Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
t 0 ~
ROOF OR SIDEWALL CONSTRUCTION
The present invention relates to sloping
roofs and upright sidewalls of the type having horizontal
rows of wooden covering elements applied in overlapping
courses.
It is known to apply generally rectangular
wood shakes in overlapping courses to form the roof of
a building structure. The adjacent sides of adjacent
shakes in a course are always spaced apart slightly to
enable expansion of the shakes transversely of the
grain resulting from changes in moisture content and/or
temperature ~ithout buckling.
Strips of building felt under the shakes of
one course may cover the tip portions o~ the shakes of
the next lower course. Nevertheless, rain or snow may
be blown upward through the spaces between adjacent
shakes and beneath the ~elt strips, which results in
leaks. In addition, in case of a roof fire, air
circulates readily between the shakes increasing the
rate at which the fire spreads. ~s evidenced by ~
patent Nos. 3,664,081, issued i-~ay 23, 1972 to Martin et
al. and Re 27,574, issued February 6, 1973 to Krough et
al., the problem of blowback of rain and snow previously
has been recognized, and it has been proposed to apply
a furring strip adjacent to the upper edge of each
course of shakes.
Multipiece shingle panels are known utilizing
an elongated backing board to which a course of shingles
is applied. In the panel disclosed in Martin U.S.
patent No. 3~440,777, issued April 29, 1969, a sheet of
g
waterprooE material, an underlayer course of shingles
and a face course of shakes are secured to an elongated
"base strip" which can be plywood. In the panel dis-
closed in Chandler et al~ U.S. patent ~o. 3,068,920,
issued Decemher 18, 1962, shakes are laid over a veneer
strip which, in turn is laid over a course of shingles.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a roof or sidewall structure of the type includ-
ing wood shakes applied in overlapping courses, in
which the adjacent sides of the exposed portions of
adjacent shakes may be spaced apart without increasing
the tendency of the roof or sidewall structure to leak
due to blowback and without increasing the rate at
which fire would spread should a fire occur.
It also is an object to provide such a struc-
ture ~hich retains the durability and appearance of
shakes while reducing the amount oE shake material
required.
A further object is to provide such a roof or
sidewall structure using component parts that are easy
to manufacture, formed from readily available building
elements and easy to apply.
The foregoing objects can be accomplished in
a covering for a surEace of a building structure, such
covering including separate generally rectangular
covering elements each having respective butt and tip
ends and applied in generally coplanar, side adjacent
relationship in each of several courses, by the improve-
ment comprising a filler element having respective butt
and tip ends and a portion fitted between the adjacent
sides of adjacent covering elements, at least one side
3 ~ ~ 9
of one of the elements having a shoulder extending transversely
of such side, dividing its element into respec-tive ~utt and tip
portions of unequal width and abutting a portion of another of
the elements.
Such objects can also be accomplished in a covering for
a surface of a building structure, such covering in.cluding
separate generally rectangular wood shake covering elements
having respective ~utt and tip ends and applied in generally
coplanar, side adjacent relationship in each of several courses
with the tip portions of the covering elements of one course
being overlapped by the ~utt portions of the covering elements
of a higher course, by the improvement comprising a sawn wood
shingle filler element having respective butt and tip ends
tapered in thickness towards its tip end, having a portion
fitted between adjacent sides of adjacent covering elements
in a course and having its bu-tt ends spaced upward from the
butt ends of the adjacent covering elements.
Such objects can also be accompl:ished in a covering
for a surface of a building structure, such covering including
seperate generally rectangular wood shake covering elements
having respective butt and tip ends and applied in generally
coplanar, side adjacent relationship in each of several
courses, by the improvement comprising the adjacent sides of
adjacent covering elements in a course having respective
shoulders extending transversely of such sides, each shoulder
dividing its covering element into respective tip and butt end
portions of unequal width such that such adjacent covering
elements have corresponding narrower end portions with opposing
sides, and a filler element having a portion fitted between
such adjacent covering elements and having opposite sides in
substantially contiguous engagement, respectively, with the
opposing
3, ~9~o~
sides of the narrower end portions of such adjacent coveriny
elements.
