GB2312464A - Device for and method of aligning roof battens - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for facilitating alignment of roof battens on roof truss beams comprises a strip of material (8) provided with regularly spaced tabs (10), the tab spacing corresponding to the required spacing of the roof battens (4).

Description

Device For And Method of Aligning Roof Battens The present invention relates to apparatus for and methods of facilitating alignment of roof battens on roof rafters and truss beams.

There is a well known method of constructing a roof for a building using roof rafters / truss beams and roof batten beams fixed together to form a grid-like construction to which roof files or slates are fixed. In this known method, each rafter is laid on the roof at an inclined angle to the flat plane which forms the base of the roof so as to extend between fascia board, which runs along the top edge of the building, and a 'ridge' rafter which runs along the apex of the roof parallel to the fascia board. A plurality of such rafters are positioned in this way on each side of the roof, spaced evenly apart, parallel to each other and perpendicular to both the fascia board and the ridge rafter, rafters from opposite sides of the building meeting at the ridge rafter to form a frame which is triangular in shape when viewed from either end of the building. The alternative, common on many housing constructions, is the use of preformed roofs trusses, which effectively comprise two rafters a joist and cross bracing. A plurality of such trusses is then positioned from eave to eave, spaced evenly apart, parallel to each other. Batten rails are then fixed across the outwardly facing surfaces of the rafters trusses on each side of the roof, each batten being positioned parallel to the fascia board and apex beam and perpendicular to the rafters across which it is laid.

The roof finishing means, for example roof tiles, are then nailed to those battens in overlapping rows.

In order for the tiling to be effective, both aesthetically and functionally, the battens must be fixed to the rafters truss beams parallel to and equally spaced from each other and parallel to the fascia board. Up until now, this alignment of the battens has been achieved by measuring from the previously laid batten to ascertain where the next batten should be placed, a process which is very time consuming, especially with large buildings in which many hundred battens may be required.

According to a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a device for facilitating alignment of roof battens on roof truss beams, comprising a strip of material having extending from it at regularly spaced intervals a plurality of tab members, the spacing of the tab members corresponding to the required spacing of the roof battens on the roof truss beams The indicating device has the advantage that the correct positions and alignment for the battens are evident once the device has been correctly fixed to at least two truss beams of the roof frame. Additionally the battens are supported in the correct position the upstanding tabs, thereby making fixing of the battens to the raftersl truss beams easier and reducing the number of people required top effectively carry out the construction.

In a preferred device of the invention, the strip is flexible and may be made of plastic material. This enables the device to be rolled up for storage. The tab members preferably extend perpendicularly from the plane of the strip of material, and each tab may cany identifying means, for example a number, to help to ensure that each batten locates against the correct tab on each device across the roof.

A preferred method of aligning battens on roof truss beams comprises the steps of fixing to at least two roof truss beams of a partially constructed roof a marking device having marking means to indicate where each of a plurality of battens should cross each rafter, laying each batten in turn across the rafters / trusses using the marking means to position each batten and fixing the positioned battens to the rafters /trusses.

The marking means may comprise a plurality of regularly spaced tabs which extend upwards out of the plane of the roof, each tab being aligned horizontally with a tab on the indicating means fixed to other roof truss beams so as to form a plurality of straight parallel rows of tab. Each roof batten is then positioned across the surface of the rafter / truss beams such that it engages with each tab of a row oftabs. Each roof batten is then positioned across the surface of the rafters I truss beams such that it engages with each tab or a row of tabs attached to different rafters I truss beams, the tabs supporting the batten whilst the batten is fixed to the rafters / truss beams.

The tabs of each marking device are also preferably mounted at regularly spaced intervals on a strip of material, preferably extending perpendicularly from the plane of the strip of material, such that when the strip of material is fixed to a rafter / truss beam, the tabs extend from the plane of the roof in an aligned column. Preferably in the method of the invention a first batten is fixed to the rafters / truss beams prior to the marking means being mounted on the rafters / truss beams, this first batten being correctly aligned by measurement from the ridge rafter or the apex of the truss. The marking means can then be aligned in straight rows by using the first batten as a reference marker against which they are located.

In a still further advantageous development of the method of the invention each marking device is cut at the same point along its length to give a common starting point for locating the first batten, taking a measurement from the ridge, thereby further simplifying the alignment of the tab members.

In order that the invention may be well understood, there will now be described some embodiments thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for facilitating alignment of roof battens of the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front elevation of a partially constructed roof, the roof battens being aligned using the device of the invention; and Figure 4 is an end view of the partially constructed roof of Figure 3.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown a roof batten gauge 2 for use during the construction of roofs for aligning roof battens 4 on roof rafters 5, with rafters 5 extending between a fascia board 12, which runs along the eaves of the building parallel to the ground, and a ridge rafter 13, which runs along the apex of the roof parallel to the fascia board during the construction of roofs. The gauge 2 comprises a flat strip of material 8, preferably plastic, which has extending from it, at regular spaced intervals corresponding to the required spacing of the roof battens 4, a plurality of tabs 10.

The tabs preferably extend perpendicularly to the plane of the strip 8 as shown in figure 1, but may also lie in the same plane as the strip 8. The Gauge 2 is preferably made by extruding, for example a right angled profile for the embodiment in which the tabs 10 are perpendicular to the plane of the strip 8, and then cutting away some of the material to from the tabs 10 The cut away material can then be recycled by being extruded again.

In any event, the join between the tabs 10 and the flat strip 8 must be sufficiently strong to support the distributed load of the battens 4 which they are to carry.

