Improvements Connected with the Laying and Securing of Slates.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements Connected with the Laying and Securing
of Slates.
I, GEORGE Ross, of 19 North Coburg Street, Glasgow, in the county of
Lanark, Slater, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
CONNECTED WITH THE LAYING AND SECURING OF SLATES," to be as follows:-
My Invention has reference to an improved mode and means of slating, or
laying and securing slates on the roofs or walls of buildings, which will effect very
considerable economy in the material and in time and labour in slating as
compared with the methods of doing so heretofore and with equal efficiency,
durability and power or facility for ornamentation.
Two ordinary modes have heretofore been employed for laying and securing
slates, namely, the "Close" and the "open bond" systems; in the first of which
the side edges of the slates (forming the up and down joints) are laid close
together, and in the latter these edges are laid at a considerable distance apart,
according to the width of the slates, but always leaving sufficient side lap or
bond" over the slates below, as from two to four inches, to prevent water
getting in laterally at the side joint. The first system is generally used when the
slates are narrow or irregular in width, as it allows of the up and down joints in
one layer or row of slates being set considerably to one side or the other of the
centre of the slates in the row below. The second system is generally used where
the slates are large and of more regular width, and to save the double and triple
covering of so much surface of the slates below them, and thus cover a greater
surface of roof, with less area and weight of slates. But this open bond system,
leaves an opening of the thickness of the slate across the lower edge of each slate
of the width of the open bond or distance between the side edges of the slates
below it, which allows wind and water to blow in on flat roofs or during stormy
weather; except at the lower rows of slates at the eaves or rhones, where the
slates are usually laid double, and close bond with "under eave slates below and
"in bond over-eave" slates above, all laid edge to edge at their side joints.
Further to prevent leakage or water getting in at the horizontal joints, or at the
lower edge of any slate through the bond joints and the nail hole of or over the
top edge of the second row of slates below; the lowest edge of each successive row
of slates must be gauged to rise only as much less than the half of their length, as
will allow a vertical "overlap" across the bottom of the third row of slates over
the top of the first row, of say about 3 to 5 inches termed "Cover" to ensure
tightness at these horizontal or longitudinal joints.
"

page_text: رو
One modification of my said improvements as arranged for the "open bond" of
the larger slates, as say for illustration of 20 inches broad by 30 inches long, I lay
the first row of these slates with their lower edges say 13 inches above that of the
usual double eave slate before referred to, at a distance of 17 inches apart from
centre to centre, leaving an open bond or space between them of 14 inches,
giving a real bond or overlap at each side joint of 3 inches; I then fill up the
open 14 inch spaces between these slates in line with their lower edges with one;
two, or more slates say 17 inches high. In like manner I lay the next row or
layer of large slates with their lower edges 13 inches up from that of the former,
and 17 inches apart with their centre line over that of the 14 inch open space
above the new short 17 inch in-bond slates, thus giving a "cover" over these of
4 inches, and so as to lie flat and solid and leave no space for the entrance of wind
or rain up to the nail holes of or over the top edge of these short slates; I then fill
up the lower part of the 14 inch open-bond spaces between the large slates with
the short set of their new open bond slates which complete this row; when I then
lay down the third row of large slates over the short slates of the last row and the
" of 4 inches,
top of the large slates of the first row overlapping both with a cover
and so on in succession up to the ridge or top of the roof. In regard to nailing
the large slates, each might be secured by one or two nails near the top as usual,
or by one nail near the middle about 14 inches from the top, so as to be well
covered by the short "in bond" slates, the nails at top of which might at same.
time enter a notch or cut in the top edge of the large slate, and so secure it and
prevent it from shifting as well as if secured by two nails, thus making two nails
secure a large and small slate as well as the three nails. And as the nails in this
arrangement are all in the centre lines at 17 inches apart, the nails for slates about
this size could all be driven into the roof couples, and the slates be carried and
made quite secure. without the use of boarding, sarking, or rafters for securing the
slates to.