In a preferred embodlment of the invention, a
filler cut from a sawn shinyle is fitted between adjacent
shakes such that the adjacent sides of the adjacent
shakes are spaced apart a substantial distance to reduce
the amount of shake material required. The tips of
the shakes and fillers of each course are overlapped
by the butt portions of the shakes in the next higher
or successive course so that only the butt portions of
the shakes and the fillers are exposed to the weather.
Optionally, the fillers can be entirely overlapped by
the butt portions of the shakes in the successive
course so that only the spaced shake butt portions are
exposed.
..
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In drawings which illustrate embodiments of
the invention~
Figure 1 and Figure 2 are top perspecti~es of
component parts of a roof structure in accordance with
the presen-t invention, Figure 1 showing an individual
generally rectangular covering element, such as a
shake, constructed in accordance with the invention,
and Figure 2 showing a plug or filler, such as a sawn
shingle, constructed in accordance with the invention;
Figure 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic top
perspective of a portion of a roof structure in accord-
ance with the present invention using the components of
Figures 1 and 2, parts being shown in exploded
relationship;
Figure 4 is a top plan of a portion of a roof
structure in accordance with the present invention
using the components of Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 5
is a section taken along line 5--5 of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a top perspective of a roof or
sidewall panel in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 7 is a top perspective of the panel of Figure 6
with parts being shown in e~ploded relationship,
Figure B is a top plan of the panel of Figure 6,
Figure 9 is a section taken along line 9--9 of E'igure
B, and Figure 10 is a section taken along line 10--10
of Figure 8;
Figure 11 is a somewhat diagrammatic top
perspective of a plurality of panels of the type shown
in Figure 6, illustrating application of the panels to
form a roof covering, Figure 12 is a corresponding top
perspective showing two of such panels in exploded
relationship, and Figure 13 is a top plan of a portion
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of a representative roof structure formed by such
panels;
Figure 14 is a top perspective of a second
roof or sidewall panel in accordance with the present
invention, parts being shown in exploded relationship,
Figure 15 is a top perspective of a portion of a roof
structure in accordance with the present invention
using panels of th~ type shown in Figure 14, parts
being broken away, and Figure 1~ is a section taken
along line 16--16 of Figure lS;
Figures 17 and 18 are top perspectives of
component parts of another roof structure in accordance
with the present invention, Figure 17 showing a wide
individual generally rectangular covering element, such
as a shake, having a narrower backing layer, and Figure
18 showing a narrow plug or filler, such as a sawn
shingle, having a wider backing layer;
Figure 1~ is a top perspective of a roof or
sidewall panel using the components illustrated in
Figures 17 and 18, parts being broken away, and Figure
20 is a somewhat diagrammatic top perspective of a
portion of a roof structure in accordance with the
present invention using roofing panels of the type
shown in Figure 19, parts of the panels being broken
awa~;
Figures 21 and 22 are top perspectives of
component paxts of still another roof structure in
accordance with the present invention, Figure 21 showing
a modified covering element comonent, and Figure 22
showing a modified plug or filler component; and
Figure 23 is a top perspective of a roof or
sidewall panel using the components shown in Figures 21
and 22, parts being broken away, and Figure 24 is a
somewhat diagrammatic top perspective of a portion of a
roof structure in accordance with the present invention
` using roofing panels of the type shown in Figure 23,
parts of the panels being broken away.
For purposes of this application "wood shingles"
defines generally rectangular wooden covering elements
usually applied in side-by-side relationship in each of
several overlapping courses to cover a sloping roof or
an upright sidewall supporting structure. The term is
generic to "sawn shingles" and "shakes".
"Sawn shingles" have smooth sawn upper and
lower surfaces, almost always are tapered in thickness
` lengthwise of the grain and usually are 16 inches (40.5
i cm) to 18 inches (45.7 cm) in length and may be of
uniform or random width.
; "Shakes" have at least their upper surfaces
formed by splitting, or at least upper surfaces that
have been grooved to resemble a split surface such as
by rotating steel brushes or by being milled. Shakes
sometimes are tapered lengthwise of the grain and typically
are 24 inches (61 cm) in length and of random width.
