VALLEY SECTIONS FOR ROOFS

Abstract: A roof valley section (6) has a trough portion (7), upstands (8), portions (13,14) to support the ends of roof battens (3), and recesses (15). The recesses keep the battens clear from water and can receive portions (16) of fillers (11) to close spaces between the valley section (6) and the roof tiles (5).

Description: This specification relates to valley sections for roofs. A valley section is used where two parts of a pitched roof converge downwardly to meet at a valley. The valley section is used along the line of intersection, underneath the level of the tiles, slates or other roof covering elements on the roof, so as to provide a waterproof barrier and channel water down the roof to e.g. a gutter at the eaves. Traditional roof constructions have used metal sheet such as lead, or special trough tiles, for this purpose, but in recent years there has been increased use of pre-formed valley sections of extruded plastics or the like which are supplied in lengths of, say, 3m. The sections are cut to the length required and two or more lengths can be used where needed, overlapping by a suitable distance. Known valley sections are of generally V or U cross-section and are nailed to longitudinal "counter battens" running along the sides of the valley. One problem with known systems using valley sections is that of securing the roofing battens which support the tiles or the like and run down the roof on both sides of the valley, to the respective counter battens. The roofing battens will be secured to the last roof rafter before the valley but the free ends may be capable of significant movement. To avoid this, it is know to nail the roofing battens to the counter battens. However, the nails must be driven in at an angle since the top surfaces of the two battens are generally at the same level where they meet. This is therefore an unwieldly operation. There is disclosed herein an arrangement for a roof system where two portions meet at a valley, in which a valley section is provided along the valley and in which roofing battens extend down the roof towards the valley, laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the valley section, and in which the valley section has adjacent each of its edges, longitudinally extending portions which support the free ends of the roofing battens. Thus, the valley section not only provides the conventional function, but also supports the roofing battens, so avoiding the requirement for nailing them at an angle to a counter batten or the like. It is also proposed to deal with the problems associated with the use of mortar or the like, by avoiding its use in a "dry fixing" system. Thus, in the system disclosed herein there are provided longitudinally extending upstands provided on either side of the valley underlying the free ends of roof tiles, or other roof covering members, so as at least partially to close the space between the tiles or the like, and the body of the valley section. DE-C-466 394 discloses a valley section for use in a roof in which two portions meet at a valley, the valley section having a trough and longitudinally extending, vertically projecting upstands either side of the trough. The valley section of DE-C-466 394 is arranged to be attached on top of battens extending up the roof, with roof tiles being supported by folded portions provided at each end of the valley section. In AU-B-577132 there is disclosed a pre-formed valley section for use in a roof in which two portions meet at a valley, the valley section comprising a trough, longitudinally extending, vertically projecting upstands either side of the trough, to underlie roof covering elements, and flanges extending laterally outwardly from the upstands, the flanges having portions for receiving the free ends of laterally extending battens for supporting the roof covering elements. In a conventional type of roof which may have wooden battens and profiled tiles, such an arrangement may have certain shortcomings. Accordingly, the present invention is characterised in that the flanges of the valley section include recesses laterally outward from and adjacent the upstands. The recesses will be below the level of the roofing battens which rest on the flange portions. This has a number of advantages. Firstly, there is a distinct channel adjacent each upstand, for carrying away any water that may penetrate into this region, and a reduced chance of such water passing laterally along the flange and into the roof space. Secondly the battens, which are typically of wood, are free of any such water and this reduces the tendency for them to rot. Thirdly, at least in some embodiments there may be improved circulation of air which is advantageous inter-alia for the drying out of moisture. A further advantage is in relation to the problem of providing an effective closure of any space between the upstand and the tiles, since gaps may occur. Such gaps could be closed using fillers, particularly apertured fillers allowing for ventilation. A preferred type of filler is a flexible "comb" filler with flexible, spaced portions that will adapt to the underneath profile of the tiles and yet allow for ventilation. Such fillers can be disposed laterally outwardly of, but preferably adjacent, the upstands. The provision of the recesses means that the fillers can have portions located underneath the battens and downwardly spaced from them. This enables positioning of the fillers after the battens have been secured in place, which is advantageous. The upstands may or may not pass over counter battens and it is not necessary to have counter battens. The battens may rest on flat portions of the flange laterally outwardly of the recesses. Such flat portions may be in the form of ramps inclined upwardly from the edges to the recesses so as to provide a gradual raising of the ends of the battens. Alternatively the battens may rest on one or more discrete longitudinatly extending ribs. Such a rib may define the edge of the recess. Where e.g. two laterally spaced ribs are provided, the outermost may be less high than the inner, thus also providing for a gradual raising of the ends of the battens. A further problem with known valley sections is that they are secured to the counter battens by e.g. nailing or the like, but then tend to be suspended across the valley. This lack of support presents problems of stability, strength and so forth. It is thus a preferred feature of the systems disclosed herein that the sections be supported on the roof rafters, which converge to the axis of the valley, across a substantial portion of their width. The valley sections are preferably nailed or the like to the roof rafters, or the counter,battens, laterally outwardly (away from the valley axis) of the ends of the tiles, i.e. at a region protected from water so that piercing of the section by the nails will not present problems. The section is preferably pre-formed to a certain angle of intersection and/or of certain flexibility characteristcs, that it will rest on the rafters (with or without the interposition of other material such as roofing felt), across the main, exposed part of the valley without the use of nails or the like in this region. The invention also extends to a roof incorporating a valley section in accordance with the invention. Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a diagramatic cross section of a roof valley using a first embodiment of the valley section; Fig. 2 is a view of a flexible "comb" filler used in the system of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a second embodiment of the valley section. In Fig. 1 there is shown a tiled roof system in which two portions converge downwardly to a valley 1. Each portion has wooden roof rafters 2 on which are mounted laterally extending wooden tiling battens 3. Underneath the battens, on the rafters, is a layer of roofing felt 4. Resting on the tiling battens are conventional interlocking concrete roof tiles 5, which terminate short of the centre of the valley 1, and are cut to the angle of the valley, i.e. up the roof parallel to the axis of the valley. An extruded, elongate plastics valley section 6, preformed to substantially the angle of the valley between the rafters, is provided underneath the tiles 5 and across the valley 1. In cross section, the valley section 6 has "U" or "V" shaped trough portion 7 extending between the side ends of the tiles 5 and mainly resting on the rafters; longitudinal upstands 8; and outer, laterally extending flange portions 9 resting on the rafters and on which rest the free ends of tiling battens 3. The outer edges of the flange portions 9 are nailed to the rafters 2, as shown at 10. Of course, where the valley sections are said to rest on the rafters this applies only to portions spaced along the length of the sections, since the rafters are spaced apart along the valley. The side ends of tiles 5 rest on the upstands 8. These upstands take the place of counter battens and their upper surfaces match the upper surfaces of tiling battens 3. Spaced outwardly of the upstands 8 are fillers 11 which are compressed under the tiles 5. As shown in Fig. 2, each filler 11 comprises a "comb" like arrangement of spaced plastics flexible fingers 12, which close the spaces between the tile and the valley section, but permit ventilation. The flange portions 9 of the valley section are provided with longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, ridges 13 and 14 on which rest the free end portions of tiling battens 3. The inner ridges 13 are taller than the outer ridges 14. This provides a gradual lifting of the ends of the battens 3. Between each inner ridge 13 and its associated upstand 8 there is provided a recess 15. The end of the roof batten is clear from the base of this recess and, furthermore, does not quite reach the wall of the upstand 8. Each filler 11 has a base 16 which fits in the recess 15. The arrangement is such that the valley section and roofing battens 3 can be nailed in place, before the filler 11 is inserted into the recess 15 with the base 16 under the end of battens 3, and the tiles then placed in position. This is advantageous when constructing the roof. The filler 11 is located in position and additional fixing may not be needed. The preformed angle of the valley section 6 is such that it can be flexed in either direction to fit conventional valley angles. However, it would be possible to provide a system in which the valley section would only be flexed to roof pitches below the pre-formed shape, since this would facilitate the adaptation of the valley section to the configuration of the rafters on which it should rest. In this case, to cope with a wider range of roof pitches, it may be necessary to provide a plurality of valley sections, preformed to different angles so as to cope with the full range from shallow to steep pitches, whilst only ever deforming the chosen section in one direction away from its preformed configuration. It will further be noted that the valley section provides a relatively deep pre-formed channel across the middle section of the valley. With this arrangement it is possible to provide the valley section with an improved cross section. As shown in Fig. 3, this cross section is curved smoothly across the central portion 17 of valley section 18. It is a generally parabolic curve, formed by blending curves of two different radii. which has the optical effect of concealing the size of the space betwwen the undersider of the tile and the valley. This shape also has the advantage in that it encourages a self cleaning action and provides an effective flow of water down the valley. It is also more susceptible to easy flexing to lower roof pitches. The cross section of this portion 17 is obtained in practice by use of blending arcs using three centres A, B and C. Centres A and B are equally spaced either side of the centre line E of the valley section, and the associated arcs have a radius of 100 mm. Centre C is on the line E and the associated arc has a radius of 40 mm. In this embodiment of the valley section the flanges are also different. In place of two longitudinal ribs to support the battens, the battens will rest flat on portions 19 which are inclined gradually upwardly to the edges of recesses 20 between the ends of these portions 19, and the upstands 21 in this embodiment. The installation and use of this valley section will be the same as for the previous embodiment. The invention provides an effective valley arrangement without the need for mortar. However, the valley section could be used with mortar. In such circumstances portions such as the upstands could be roughened to enhance the adhesion of mortar.

