GB2335934A

GB2335934A - Verge system

Info

Publication number: GB2335934A
Application number: GB9907365A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman Wright
Original assignee: MARLEY BUILDING MATERIALS Ltd
Current assignee: MARLEY BUILDING MATERIALS Ltd
Priority date: 1998-03-30
Filing date: 1999-03-30
Publication date: 1999-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-30
Also published as: GB9907365D0; GB9806830D0; GB2335934B

Abstract

A verge system is provided in which a fastener in the form of a double headed nail is used to secure the head end 2 of a first verge unit 1 to the roof verge and provide a fixing onto which the tail end 3 of a second verge unit can be located. The tail unit 3 may be provided with a plurality of tracks 9 for cooperating with the head of the nail 8. Such a fastening arrangement may allow the verge units 1 to be secured out of longitudinal alignment with each other.

Description

2335934 1 Verge System

The present specification relates to verge systems for roofs, in particular, but not exclusively, to dry verge roof systems.

A dry verge system is known from GB 1605043. In this system, the verge is protected from the elements by covers in the form of verge units which extend, in an overlapping manner, along the length of the verge to cover the edged of the roof tiles and the ends of the tile battens.

These known verge units are secured one after the other on the verge, starting at the base of the verge and working up to the ridge. A nail is driven through the head end (the upper end) of a first verge unit and into the end of an underlying tile batten. Interlocks provided on the head and tail end (the lower end) of the verge units enable a builder to slide the tail end of a second verge unit into locking engagement with the head end of the first, thereby locating it on the verge. The head end of the second verge unit is then secured in position using a further nail. This process is repeated up the verge. Once all the verge units are in place, the roof tiles are laid, the edges of the roof tiles being slipped into position under the top edge surface of the verge units.

In GB 1605043, the verge units interlock by being slid in their longitudinal direction towards one another. Another dry verge system is known in which the interlocks lock by sliding the verge units relative to each other in an opposite, separating direction.

In these known arrangements where the interlocks are provided on both the head and tail ends of the verge units, they can be difficult to assemble, particularly for a builder who is at the top of a ladder, for example. The interlocks also increase the cost of 2 - moulding the verge units. In addition, for the interlocks to engage each other properly, the verge units must be aligned correctly in their longitudinal direction. This means that if the verge units are to follow a sprocket in a roof, i.e. a change in the angle of the verge, a builder must adapt the verge units on site to fit the sprocket. It would therefore be desirable to simplify the construction of the verge and reduce the need for interlocks at both ends of the verge units.

Thus, according to a first invention disclosed herein, there is provided a verge system comprising a plurality of verge units for a roof verge, in which each verge unit has a head end and a tail end, the units being adapted for arrangement along the verge in an overlapping manner such that the head end of a first verge unit is overlapped by the tail end of a second verge unit, the verge system further comprising a fastener for securing the head end of a first verge unit to the roof verge, the fastener being provided with attachment means for attachment of the tail end of a second verge unit to the roof verge.

In its simplest form, the fastener may comprise a nail which is driven through both the first and second verge units and into an underlying tile batten.

However, more preferably, the tail end of the second verge unit is provided with locating means for locating onto the attachment means of the fastener. In general, the locating means will be provided on the inner surface of the second verge unit, i.e., the side which faces the first verge unit. In this way, the second verge unit hides the fastener from view and presents a more water-tight surface along the verge. The locating means is preferably in the form of a track, adapted to receive the attachment means of the fastener, because this provides longitudinal adjustability (along the length of the track) for positioning the verge unit - 3 and can accommodate expansion and contraction of the verge unit with respect to the verge. However, embodiments where the locating means comprises a spigot, a hook or a socket, for example, which engages with a correspondingly shaped portion of the fastener are also envisaged.