The butts of tapered shakes generally are
~ thicker than the butts of tapered sawn shingles. The
; more time-consuming manufacturing operation and the
requirement of using higher grade material, and more of
it, make shakes substantially more expensive than sawn
shingles.
In accordance with the present invention and
as shown in Figure 1, one component part of a roof or
sidewall structure in accordance with the present
invention is a generally rectangular individual covering
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element, such as a wood shake 1, which has a rough
upper surface and preferably is tapered in thickness.
Such a shake includes a thicker butt end 2, a thinner
tip end 3 and longitudinal sides 4 connecting the shake
butt and -tip ends. The sides 4 of the shake are stepped,
providing transverse shoulders 5 facing the tip end of
the shake and dividing the shake into a narrower tip
portion 6 and a wider butt portion 7. The opposite
sides of the shake tip and butt portions are generally
parallel and each shoulder 5 extends substantially
perpendicular to such sides, such that the side of each
butt portion is ofrset from the corresponding side of
the tip portion a distance equal to the depth of a
shoulder. Preferably the two shoulders are of the same
depth, which should be w:ithin the range of 1/4 inch
(0.64 cm) and 1-1/2 inches (3.8 cm), preferably being
about 3/4 inch (1.9 cm).
~ s shown in Figure 2, the second component of
a roof or sidewall structure in accordance with the
present invention is a generally rectangular plug or
filler 8 which conveniently may be cut from a sawn wood
shingle. Such a filler has a thicker butt end 9, a
thinner tip end 10 and parallel sides 11 connecting the
butt and tip ends. The length of the filler is approx-
imately the same as the length of the shake tip portion
6. The width of the filler is substantially greater,
preferably about 1/4 inch (0.64 cm) to 1-1/2 inches
(3.8 cm) greater, than the combined depths of two
shoulders 5. If the shoulders are 3/4 inch (1.9 cm)
deep, the filler should be about 1-3/4 inches (4.4 cm)
to 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide, preferably about 2-1/4
inches (5.7 cm) wide. The thickness or height of the
filler butt should be approximately the same as the
thickness o~ a shake at its shoulders.
- The components shown in Figures 1 and 2 are
utllized in a roof structure R in the manner shown in
Figures 3, 4 and 5. Such roof structure includes roof
boards or sheathing S on which a layer of roofing felt
; F or other waterproof material is laid. Except in the
~. starter course, a shake 1 is applied over the tip
i portions of shakes in the next lower course. The tip
portion of such shake partially overlies the boards or
sheathing S. Next a filler 8 is applied with one of
its sides 11 substantially in engagement with a side of
the tip portion 6 of the shake just applied and the
butt 9 of the filler abutting a shake shoulder 5.
Next, another shake is applied with a side of its tip
portion substantially in engagement with the side 11 of
; the filler opposite the filler side adjacent to the
first shake and a shoulder 5 of the second shake abutting
the butt 9 of the filler.
Since the width of the filler is substantially
greater than the combined depths of the shoulders it
engages, the adjacent sides of the butt portions 7 of
adjacent shakes are spaced apart at least to the
: extent that the width of the filler exceeds the combined
: depths of the shake shoulders. The shake butt portions
should be spaced apart at least 1/4 inch (0.64 cm). A
pleasing rustic appearance, and a substantial saving of
the more e~pensive shake material, can be achieved with
substantially greater spacing of the shake butt portions.
In one embodiment of the invention, the width of a
filler exceeds the combined depths of two shoulders by
about 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) so that the shake butt portions
~ ~ ~7 ~
are spaced apart about 3/4 inch (1.9 cm).
The application method is continued to form a
course C of alternating shakes and fillers with the
butt ends 2 of the shakes substantially coplanar.
Successive overlapping courses C then are applied with
the spaces between shakes of each succeeding course out
of reyistration with the spaces between the shakes of
the preceding course.
The spacing of the shake shoulders from the
shake butt end 2 is determined by the length of the
shake butt portion it is desired to expose to the
weather. Such shoulders should be overlapped approx-
imately 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) by the shakes of the next
succeeding course. In a representative installation,
the shakes are 24 inches (61 cm) long with about 10
inches (25.4 cm) of the butt portion of each shake
exposed to the weather. In such a representative
installation, each shake shoulder is spaced about
10~1/2 inches (26.7 cm) from the butt end of the shake.
