IMPROVEMENTS IN TILES AND THEIR ATTACHMENTS FOR BUILDING PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Taylor at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 4th June 1881.
JOHN TAYLOR, of Albert Square, Clapham Road, in the County of Surrey,
Architect. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TILES AND THEIR ATTACHMENTS FOR BUILDING
PURPOSES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in tiles for building purposes,
mainly consisting in the following particulars:-In the tiles for covering roofs I
employ a tiling which is somewhat similar to that which is known as "plain
tiling." Plain tiling is composed of rectangular tiles; and to give it the necessary
lap and security a quantity is generally required equal to three times the area of
the roof to be covered, and thus renders it a very heavy covering. Each tile is
secured to the roof by two nails or nibs in the upper part, but elsewhere they are
not secured against wind stripping except by the overlapping tiles above them.
Sometimes this tiling has been laid diagonally, but as this necessitates the use of
only one nail in the upper part of each tile, this method is very insecure.
Now according to my Invention I require a quantity equal to about one and a
half times the area of the roof to be covered, thus rendering it a much lighter
covering, and by the employment of one hook or fastening (as hereinafter described)
in the upper part of each tile, every tile is fastened in three or more places,
rendering them secure against windstripping, and at the same time giving the
workman the necessary gauge and great facility in laying the tiles.
In order to effect the foregoing I form a flat tile of a hexagonal shape, the sides
that are vertical with the roof being equal to the lap that is required. At the
apex of the upper angle is preferably an enlargement to allow of a perforation for
a hook or fastening. In each vertical edge is a notch to receive the head of the
hook or fastening beneath.
I sometimes enlarge the tile at the apex of its lower angle to produce an
ornamental effect and give additional lap at this part.
In the back of the tile, central and near the lower end, is a sinking to admit the
head of the hook and allow the tile to fit down upon those beneath it. I form
eaves or commencing tiles of the upper part of these tiles, and finishing tiles of the
lower part, gable tiles, by widening the tile at one of the vertical sides, and using
it alternately with a tile narrowed to the required width. Hip and valley tiles, by

page_text: widening the tile sufficiently to cut or form them to the required angle, and
covering them with overlapping angle tiles. In fixing these tiles upon a roof
having battens or boarding, I use a book or fastening made of zinc, copper,
galvanized malleable iron, or other suitable material, and having a shank to drive
into the wood and a shoulder which forms a stop against the face of the tile.
Above the shoulder the neck is sufficiently wide to form a stop to the sides of the
tiles (just above the notches) and the joint that is between then and high enough
to admit their thickness. The head is of a like width, and projects at a right
angle so as to clip the tiles. I commence by laying the first course or caves tiles,
and secure them in place by driving the shank of the hook through the perforation
into the ballen or boarding till its shoulder rests upon the tile, leaving the neck
projecting to receive the tiles of the course above. The next course is laid by
placing each tile so that the hooks that fasten the tiles beneath may enter the
notches in its sides and so secure it in its place immediately it leaves the
workman's hands; this also gives him the necessary gauge, and allows him to place
in like manner any number of tiles in the course till it is convenient to fasten each
with its own hook.
Thus it appears that by one hook to ench tile every tile is secured in three
places. I further propose to make these tiles of glass, iron, zinc, or other suitable
material.
I will now describe the second part of my Invention, which relates to constructing
and covering walls and other upright surfaces.
When the usual plain tiling before described is used for covering walls and
upright surfaces, the tiles are in a great measure of necessity in three thicknesses,
and each tile is as it were suspended by nails. All the joints are open joints,
and the whole method is certainly a very rude one for applying, roof tiles to this
purpose.
In making tiles for covering walls and other upright surfaces, I form upon the
back of a plain tile a horizontal rib or projection, short of one end of the tile and
projecting beyond the other end, and being at a suflicient distance from the bottom
edge to allow of the necessary overlap when the rib is laid upon the top edge of
the tiles beneath it.
Also a similar rib or projection, by preference on the right hand side (as you
look at the back of the tile) and at a short distance from the edge, so as to give
strength at this part and form a stop to retain the mortar. Also a rib or projection
at the other end of the tile, but wider than the last, so as to project beyond the
edge and give the necessary vertical lap when the tile is fixed. Upon the front of
this rib, where it adjoins the edge of the tile, a vertical groove or sinking is formed
to give a key for the mortar.
Where the bottom of the horizontal rib abuts against the back of the tile a
bevilled sinking is formed, to give a key for the unmortar and space for the heads of
the nails or hooks used in fixing. Angles, closures, and other parts are made
with sections of the tiles described, also tiles of varying lengths to break joint.
In fixing these tiles upon the usual battens or boarding forming the wall, the
bottom ribs will rest upon a fillet or other solid projection or bearing, and having
the necessary tilt, so that the back top edges of the vertical ribs will recline
against the battens or boarding and give the required backward incline to the
tiles.
Upon this projection a bed of mortar or cement will be laid, upon which the
bottom ribs will rest and allow the bottom or drop part of the tiles to overlap the
work below them. The first tile to be fixed will (by preference) be the angle tile
left hand as you face it. The next tile in this course will have mortar placed in
the vertical space formed by the rib to receive it, and it will then be put in its
place, and the mortar will be pressed into the groove in the front of the angle
tile and the joint struck. In like manner the other tiles in this course will be
laid.
One or more hooks to each tile will then be driven into the battens or boarding

page_text: to secure the tiles at their upper edge. Upon the top of the tiles in this course a
bed of mortar will be laid and the next course fixed in like manner. It will be
observed that every tile by means of its lower rib bears upon the tiles beneath it,
but at the same time it bears upon the hooks that secure them, so that all undue
weighting is avoided. It will also be observed that every vertical joint overlaps
the rib of the adjoining tile, and the mortar with the groove and stop render theso
joints perfect. The horizontal joints have a bed of mortar and a sinking to receive
it, also a drip to throw off the wet from the face; thus a perfectly weather tight
covering is produced.
In making tiles of a smaller size, or when the nature of the clay or other material
requires it, I nake the space inside the ribs level.
In securing these tiles to old or new brick work, holdfasts may be used instead of
hooks. It is evident that these tiles will form an effective means of building into and
casing concrete walls with a facing which will by means of its capping joints and
horizontal drips render the wall rain proof.
When an ornamental appearance is desired I deepen a portion of the overlapping
bottom of the tile and form a curved or serrated edge, or I press the face into
moulds of suitable patterns. I further propose to make these tiles of cement
artificial stone, concrete, or other suitable material.