"
"
By a modification of my improvements I can lay each alternate row of the largé
slates on the ordinary close bond method, with their side edges close together; and
over the up and down joints formed by their edges lay a row of long narrow slates
.on the open bond method of say 6 inches broad, which would give the same'
3 inch overlap or real bond over the sides of the long broad slates; then lay the
short narrow new "in bond" slates in between the sides of this alternate row of
long narrow slates, the nail holes and top edges of which would be covered by the
lower edges of the next row of large slates laid above them. By these my
improvements far less surface of slates would be covered. in with bond" and
"cover" over each other in two and three thicknesses of slates, than in the case
of ordinary close bond, and though having more triple covered surface than the
open bond" method, yet my system has all the saving of this in the large open
parts, above the short slates which are only covered in by one thickness of the
large slates, and has all the advantages of the close bond method in being closed in
by the short slates below the lower end of the large states. While the intermediate
short slates enable these to be utilised in rooting along with the large slates,
besides affording easy means, with the least, possible expense and labour, of
ornamenting slate work laid in accordance with my improvements, by making the
short slates of different lengths, and making them up in different patterns of
reticulated work, with rectangular, pointed, angled, gothic, or rounded ends, and
making these of different coloured slates from the large slates..
"

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements Connected with the Laying and Securing
of Slates.
I, GEORGE ROSS, of 19, North Coburg Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
Slater, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
CONNECTED WITH THE LAYING AND SECURING OF SLATES" and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement in writing; reference being had to the accompanying
sheet of drawings and to the reference letters and figures marked thereon; that is
to say :-
My invention has reference to an improved mode and means of slating, or laying
and securing slates on the roofs or walls of buildings, which will effect very
considerable economy in the material and in time and labour in slating, as
compared with the methods of doing so heretofore, and with equal efficiency,
durability and power or facility for ornamentation.
Two ordinary modes have heretofore been employed for laying and securing
slates, viz., the "Close" and the "open bond" systems; in the first of which the
side edges of the slates (forming the up and down joints) are laid close together,
and in the latter these edges are laid at a considerable distance apart, according to
the width of the slates, but always leaving sufficient side lap or "bond
over the
edges or joints of the slates below, as from two to four inches to prevent water
getting in laterally at the side joints.
"
The first (or close bond) system is generally used when the slates are narrow or
irregular in width, as it allows of the up and down joints in a layer or row of
slates. being set considerabely to one side or the other of the centre of the slates in
the row below. The second (or open bond) system is generally used where the
slates are large and of nearly regular width, and to save the double and triple
covering of so much surface of the slates below them; and thus cover a greater
surface of roof, with less area and weight of slates. But this open bond system,
leaves an opening of the thickness of the slate across the lower edge of each slate
of the width of the open bond or distance between the side edges of the slates
below it, which allows wind and water to blow in especially on flat roofs or during
stormy weather, except at the lower rows of slates at the eaves or rhones, where
the slates are usually laid double, and in close bond with "under eave" slates
below, and with "over eave slates in close bond above, all laid edge to edge at
their side joints.
"
Further to prevent leakage, or water getting in at the horizontal joints or at the
lower edge of any slate through the open bond joints and the nail hole of or over
the top edge of the second row of slates below, the lowest edge of each successive
row of slates must be guaged to rise only as much less than the half of their
length, as will allow a vertical "overlap" across the bottom of the third row of
slates over the top of the first row (above said eave rows) of say from 3 to 5 inches
termed "Cover," to ensure tightness at these horizontal or longitudinal joints.

page_text: "
And in order that the nature and novelty of my invention or improvements and
mode of putting the same into effect or practice may be properly understood I shall
now proceed to describe the several Figures on the sheet of drawings which I have
hereunto appended for that purpose the same reference letters indicating the
equivalent parts in the several Figures.
Figure 1 is the section of part of a roof and Figures 2 to 4 are plans of parts of
roofs corresponding to Figure 1, all illustrative of my said improvements, showing
different ornamental effects producible thereby.