The thickness or height of the butt ends 9 of
the fillers 8 are substantially equal to the thickness
of the shakes 1 at the shoulders 5 and the filler butts
abut the shake shoulders tightly, so that such fillers
form plugs between adjacent shakes at their shoulders.
Also, the thickness of a filler throughout its length
should be approximately equal to the corresponding
thickness of the adjacent shake tip portions so that
the bottom surfaces of the shakes of each course closely
overlie the upper surfaces of the shakes and fillers of
the next lower course.
The fillers prevent rain or snow from being
blown up between the sides of shakes in -the same course
~ ~ 7 ~
and between the upper surfaces of shakes in a lower
course and the bottom surfaces of shakes ln the next
higher course, assuring that the completed roof structure
is weathertight~ In addition, in case of fire, the
fillers or plugs act as fire s-tops deterring the passage
of air between adjacent shakes so that the fire will
spread less quickly than without such fillers or plugs.
Further, as discussed above, the use of wide fillers
spacing apart the adjacent edges of the butt portions
of adjacent shakes provides a substantial saving in
expensive shake material and gives a pleasing rustic
appearance to the completed roof structure without
reducing its weathertight character.
The embodiment of the present invention shown
in Figures 6 through 13 uses covering element and plug
or filler components to form a roofing panel. As shown
in Figures 6 and 7, the covering element is a generally
rectangular shake 1' which has a butt end 2', a tip end
3' and generally parallel longitudinal sides 4' connecting
the shake butt and tip ends. The opposite sides o-f the
shake are ~enerally parallel and, preferably, the shake
is tapered in thickness from the butt end 2' to the tip
end 3'. Although the shake is approximately 12 inches
(30.5 cm) in length, its thickness and taper are the
same as the butt portion of a standard 24 inch (61 cm)
shake. Approximately a 2 inch (5 cm) wide portion of
the rough upper surface of each shake is removed adjacent
to the tip end 3', such as by routing, leaving a kerf
line 12 parallel to the butt end 2' and tip end 3'.
The plug or filler component 8' of the roofing
panel may be cut from a sawn wood shingle. Such filler
includes a butt end 9', a tip end 10l and longitudinal
11
sides 11' connecting the filler butt and tip ends. One
of the sides 11' oE the filler is stepped, providing a
transverse shoulder 5' facing the butt end of the
filler and dividing the filler into a wider tip portion
6' and a narrower butt portion 7~. The opposite sides
of the filler tip and butt portions are generally
parallel and the shoulder extends substantially perpen-
dicular to such sides.
The width of the filler tip portion 6' should
equal the combined widths of the filler butt portion 7'
and the shake 1' which will abut the filler shoulder 5'
when the roofing panel is assembled with the butt
portion 7' of the filler fitted between adjacent shakes;
that is, the lateral extent or depth of the filler
shoulder 5' is approximately equal to the width of the
shake. Therefore, the upper portion of the stepped
side of the filler will be in registration with a side
of the shake. If a single sawn shingle filler piece is
narrower than the preferred width, a filler extender 8a
may be used to form the composite filler as shown
toward the leEt of Figure 6.
Preferably the length of the filler tip
portion 6', i.e. the distance from the tip end 10' to
the shoulder 5', is approximately the same as the
length of the shake 1'. The thickness or height of the
filler butt portion 7' should be approximately the same
as the thickness of the portion of an ad~acent shake
with which it is generally aligned when the roofing
panel is assembled, as best seen in Figure 10.
The covering element and filler components
can be assembled with an underlayer 13 of sawn shingles
14 and suitable waterproof sheet material 15 to form
o ~
the roofing or sidewall panel 16 shown in Figures 6 and
7. The sawn shingles 14 of the underlayer 13 are low-
grade sawn shingles which may include knots, for example.
Preferably, the underlayer shingles 14 are tapered from
their butt ends 17 to their tip ends 1~.