Preferably the fastener has a disc shaped head constituting the attachment means and the tail end of the verge unit is provided with a C- shaped track on its inner surface to slidably receive the head of the fastener. Although a single headed fastener may be used, this requires accurate positioning of the fastener or use of a gauge to limit its insertion, so that a gap of the correct size is left for the sides of the track to pass between the underside of the head of the fastener and the surface of the first verge unit. if the gap is too large, the verge units will not be properly secured. If the gap is too narrow, the second verge unit can not be fitted.

More preferably, therefore, the fastener includes an abutment portion, which is spaced from the attachment means, for abutment against the surface of the first verge unit so as to limit the insertion of the fastener, e.g. into a tile batten. Preferably, the fastener is a double headed fastener, more preferably a double headed nail, although fasteners in the form of double headed screws would also work. Such fasteners are preferably moulded from glass reinforced nylon or a similar material. In another preferred embodiment, the double headed portion, i.e. the abutment portion and attachment means, comprises a bobbin which is provided on a conventional nail or other fastener.

In the embodiments, where double headed fasteners are used, preferably the head end of the verge unit has a recess for receiving the abutment portion or first head of the fastener, so that the top surface of that abutment portion or first head lies flush with the 4 portion of the verge unit in which the recess is defined.

Preferably the track has a tapered entry to aid interengagement of the track with the fastener. Preferably more than one track is provided to make the system more adaptable for variations in height caused by different tile profiles.

The head end of the verge unit is preferably provided with a ready-made hole, which may or may not be closed off, to receive the fastener. More preferably an array of such holes are provided to give more flexibility for positioning the fastener with respect to the tile batten.

To make the verge units cheaper and also easier to package, their design will generally be kept as simple as possible. Preferably the verge units comprise only three walls, namely an upper and a lower flange which are connected by a tapering body portion which covers the ends of the tile battens and caps the verge, and they do not comprise additional internal webs which perhaps form weathering members, channels and the like, for example, as are present on the verge units of 1-13B 1605043. In this way, it may be possible to make the verge units stackable, one inside the next, for transportation purposes, increasing packing density and reducing transportation costs.

The verge units are preferably injection or vacuum moulded from a suitable plastics material. By attaching the tail end of the verge member in the manner as described above, it is possible to make the walls of the verge unit thinner than previously, because less inherent strength is required as both ends of the verge unit are located directly to a fastener. The verge unit only needs to serve as a cover and to prevent the edges of the roof tiles from being lifted by gusts of wind. To resist such lifting, the verge unit may include a web which extends downwardly from the tail end of the upper flange, down the tail end of the tapering body portion, to increase the rigidity of this region. By making the walls thinner, the verge units become more flexible and more adaptable to differences in roofs and of course can be made cheaper.

one significant advantage with the present system is that, depending on the configuration of the verge unit, it may be fitted to a roof once the tiles are in place or even retro-fitted to an old roof to repair or protect an existing verge. If necessary, a length of timber batten may be fixed up the length of the verge, allowing the appropriate overhang from the brickwork or barge-board, preferably 50 mm, to obtain a fixing.

Preferably, the fastening arrangement is such as to allow the verge units to be secured out of longitudinal alignment on the roof verge. Thus, during construction, the verge units may be pivotable with respect to each other in the plane of the verge, i.e. they may be secured properly on the verge when they are out of longitudinal alignment with each other. This allows the units to follow a sprocket in the roof, for example, without the builder having to adapt the verge units. In particular, when retrofitting the system to an old roof, the verge may no longer follow a straight line so flexibility in the positioning of the verge units is useful.

Thus, a second invention disclosed herein provides a verge system comprising a plurality of verge units, means being provided to secure the verge units on the roof verge in an overlapping manner, wherein said means comprises a head of a fastener which allows the verge units to be secured out of longitudinal alignment with each other on the roof verge.

Preferably, the head of the fastener engages a track provided on the tail end of a verge unit.

A preferred embodiment will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying 6 - drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a preferred verge unit; Figure 2 shows an end elevation of the verge unit shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of verge units shown in Figure 1, as assembled, viewed along A-A; and Figure 4 shows a side view of two preferred verge units, as assembled.

