BUILDING COMPONENT

Abstract: A building component comprises a block unit (8, 8') having a capping portion (10, 10'') and an overhang portion (12) with the outer face of which serving as a barge/fascia board (14A). A lower face of the overhang portion serves as a soffit. The block unit is for use with others of its kind in being laid side-by-side as a course on top of a gable wall (16) or front/rear wall (17).

Description: BUILDING COMPONENT This invention relates to a building component for use in constructing a roof for a building primarily, but not only, a building constructed having a "double skin" outer wall(s) particularly, but not necessarily, having a cavity between said skins, the cavity normally being filled or substantially so with an insulation material. A requirement of building regulations currently in force is the capping or closing-off of the top of such cavity. This capping operation is normally achieved by fabrication on site using a board of natural or synthetic material in the same, a preceding or a succeeding operation including a gable wall overhang, a barge board and a soffit. While this invention is primarily concerned with the provision of gable wall overhangs, barge boards and soffits, it is also applicable to the provision of front/rear wall overhangs, fascia boards and soffits. Heretofore, overhangs have been constructed of timber as have barge boards and soffits which require regular painting maintenance with both barge boards and soffits being susceptible to rot and decay and requiring periodic replacement. Barge boards and soffits have also been provided of synthetic plastics material. While these are beneficial in requiring little maintenance they tend to degrade when exposed to sunlight, due to ultra violet radiation and thermal stresses. These existing building components are disadvantageous and an object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages. Accordingly, the present invention is a building component comprising a block unit having a capping portion and an overhang portion, the outer face of the overhang portion being to serve as a barge/fascia board. A lower face of the overhang portion beneficially serves as a soffit. The block unit is desirably for use with others of its kind in being laid side-by-side as a course on top of a wall. Alternatively, a multi-block unit may be provided of desired length for use with others of its kind. The capping portion of the block unit is of tile shape, in a first embodiment, to be positioned over a double-skinned wall and, in a second embodiment, is shaped to be positioned over and straddle the outer skin of the wall. In both embodiments, the overhang portion projects outwardly beyond the wall. The capping portion is preferably of equal weight to or heavier than the overhang portion to counterbalance or overbalance inwardly the block unit when laid on a wall or the outer skin thereof. Preferably, the block unit is made of any durable material, for example cementitious material. The overhang portion is beneficially hollow or may have multi-cavities therein, or may be cellular. The block unit may alternatively be cast from two cementitious mixtures, one containing a stone aggregate in respect of the capping portion, and the other containing a light-weight aggregate in respect of the overhang portion which is solid. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a part of a top and one gable of a building showing a roof support structure with a gable overhang, a barge board and a soffit constructed conventionally; Fig. 2A is a perspective view of a part of a top and one end of a building showing a roof support structure with a course of block units according to a first embodiment of the present invention; overlying the top of a gable wall; Fig. 2B is a perspective view of a part of a top and one end of a building showing a roof support structure with a course of block units according to a second embodiment, overlying both the top of a gable wall and a front wall; Figs. 3A and 3B are similar perspective views of a block unit according to a first embodiment showing different shaped hollow configurations provided in an overhang portion thereof; Figs. 4A and 4B are respectively, a perspective view and a side elevational view of a modified block unit according to the first embodiment; Figs. 5A and 5B are respectively, a perspective view and a side elevational view of a block unit according to a second embodiment; and Figs. 6A and 6B are respectively, a perspective view and a side elevational view of a modified block unit according to a second embodiment having a batt of insulation material secured to the inner end of the block unit. Referring to the drawings, a building component comprises a block unit 8, 8' having a capping portion 10 /10' and an overhang portion 12 with the outer face of portion 12 serving as a barge or fascia board 14A and a lower face as a soffit 14B. The block unit 8, 8' is for use with others of its kind in being laid side-by- side as a course on top of a double-skinned wall 16 with the capping portion 10 thereon and the overhang portion 12 projecting outwardly beyond the outer skin of the wall 16. The capping portion 10 is of equal weight to or heavier than the overhang portion 12 to counterbalance or overbalance inwardly the block unit 8, 8' when laid on a gable wall 16. The block unit 8, 8' is made of any durable material, for example cementitious material, and can be coloured to suit a particular colour scheme for the rest of the normally painted or coloured parts of a building, for example window frames, guttering or doors. The overhang portion 12 is hollow as shown in Figs. 3A or 3B, 4A or 4B, 5A or 5B, 6A or 6B with a cylindrical tubular formed passage as shown in Fig. 3A or square tubular formed passage as shown in Figs. 3B, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B. Corner or end block units 18 are provided to terminate a course of block units 8, 8' as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B laid on top of the gable wall or front wall 17 in the same manner as conventional bricks or blocks are laid using mortar. An apex 20 may be formed by providing mitre sides to the block units 8, 8' to be abutting at the vertex of the wall. The top surfaces of the block units 8, 8" are flush with the top surfaces of a series of rafters 22 on the gable wall which rafters 22 together provide a roof support structure for a tiled or slated roof including battens and felt/underlay covering. The outer face of the overhang portions 12 when being moulded may be provided with a wood grain or other ornamental/decorative effect. A gable