Claims: A pre-formed valley section for use in a roof in which two portions meet at a valley (1), the valley section comprising a trough (7), longitudinally extending, vertically projecting upstands (8) either side of the trough to underlie roof covering elements (5), and flanges (9) extending laterally outwardly from the upstands for receiving the free ends of laterally extending battens (3) for supporting the roof covering elements (5), characterised in that the flanges (9) of the valley section include recesses (15) laterally outward from and adjacent the upstands (8). A valley section as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the inner walls of the upstands (8) form part of the trough (7) of the valley section. A valley section as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that longitudinally extending ridges (13,14) are provided on the flanges outwardly of the upstands (8), for supporting the free end parts of the roofing battens (3). A valley section as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the recesses (15) are provided between the ridges (13) and upstands (8). A valley section as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that inclined portions (19) are provided on the flanges outwardly of the upstands (21), for supporting the free end parts of the roofing battens (3) in a flat position. A valley section as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the recesses (20) are formed between the end of the inclined portions (19) and the upstands (21). A valley section as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the recesses (15;20) are adapted to receive portions (16) of fillers (11) to assist in closing spaces between the roof covering members (5) and the body of the valley section. A valley section as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the fillers (11) can be positioned in the recesses (15;20) after the roofing battens (3) and valley section have been secured in place on a roof. A roof incorporating a valley provided with a valley section as claimed in any preceding claim. A roof as claimed in claim 9 characterised in that mortar is not used in the construction of the valley.

Inventors: COOPER, CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY
Applicants: MARLEY (U.K.) LIMITED, MARLEY TILE AG
Application year: 1990
Main classification: E04D1
IPC codes: E04D13, E04D1