As shown in Figures 7 and 9, the waterproof
sheet material 15, which can be standard roofing felt,
underlies the major portion of the underlayer 13 of
sawn shingles 14 and is secured to the panel at one end
by being interposed between a narrow underlayer sawn
shingle 20 and the adjacent covering element and filler
components. This method of securing the waterproof
paper into the roofing panel enables simple construction
of the roofing panel and avoids tacking the sheet at
both ends of the roofing panel which, as a result of
poor workmanship, could result in wrinkles and in the
eventual loss of watertight integrity.
To assemble the roofing panel 16, the under-
layer sawn shingles 14 are arranged over the waterproof
sheet material 15, with the exception of the end sawn
shingle 20 which is overlapped by the sheet. Such
underlayer shingles are assembled in side adjacent
relationship with the adjacent sides of adjacent shingles
spaced apart slightly and the butt ends of such shingles
substantially coplanar. The shakes 1' and fillers 8
are applied alternately over the underlayer. The
shakes cover the major portion of the lower half of the
underlayer sawn shingle course and the shake butt ends
2' overhang the butt ends 17 of the underlayer sawn
shingles. Adjacent shakes are spaced apart by the butt
portion 7' of a filler 8', and the opposite sides of
such filler butt portion preferably are in substantially
~ .L ~
contiguous engagement with the sides of the adjacent
shakes. Similarly, preferably the filler shoulder 5'
is substantially contiguously abu-tted by the shake tip
end 3'. Eiller extenders ~a are applied as required to
assure that the upper portion of the course of underlayer
sawn shingles is covered by the tip portions ~l of the
fillers which include the extenders 8a. Such filler
tip portions overhang the tips of the underlayer sawn
shingles. Care is taken to ensure that none of the
spaces between adjacent shakes exposes a joint between
adjacent underlayer shingles.
The roofing or sidewall panel components are
secured in conventional manner such as with staples 19
as indicated, for example, in Figure 8. The staples
can be applied through the shakes 1' in the area between
the tip end 3' and the kerf line 12, and through -the
fillers 8' in the filler tip portions 6' so that the
staples will be hidden by the successive course of
roofing panels. The kerf line 12 serves as a guide to
align the successive courses of assembled panels as
seen, for example, in Figures 11 and 12. By securing
the successive courses of panels to the roof or sidewall
with the lower ends of the underlayer sawn shingles of
the successive panel aligned with the kerf line 12 of
the shakes of the next lower panel, the successive
courses are maintained parallel and a uniform exposure
is assured.
The end portion of the waterproof sheet 15
opposite the end secured over the end underlayer shingle
20 extends beyond the sawn shingle underlayer, and the
secured end portion of the sheet, as best seen in
Figure 9, extends beyond the exposed side of the sawn
14
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shingle 20 up to the exposed side of the covering
element and filler which are secured over the sawn
shingle 20. Therefore~ as a course of roof panels is
laid up on a building structure, the covering element
and filler secured over the sawn shlngle 20 overlap the
exposed end portion of the sawn shingle underlayer of
the preceding roof panel. In addition, and waterproof
sheet 15 of the preceding panel underlies a por-tion of
the sawn shingle underlayer of the succeeding panel.
The length of the filler butt portion 7'
depends on whether the lower tip of the butt portion is
to be exposed, as indicated in Figures 11, 12 and 13,
or is to be completely overlapped by a panel of the
next higher course. The exposed butt portion embodiment
of Figure 12 is preferred, since the exposed butt
portion 7' would cover knots and other defects in the
sawn shingles 14 of the roof pallel underlayer 13. This
allows use of a lower grade urlderlayer sawn shingle,
without reducing the attractiveness of the finished
roo~ or sidewall.
The embodiment shown in Figures 14 to 16 is
identical to the embodiment shown in Figures 6 through
13 with the exceptions that; both sides 11" of each of
the fillers 8" is stepped, forming two shoulders 5"
each of which extends substantially perpendicular to
the filler sides, dividing the filler into a butt
portion 7" and a tip portion 6" of unequal width; and
the butt portion 7" of the filler is shorter. Although
slightly more expensive to construct, this embodiment
improves the weathertightness of the resulting roofing
panel hecause the tip end 3' of both adjacent covering
elements 1' abut a shoulder 5" of the filler. The
I :~7~LO~
shorter filler butt portions extend downward between
adjacent shakes only to the kerf line 12. Therefore, as
; shown in Figure 15, the butt end 911 of the filler 8" is
not exposed in tne completed roof structure, resulting
in a somewhat different appearance than the embodiment
of Figures 6 through 13.