"
--
---
---
---
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 :-One modification of my said improvements is
arranged for the " open bond" of the larger slates A, as say for illustration of
20 inches broad by 30 inches long. I lay the first row of these slates A with their
lower edges say 13 inches as a¹ a¹ above that of the usual double eave slates
(E, E',) before referred to, and at a distance of 17 inches apart from centre to
centre between each alternate row as a a, leaving an open bond or space
between the slates A, A, in each row of 14 inches as b
b which will give a
real bond or overlap at the side joint 61, 61, of each succeeding row of these slates A,
A1, A2, of 3 inches. I then fill up the open 14 inch spaces b b between the
slates A, (it may be in line with or above their lower edges) with one, two or more
slates as B, say 17 inches high. In like manner I lay the next higher row of
large slates A¹ with their lower edges 13 inches up (as a¹ a) from that of the
former row A, and also 17 inches apart (as a a) lateraly with their centre line
over that of each 14 inch open space (as b b) and above the new narrow short
17 inch in-bond slates B filling these spaces; thus giving a "Cover" down over the
top of these slates 4 inches, and so as to lie flat, close, and solid on the lower row
of slates A and B, leaving no space for the entrance of wind or rain up to the nail
holes of or over the top edge of the short slates B, as left in the usual open bond
system. I then fill up the lower part of the 14 inch open bond spaces between
.these large slates A¹, A¹, with the short set of their new open bond slates B¹, B',
which complete this row. When I then lay down the third row of large slates A², A²,
over the short slates B¹, B', of the last row A¹, B¹, and the top of the large slates A, A
of the first row A, B, each slate A³ overlapping both slates A¹, A¹, on each side of
it, with a "Cover" of 4 inches, as in the former row:-Thus laying each row of
slates A, B, over each other in succession up to the ridge or top of the roof. In
regard to nailing the large slates A, A1, A2, A³, each might be secured by one or
two nails n, near the top as usual, or by one or an extra nail n', near the middle,
as about 14 inches from the top, or so as to be well covered by the middle part of
the new short "in-bond" slates B, the nails n², at top of which might at same
time enter a notch or cut in the top edge of the large slates A, and so secure these
as to prevent them from shifting when only secured by a central nail n¹ as well as
if secured by two nails n, n'; thus making two nails n', n² secure a large and
small slate as well as if three nails n, nl, n² were used, as shown in Figure 4. And
as the nails in this arrangement are all in the centre, at 17 inches apart, the nails
for slates about this size could all be driven into the roof couples Z, Z, placed at
this distance apart to suit the width of the slates and their distance apart, and
which would all be carried and made quite secure to the rafters or couples over
the whole roof when desired, without the use of boarding, sarking, purlines or
laths for securing the slates to.
By these my improvements far less surface of slates would be covered in, with
bond and cover, over each other in two and three thicknesses of slates than is the
case with the ordinary close bond; and though having more triple covered surface
than the ordinary." open bond" method; yet my system has all the saving of this
open bond," in the large open parts above the short slates B which are only
covered in by one thickness of the large slates A, and has all the advantages
of the close bond method in being closed in by the short slates B, B, below the
lower end of the large slates A, A. While the use of the intermediate short
narrow slates B, B, enable small slates of little value to be utilised in roofing along
with the large expensive slates A, A.

page_text: Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4 these improvements afford an easy means, with
the least possible expense and labour, of ornamenting slate work laid in accordance
with my said improvements; by making the short slates B, B, of different lengths,
and shaping or dressing their lower end in different patterns of reticulated work;
with either rectangular ends as at 62, 63, or pointed or angled as at 6, or with
rounded or gothic ends as at 65, 66, and making them of different widths as seen in
these Figures, and of a different coloured slate from the large slates A:
By a modification of these my improvements shown in plan view Figure 5, I can
lay each row or alternate row of the large slates A, A, on the ordinary
"close
bond" method with their side edges close together; and then over the up and
down joints formed by their edges I lay a row of long narrow slates (as say CC)
on the improved open bond method of say 6 inches broad, which would give the
same 3 inch overlap or real bond over the joints and sides of the long broad
slates A, A; and then lay the short narrow new "in-bond "slates B, B, in the spaces
between the edges of this alternate row of long narrow slates (C, C), the nail holes
and top edges of which would be covered by the lower ends of the next row of
large slates A, laid alternately above them.
Further ornamentation may be obtained, besides that described as given by the
angular, semicircular, and elliptic reticulate effects, by dressing the lower ends of
the new "in-bond" slates B, respectively shown at b, b, b; and which consists
in forming complete outline figures such as the diamond, the circle, the egg oval or
ellipse, as shown at 6IV, bv, bv, respectively in Figure 3; and obtained by cutting
a recess out of the centre of the lower end of the slates A opposite and corre-
sponding to the respective projecting ends 64, 65, 66, of the slates B below the surface
of these slates B, which thus reflects the figures to the eye, and when these slates
are made of a different clour to that of the slates A this gives a still further
ornamental effect.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The arranging, laying and securing of slates on roofs and other places, in the
improved manner and for the purposes or advantages all substantially as herein
described in reference, to, or shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. The arranging, laying and securing of large slates on the wide spacing method
of open bond and filling in the spaces between them with shorter narrow slates
in the same row, substantially as herein described, or shown in the accompanying
drawings.
3. The filling in the spaces of "open-bond" slate work with short narrow slates,
substantially as herein described in reference to, or shown in the accompanying
drawings.
4. The ornamenting of the slate work on roofs or other places by filling in short
narrow slates and dressing their lower ends between the large slates of each row
laid in the open bond manner substantially as herein described in reference to, or
shown in the accompanying drawings.