The roof batten gauge 2 is used as follows: once the rafters / trusses 5 for the particular section of roof being worked upon have been fixed in place, at least two gauges 2 are each fixed to two separate rafters / truss beams 5 preferably the two rafters / truss beams 5 being at each end of the section being constructed.

Each gauge 2 is fixed to its associated rafters / truss beam 5 with its flat strip 8 lying along the outwardly facing surface of the rafters / truss beam 5 to which the battens 4 are to be attached and with its tabs 10 extending perpendicularly outwards from that surface of its rafters / truss beam 5 and hence the plane of the roof as shown in Figure 4. The two gauges 2 are also aligned with each other so that each tab 10 of each gauge 2 is aligned horizontally with a tab 10 of the or each other gauge 2 attached to a different truss beam 5, that is the aligned tabs 10 lid in a straight line which runs parallel to the fascia board 12 and the apex beam 13 and is perpendicular to the main axis of the rafters I truss beams 5. The tabs 10 hence form straight parallel rows across the roofing surface. If necessary, additional gauges 2 are fixed in a similar manner to the corresponding surface of additional truss beams 5 which lie between the end truss beams 5, the tabs 10 of each such additional gauge 2 being sirnilarly horizontally aligned with the tabs 10 of the two extreme gauges 2 as defined above. In this way, the load of each batten 4, when located on the gauges 2, will be distributed between all the tabs 10 by which it is supported and hence the stress developed in each one is reduced. Also, by supporting the battens at various points along their length, sagging of the battens will be reduced once the required number of gauge 2 have been fixed to their respective rafters I truss beams 5, the battens 4 are then laid across the rafters I truss beams 5, each batten 4 locating against vertically aligned tabs 10 on different gauges 2 and separate battens being located against a different row of tabs 10. In this way, as long as the gauges 2 are correctly aligned, the battens 4 will be supported at evenly spaced intervals up the truss beams 5 parallel to each other and perpendicular to the plane of each truss beam 5. The battens 4 can then be easily fixed in place using nails or otherwise. The height of the tabs 10 is preferably such that they do not extend above the upper surface of the battens 4 which they are to support and the gauges 2 may therefore be left in place and the tiles laid over them without causing obstruction.

Alternatively, if it is desired to re-use the gauges 2, the battens 4 can be laid in position and fixed to the rafters / truss beams 5 which do not have a gauge 2 fixed to them. Once the battens 4 have been fixed in this manner, the gauges 2 may be slid from underneath the battens 4 and removed for future use, and the battens 4 then fixed to the remaining truss beams 5.

In order to facilitate quick alignment of the separate gauges 2, it is advantageous for the first, lowermost batten 4 to be positioned across the truss beams 5 by measuring from the fascia board 12 of the roof to ensure that this first batten 4 is parallel thereto. The Subsequently applied gauges 2 can then be easily aligned by using this first batten 4 as a reference marker against which the end of each gauge 2, which has been cut to give the correct spacing for the second batten rests.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the roof batten gauges 2 are made of a flexible material to that they can be supplied in roll form and cut to the required length. Also, it may be advantageous for each tab 10 to include identifying means, for example numbers, to assist in identifying which tab 10 are associated with each other, therefore helping to ensure that each batten 4 locates against the correct tab 2 on each gauge 2 across the roof.

Claims (19)

1. A device for facilitating alignment of roof battens on roof truss beams, comprising a strip of material having extending from it at regularly spaced intervals a plurality of tab members, the spacing of the tab members corresponding to the required spacing of the roof battens on the roof truss beams.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strip is a flexible strip.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the strip is made of plastic.

4. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the device can be rolled up for storage.

5. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tab members extend perpendicularly from the plane of the strip of material.

6. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each tab has identifying means to help to ensure that each batten locates against the correct tab on each device across the roof.

7. A method of aligning roof battens on roof truss beams, comprising the steps of fixing to at least two roof truss beams of a partially constructed roof a marking device having marking means to indicate where each of a plurality of battens should cross each truss beam, laying each batten in turn across the roof truss beams using the marking means to position each batten, and fixing the positioned battens to the truss beams.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the marking means comprises a plurality of regularly spaced tabs which extend upwards out of the plane of the roof, each tab being aligned horizontally with a tab on the indicating means fixed to other roof truss beams so as to form a plurality of straight parallel rows of tabs.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the line of each horizontally aligned row of tabs is perpendicular to the major axis of each truss beam.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein each roof batten is positioned across the surface of the truss beams such that it engages with each tab of a row of tabs attached to different truss beams, the tabs supporting the batten whilst the batten is fixed to the truss beams.

11. A method as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the tabs of each marking device are mounted at regularly spaced intervals on a strip of material such that when the strip of material is fixed to a roof truss beam, the tabs extend from the plane of the roof in an aligned column.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tabs extend perpendicularly to the plane of the strip of material, the strip of material being mounted on the surface of the truss beam upon which the battens will be fixed.

13. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein once the battens have been placed in their correct positions, they are fixed to the roof truss beams which do not have a marking device fixed to them, the marking devices are then removed from the truss beams to which they are fixed, and the battens are then secured to the remaining truss beams.

14. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein a first batten is fixed to the roof truss beams prior to the marking means being mounted on the roof truss beams.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first batten is correctly aligned by measurement from a ridge rafter.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the marking means are aligned in straight rows by using the first batten as a reference marker against which they are located.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein each marking device is cut at the same point along its length to give a common starting point for locating the first batten.

18. A device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.