overhang and barge board when formed in the manner described above is beneficial over the existing provision for such and requires little or no maintenance. In a first embodiment, the capping portion 10 of the block unit 8 overlies both skins and closes off the cavity between both skins in the gable wall 16. In a second embodiment, the capping portion 10' of the block unit 8' overlies horizontally the outer skin of any outer wall and terminates with a downwardly extending leg portion 9 at right angles thereto, the capping portion 10' straddling the outer skin with leg portion 9 closing off the top of the cavity between the double skins of the wall. Although the invention has been described in connection with pitched gable walls, the building component can equally be used with gable walls 16 of flat-roofed structures and with front and rear walls 17 of pitched gable or flat- roofed structures. As shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, the modified block unit of the first embodiment is provided with a drip channel 24 adjacent to the outer edge of soffit 14B, and a marked or recessed panel 26 is provided in the top face of the capping portion 10 as an indicator for the positioning of a restraining element in the form of a wooden batten (not shown) or the like forming part of a roof structure. As shown in Figs 5A and 5B, 6A and 6B, the block unit and modified block unit of the second embodiment is provided with a drip channel 24 adjacent to the outer edge of soffit 14B, and a marked or recessed panel 26 is provided in the top face of the capping portion 10 as an indicator for the positioning of a restraining element in the form of a wooden batten (not shown) or the like forming part of a roof structure. The panel 26 when in a recessed form can have a secondary use as a collector of any rain or other water which penetrates between the roof structure and block units. In a modification of the first embodiment, a multi-block unit is provided of a desired length equal to and to locate between a formed apex unit and a corner or end block unit in each gable wall. Such length units may also be used in multiples along front or rear walls between corner or end block units. In the manufacture of the block units, the cementious mixtures can have a mat or fibre reinforcement of synthetic material. In a first modification of both embodiments, the overhang portion is provided with multi-cavities/passages, normally axially parallel to each other, or is of a cellular structure. In a second modification of both embodiments, the block unit may be cast from two cementitious mixtures, one containing a stone aggregate in respect of the capping portion and the other containing a light-weight aggregate, for example pumice, perlite (RTM) or expanded polystyrene, in respect of the overhang portion. In a modification of the second embodiment as shown in Figs. 6A and 6B, the inner end of the capping portion of the block unit is rebated to accommodate a heat insulation batt 28, namely the capping portion 10' and leg portion 9 have at their inner end a heat insulation batt 28 to abut or nearly abut against the outside of the inner skin of the wall. Variations and other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above and as claimed hereinafter.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A building component comprising a block unit having a capping portion and an overhang portion, the outer face of the overhang portion being to serve as a barge/fascia board. 2. A building component as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the lower face of the overhang portion serves as a soffit. 3. A building component as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein a block unit is for use with others of its kind in being laid side-by-side as a course on top of a wall. 4. A building component as claimed in Claim 3, wherein, a multi-block unit is provided of desired length for use with others of its kind. 5. A building component as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims 1 to 4, wherein the capping portion of the block unit is of tile shape to be positioned over a double-skinned wall. 6. A building component as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims 1 to 4, wherein the capping portion of the block unit is shaped to be positioned over and straddle the outer skin of the wall. 7. A building component as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims 1 to 6, wherein the overhang portion projects outwardly beyond the wall. 8. A building component as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims 1 to 7, wherein the capping portion is of equal weight to or heavier than the overhang portion to counterbalance or overbalance inwardly the block unit when laid on a wall or the outer skin thereof. 9. A building component as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims 1 to 8, wherein the block unit is made of any durable material, for example cementitious material. 10. A building component as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the overhang portion is hollow, or has multi-cavities therein, or is cellular. 11. A building component as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the block unit is cast from two cementitious mixtures, one containing a stone aggregate in respect of the capping portion, and the other containing a light-weight aggregate in respect of the overhang portion which is solid. 12. A building component as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the block unit is moulded in a manner in which the under faces and/or outer face are provided with a wood grain or other ornamental/decorative effect. 13. A building component as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims 1 to 12, wherein a drip channel is provided adjacent to the outer edge of the soffit face of block unit. 14. A building component as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims 1 to 13, wherein a marked or recessed panel 26 is provided in the top face of the capping portion. 15. A building component as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims 9 to 14, wherein the cementatious material has a mat or fibre reinforcement of synthetic material. 16. A building component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 2A and 2B, and Figs. 3A and 3B, or Figs. 4A and 4B, or Figs. 5A and 5B, or Figs. 6A and 6B of the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: SCHOFIELD FREDERICK ANDREW, SCHOFIELD, FREDERICK, ANDREW
Applicants: SCHOFIELD FREDERICK ANDREW, SCHOFIELD, FREDERICK, ANDREW
Application year: 1996
Main classification: E04D13
IPC codes: E04D13