cost competitive with concrete tile roofs.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a roofing system comprising slates having side edges adapted for engagement in overlapping relation with the side edges of adjacent slates.

As used herein, the term "slate" is intended to encompass slate-like roofing components of impervious natural stone, such as slate, sandstone, and granite.

The roofing system of the present invention allows provision of a weatherproof slate roof using fewer courses than would be required if using conventional slates.

The present invention also relates to a method of producing slates suitable for use in such a system, the method comprising machining the side edges of a slate to define respective stepped portions adapted for engagement in overlapping relation with complementary portions of adjacent slates.

Preferably, each stepped portion is adapted to provide a serpentine path between the side edges of adjacent slates, to minimise the possibility of water ingress. For this purpose each stepped portion may be provided with one or more longitudinally extending teeth.

These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a roof provided with a roof covering of conventional slates; Figure 2 is a sectional view of line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of roof provided a roof covering of slates in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Reference is first made to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, which illustrate a conventional slate roof covering 10. Four slate courses 12, 14, 16, 18 are shown, the slates in each course lying with their side edges 20 butting together. In order to ensure that the slate covering is weatherproof, a slate must be provided over or under the entire length of each pair of butting edges.

This is illustrated with reference to the slate 22a in course 14, shown shaded in Figure 1, which underlies and prevents water penetration at the junction between the slates 22b, 22c in the course 16 above. The slate 22d in the next course 18 overlies and prevents water penetration over the remainder of the junction. Thus, it may be seen that at any point on the roof there is at least two, and sometimes three, layers of slate, requiring provision of a relatively large number of slates.

Reference is now made to Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, which illustrate an area of roof provided with a roof covering 30 formed of slates 32 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 4, each slate has side edges 34, 36 machined to define a stepped portion having two longitudinally extending teeth 38, 40, the edge being arranged to engage and overlap the complementary edges of adjacent slates.

This arrangement allows provision of a weatherproof covering with only minimal overlapping between courses 42, 44, as shown in Figure 5. This in turn reduces the number of courses, and thus slates required. The present invention thus provides a roof covering having the advantages and appearance of a conventional slate roof covering at a significantly reduced cost.

The requirement to machine the edges of the slate may lead to use of somewhat thicker slates than in a conventional slate roof, slates of 20 mil or thicker being considered particularly suitable.

It will be clear to those of skill in the art that the above described embodiment is merely exemplary of the present invention and that various modifications and improvements may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention, for example: the edge configuration of the slates may be of any suitable form, which provides a weatherproof junction.

Claims

1. A roofing system comprising slates having side edges adapted for engagement in overlapping relation with the side edges of adjacent slates.

2. The roofing system of claim 1 wherein at least one side edge of each slate defines respective stepped portions adapted for engagement in overlapping relation with complementary portions of adjacent slates.

3. The roofing system of claim 2 wherein each stepped portion is adapted to provide a serpentine path between the side edges of adjacent slates.

4. The roofing system of claim 3 wherein each stepped portion is provided with one or more longitudinally extending teeth.

5. A method of producing slates for use in the roofing system of any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising machining the side edges of a slate to define respective stepped portions adapted for engagement in overlapping relation with complementary portions of adjacent slates.

6. The roofing system substantially as described herein and as illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

7. The method of producing slates suitable for use in the roofing system substantially as described herein.