An Improved Method of Roofing with Slates with or without Putty.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left. 8th Nov. 1890-Accepted. 10th Jan.. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Roofing with Slates with or without
Putty.
ALFRED PETER SHARP 7 and 17 Great Brunswick Street Dublin Builder and
Contractor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The covering or slating roofs with single slates that is to say, one thickness of slate
only. My method is as follows. The rafters, preferably wood, are rebated both sides,
after the manner of rafters for roof glazing with putty this will leave a raised fillet in
centre of rafter. I now take milled lead strips made in the form of the letter H the
lower half of which fits on the raised fillet of rafter. This lead strip is secured with
tacks (copper in preference) at sides of fillet, the lead strips may be in lengths of about
a yard lapped on each other.
I prefer to bed the slate in putty, I give from half inch to one inch of a
lap only.
I prefer to bed the lap in putty also, 1 then lay the lead flanges forming upper
half of the H shaped lead strip with a tool made for the purpose and trim after
to give a neat finish.
And for this my invention I claim the following advantages viz. That the cost of
roofing by this method is in or about one half that of the old method also that no battens,
rendering, or nails, of any kind are required, and that the work can be done by any
good intelligent man not necessarily a slater, also that the wind cannot displace a
slate, and that there is less than one half the weight on the rafters, thereby admitting
of much lighter timber being used, whereby a further saving is effected, and that the
roof is stronger, it requiring much more force to break a slate laid by my method
than it does to break the same laid by the old method, also the great advantage of
admitting light through any part of the roof, by simply using glass instead of slate,
also the ease repairs can be done with, the raised fillet forming as it does a rest for
ladders, and a protection for the slates.
Also that the lead may be dispensed with altogether, and the work done as in
ordinary glazed roofs in wood, green houses &c. My claim is roofing with single
slate substantially as described."
Dated this Seventh day of April 1906
ALFRED PETER SHARP,
7 and 17, Great Brunswick Street, Dublin.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Roofing with Slates with or without
Putty.
Alfred PETER SHARP 7 & 17 Great Brunswick Street Dublin Builder & Con-
tractor do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The covering or slating roofs with single slates, and my method is as follows-
The rafters R may be of any suitable materials, preferably wood, and rebated both
sides after the manner of rafters for glazing with putty, or any of the numerous_lead
strips as used in glazing without putty. Into these rebates I bed my slates D in
suitable cement, preferably putty B or mastic-giving from half inch to one
inch_lap.
I bed the lap also, & secure the slates in position with nails, copper I prefer.

page_text: I prime both rafters and edges of slates with boiled oil or paint. My method
applies also to vertical or weather slating.
1 cover the raised fillet of rafters (& cement or putty margin) with strips of
thin sheet lead A of sufficient breadth. These lead slips are secured to the rafters
with nails E or screws (preferably copper), then the edges are laid closely down on
the putty with a suitable tool, thereby effectually protecting the wood, and providing
a rest for ladders in case of repairs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
That the cost of slate roofings by my method is about one half that of the old
method.
That all battens, slate nails, & renderings are dispensed with, and that the work can
be done by any intelligent man, a glazier, or gardener &c. &c.
That it has stood the trial of 6 years successfully, that the slates cannot be disturbed
by storms, and that repairs can be done by any handy man, and at one twentieth the
cost of repairing present slated roofs.
That it is a stronger, & more permanent roof, requiring double the force to break
a slate laid by my method, than when laid "loose as in the old method, and there
being no expansion or contraction in slates the bed is not cracked or disturbed, thus
giving security against leakage.
•
That much lighter materials may be used in the construction of the roof as by my
method there is only one half the weight to support.
My method also affords the facility of admitting light at any part of a roof by
simply using glass'instead of slates, so dispensing with skylight frames and similar
appliances, and that it affords a much easier way of forming hips, valleys, flashings
&c. and that the aforenamed lead strips can be dispensed with altogether, & the fillets
painted.
There are innumerable ways of using slates as herein described, the same as there
are in glazing roofs, but, my claim is roofing with single slates, that is to say one
thickness of slate only excepting the lap, substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of November 1800.
ALFRED PETER SHARP,
7 and 17, Great Brunswick Street, Dublin.