As shown.in Figure 1, the verge unit 1 comprises a head end 2 and a tail end 3, the head end 2 being adapted to fit within the tail end 3 of another verge unit 1.

A series of holes 4 are provided at the head end 2 to receive a double headed nail 5 (see Figure 3). The area 6 surrounding the holes 4 is recessed so that the gap between the first and second heads 7,8 of the nail 5 is level with the surface of the head end 2 of the verge unit 1.

At the tail end 3, provided on the rear side of the verge unit 1 shown in Figure 1, ie. the side which would face an underlying verge unit, is a series of tracks 9, which are C-shaped in cross-section, for receiving the second head 8 of a double headed nail 5. The entry of these tracks is chamfered to guide the second head 8 of the nail 5 into position. Preferably these tracks are integrally moulded with the verge unit, but it would also be possible to mould these tracks separately and attach them to the verge unit, for example, using an adhesive.

As seen more clearly in Figure 2, the verge units 1 comprise a generally C-shaped section having an upper and a lower flange 10,11 which are connected by a tapering body portion 12, to cover and protect the verge underneath. The verge unit 1 also includes a web 13 which, once the verge is constructed, may abut against 7 the tail end edge of a roof tile. This strengthens the upper flange 10 to prevent the tiles from lifting in strong gusts of wind.

The verge units 1 are secured on the roof verge, one by one, working from the base of the roof verge to the ridge of the roof. In each case, the head end 2 of a lower verge unit 1 is secured in place using a double headed nail 5 which is driven through a hole 4 and into a tile batten (not shown) which is located behind the verge unit 1. The next verge unit 1 is then secured on the verge by positioning its tail end 3 over the head end 2 of the lower verge unit 1 and sliding the second verge unit 1 in a direction up the verge and away from the lower verge unit 1 to engage the second head 8 of the nail 5 with one of the tracks 9. When interlocked, a further nail 5 is driven through the head end 2 of that second verge unit so that it is secured at both ends in position on the roof verge, as shown in Figure 4.

The design illustrated is such that the verge units may be fitted prior to laying the roof tiles, as is conventional, or alternatively, they may be secured at a later stage to the roof verge. Thus, there is the potential to retro-fit these verge units to an old roof verge, for example, as a repair to cover a verge where the mortar of a traditional bedded verge has fallen away. The system is also very simple to construct, which is particularly important when standing at the top of a ladder, for example, and can also be made cheaper than the existing dry verge systems.

8

Claims

1. A verge system comprising a plurality of verge units for a roof verge, in which each verge unit has a head end and a tail end, the units being adapted for arrangement along the verge in an overlapping manner such that the head end of a first verge unit is overlapped by the tail end of a second verge unit, the verge system further comprising a fastener for securing the head end of a first verge unit to the roof verge, the fastener being provided with attachment means for attachment of the tail end of a second verge unit to the roof verge.

2. A verge system as claimed in claim 1, wherein locating means is provided on the tail end of the second verge unit for locating onto the attachment means of the fastener.

3. A verge system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said locating means comprises a track.

4. A verge system as claimed in claim 3, wherein more than one track is provided for the locating means.

5. A verge system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fastener includes an abutment portion spaced from the attachment means for abutment against the head end of the first verge unit so as to limit insertion of the fastener.

6. A verge system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said fastener is a double-headed nail.

7. A verge system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fastening arrangement is such as to allow the verge units to be secured out of longitudinal alignment on the roof verge.

8. A verge system comprising a plurality of verge units, each having a head and a tail end, means being provided to secure the verge units on the roof verge in an overlapping manner, wherein said means head of a fastener which allows the verge secured out of longitudinal alignment with the roof verge.

comprises a units to be each other on

9. A verge system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the head of the fastener engages a track.

10. A verge system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said track is provided on the tail end of a verge unit.

11. A verge system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.