ROOFS

Technically speaking, a roof refers to the framework of either timber, steel or concrete on
which a covering of thatch, corrugated iron or asbestos, asphalt, tiles etc is placed.

Functional requirements
The primary purpose of a roof is to protect the occupants of a building from weather.
Secondarily, in line with the above, a roof is required for aesthetical reasons.

In order to fulfil the above a roof should meet the following requirements:

1. Weather resistance:
A roof should be able to keep off rain, wind, sun, snow etc. Adequate weather
resistance is provided by the roof covering, but the covering may depend for its
effectiveness on the ability of the structure to provide the required pitch or fall.
2. Strength and stability:
The roof must be able to sustain both own and superimposed loads.
3. Thermal insulation:
The property of regulating heat within a building for the comfort of the inhabitants.
Critical factor in roof choice especially in areas where there is much temperature
variations either between day and night or seasons.
4. Sound insulation:
The property of regulating sound transmission within a building.
5. Fire resistance
The degree of fire resistance which a roof provides depends on: its proximity to other
buildings; measure of the building which a roof covers; and structure of the roof,
including the materials used.
6. Durability
This is largely a function of roof coverings.

Roof components
Ridge – the pinnacle of a roof; the terminations of the inclined surfaces at the top of the slope

Ridge board – a horizontal board on edge through which rafters are nailed to each other.

Pitch – this refers to the ratio of the rise to the span

Common rafter (spar) – inclined member set parallel to the slope of the roof coverings,
running from eave to ridge and supporting the battens.

Gable – the triangular part of the gable end.

Hanger – vertical member supporting the binder or ceiling joist from a purlin or rafter.

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 Rise

Pitch Wall plate

Run

Span Overhang / eaves

Hip – the line of intersection of two roof surfaces which contain an external angle greater
than 180°.

Hipped end – triangular sloping surface formed between hips, ridge and eaves.

Hip rafter – forms the hip and spans from ridge to eaves.

Purlin – horizontal timbers of a roof at right angle to the rafter and normally carried on them.

Battens – timber lath used as fixings for tiles and slates.

Collar – restraints the rafters from outward movement.

Ceiling joist – support the ceiling finish as well as acting as a collar.

Brace – provides additional support for purlins in truss construction.

Binder – a horizontal member that supports ceiling joists, maintaining joists interval, and
preventing their excessive deflection.

Eaves – the lower edge of an inclined roof surface which overhangs the walls.

Barge-board – a sloping board at a gable, providing a neat finish to the roof.

Fascia board – a horizontal board on edge fixed to the lower end of the rafters and supporting
the gutter.

Gable end – vertical wall taken up to the ridge.

Jack rafter – a shortened rafter spanning from eaves to hip or from ridge to valley.

Choice of roof structure

The most appropriate form of roof structure for a particular building will depend on:

1. Type of building – whether domestic, commercial, industrial or church building;

2. Spans to be covered;

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 3. Nature and magnitude of loads that may be imposed on it, e.g. air conditioning units,
water cisterns, etc;
4. Lighting requirements and accommodation for services;
5. Possibility of future alterations;
6. Speed of construction;
7. Economy or budgetary constraints; and
8. Aesthetical considerations.

Roofs Classification
Roofs are classified as either pitched or flat roofs.

• Pitched roofs - roof slope (pitch) of more than 10°

• Flat roof – roof slope not more than 10°

[A] Pitched Roofs

Forms

Gable roof Mansard roof

Hipped roof Pyramid

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 Ogee curve roof Monopitch roof

Lean‐to roof saw‐tooth roof (in factories ‐ ventilation and daylight)

A roof has two main components to it, i.e. roof structure and roof coverings

The roof structure can either be trussed construction or rafter construction

Trussed construction

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Makes use of trusses which are factory made and only brought to site for mounting into
position.

Advantages of trussed construction

I. Larger spans can be covered more economically;

II. A strong framework is assured;
III. Speed and efficiency in site erection procedure;
IV. Quality construction is also assured since the trusses are factory made, and
V. Savings in material and labour requirement

The most common materials for the trusses are timber and mild steel.

W or Fink Truss [spans up to 10m] Howe Truss [7m span]

Fan or Fink truss [spans from 10‐20m] Dutch hip truss [Spans from 12‐20m]

WW or double fink [15m Span] Double howe truss [Span from 12‐20m]

Scissors truss [8m Span] Cambered truss [spans up to 12m]

Hip truss Monopitch [spans up to 10m]

Stub truss [12m Span] Gable truss

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In order to provide an overhang at the gable for the verge normally a prefabricated ladder is
used as one shown below. Bracings
are then fixed in order to brace the
trusses.

Depending on the type of finish

purlins (horizontal members) are
fixed either on top cord of the trusses
or underneath as shown above. If
tiles are covers to the roof then tile
battens are fixed on top of the
trusses.

Rafter Construction

This is a traditional method which is still very popular with small to medium sized structures.

• Individual roof members are assembled and fixed together right on the roof.
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• Stability of the rafters is increased by fixing other members like collars, hangers,
struts, purlins, etc.
• This method is more time consuming as compared to use of trusses, less stable
construction and limited to roofs of small spans.

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Roof Coverings
Common materials for pitched roof coverings include natural slate, stone slate, plain tiles,
pantiles, asbestos cement tiles, interlocking concrete tiles, etc. These can be classified as the
small units group. Large sized units include galvanized iron sheets, asbestos cement sheets,
translucent sheets and aluminium sheets. These can either be Trafford or corrugated sheets
(shape)

Also a once forgotten material in our modern taste, thatch, is becoming popular again
especially in resort centres. It is favoured for its thermal properties although it’s poor in terms
of fire resistance.

• Where two roofs meet either a hip and or a valley is formed.

• The valley can either be a closed valley or an open valley.
• An open valley has got a gutter or valley tiles that are layed under so as to receive and
drain water away, as shown above. The two roof slope are separated by this gutter or
these valley tiles.

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 • A closed valley has special valley tiles that are shaped so as to close the valley
completely as is shown below.

[B] Flat Roofs

As mentioned earlier roofs of less than 10° pitch are regarded as flat roofs. Flat roofs have
two main shortcomings:

• Poor thermal insulators. They are very cold in cold weather and unbearably hot in hot
weather.
• Tend to give a building the appearance of being unfinished.

Two materials commonly used for flat roofs are timber and reinforced concrete.

a) Timber

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Firing pieces are there to provide a slope for drainage purposes.

b) Concrete

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 • The concrete slab which may be cast in situ or precast is usually finished level and the
falls obtained with a screed.
• The final cover can be of bitumen, asphalt (two layers) or sheet metal.

Loads on Roofs
The loads for which roofs are designed are dead loads, superimposed loads and wind effects.

Dead loads

• Comprise the self weight of the roof structure, roof coverings, and any insulating
lining or ceiling that may be provided.
• Also loads associated with provisions such as storage tanks, ventilation fittings,
lighting fittings, etc.

Live loads

• Those produced during maintenance by workers, equipment, and materials, and

during the life of the structure by movable objects such as planters and by people.

Snow loads

• Snow load is not a problem in Zimbabwe

• In cold regions where snow is a problem if the roof slopes greater than 50° snow load
may be disregarded.
• For flatter slopes, the possibility of partial coverage of roof with snow should be
considered.

Wind loads

• Wind pressure on a structure depends on location of the structure, height of structure

above ground level and the shape of the structure.

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