CONSTRUCTION

TECHNOLOGY 1
ROOFS
• 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
 primary purpose - to protect the occupants of a
building from weather.
 Secondarily - aesthetical reasons.
a) Weather resistance:
 should be able to keep off rain, wind, sun, snow etc.
 provided by roof covering, but the covering may
depend on the pitch or fall.
b) Strength and stability:
Must be able to sustain both own and superimposed
loads.
c) 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.
d) Sound insulation:
The property of regulating sound transmission within
a building.
e) Fire resistance
The degree of fire depends on:
proximity to other buildings;
measure of the building which a roof covers; and
structure of the roof, including the materials used.
f) Durability
This is largely a function of roof coverings.
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°
 Pitched 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.
• 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:
• Type of building – whether domestic,
commercial, industrial or church building;
• Spans to be covered;
• Nature and magnitude of loads that may be
imposed on it, e.g. air conditioning units,
water cisterns, etc;
• Lighting requirements and accommodation for
services;
• Possibility of future alterations;
• Speed of construction;
• Economy or budgetary constraints; and
• Aesthetical considerations.
ROOF TIMBERS
a. Trussed construction
b. Rafter construction
i. Single roofs
• Couple
• Collar
• Closed couple
ii. Double roofs
Trussed Construction
Rafter Construction
A. Single Roof
i. Couple Roof
• Structure limited
in use
• Span not greater
than 3m
ii. Collar Roof

• Collar helps
rafter from
spreading out
• Gives greater
ceiling height if
required
iii. Close Couple Roof
• Ensures the roof
can be used for
greater spans
• Hanger prevents
ceiling from
sagging
B. Double
• Rafters are of
such length that
they require
intermediate
support
 Roof Coverings
• Common materials for pitched roof coverings
include natural slate, stone slate, plain tiles,
pantiles, asbestos cement tiles, interlocking
concrete tiles, etc.
• 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)
• 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 laid 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.
• A closed valley has special valley tiles that are
shaped so as to close the valley completely as is
shown below.
[B] Flat Roofs
• 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.
Flat rafter
 Question
• Explain how lateral restraint is achieved in the
construction of trussed pitched roofs [10]
• Draw and list 8 different types of roof
coverings that are available in the local market
and furnish their advantages and
disadvantages (2 on each)
[40]