. The embodiment of the present invention shown
in Figures 17 to 20 utilizes a composite shake covering
element 21 and a composite sawn shingle filler element
1030. The shake covering element 21, shown in Figure 17,
includes a 24 inch (61 cm) shake 21a which is approx-
imately 5/8 inch (1.6 cm) in th:ickness at its butt end
22 and 1/16 inch (.16 cm) in th:ickness at its tip end
23. The sides 24 of the shake are stepped, providing
transverse shoulders 25 facing the tip portion 26 which
is narrower than the butt portion 27. The opposite
sides of the shake tip and butt portions are generally
~; parallel, and each shoulder 25 extends substantially
perp~ndicular to such sides. The two shoulders are of
20 the same depth, preferably approximately 1/2 inch (1.3
cm).
The composite shake covering element 21
includes an 18 inch (45.7 cm) underlayer sawn shingle
28, narrower than the shake 21a, laterally centered
beneath the shake with the underlayer shingle butt end
29 substantially coplanar with the shake butt end 22.
The underlayer shingle butt end thickness is approx-
imately .45 inches (1.15 cm). The underlayer shingle
28 can be secured to the shake 21a by blind staples,
that is~ staples of lengths less than the combined
thicknesses of the underlayer shingle 28 and shake 21a,
such staples being applied from the underside of the
16
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;
underlayer shingle.
The composite sawn shingle filler element 30,
shown in Figure 18, includes -two 18 inch (45.7 cm) sawn
- shingles 31, 32 having butt ends 33, 34, respectively,
each approximately .45 inch (1.15 cm) in thickness.
Such shingles are tapered toward their tip ends 35, 36,
respectively. The upper or face shingle 31 is generally
rectangular and has stepped longitudinal sides 37
providing transverse shoulders 38 facing the butt end
33 of the face shingle 31 and dividing the face shingle
into a narrower butt portion 39 and a wider tip portion
40. The opposite sides of the face shingle tip and
butt portions are generally parallel and each shoulder
38 extends substantially perpendicular to such sides.
The two shoulders are of the same depth, preferably
approximately 1/2 inch (1.3 cm).
A backing or underlayer sawn shingle 32 of
the composite filler element 30 is generally rectangular
in shape, having parallel sides 41 connecting the butt
and tip ends 34 and 36, respectively. The width of the
backing shingle 32 is greater than the width of the tip
portion 4~ of the face shingle 31, such that the backing
shingle extends laterally beyond the opposite sides of
the butt portion 39 of the face shingle a distance
approximately e~ual to the lateral overlap of the shake
2]a beyond the sides of the underlayer sawn shingle 28.
The length of the butt portion 39 of the face shingle
31 ls approximately 5 to 5-1/2 inches (12.7 to 14 cm),
and the face shlngle 31 is secured to the backing
shingle 32 with, for example, blind staples, so that
the butt end 33 of the face shingle 31 is offset approx-
imately 5 to 5-1/2 inches (12.7 to 14 cm) from the butt
.
o g
end 34 of the backing shingle 32.
The composite components 21 and 30 are laid
up on a roof or a wall with the sides of the sawn
underlayer shingle 28 and backing shingle 32 closely
adjacent and a portion of the butt portion 27 of the
shake 21a overlying a portion of the backing shingle
32. The butt end 34 of the backing shingle 32 is
substantially coplanar with the butt end 29 of the
underlayer shingle 28, the upper surface of the face
shingle 31 is substantially coplanar with the upper
surface of the shake 21a and the adjacent shoulders 25
and 38 interlock, as shown in Figure 19.
The components are applied to a roofing felt-
covered roof or sidewall with nails similar to the
: components of Figures 1 and 2 except that a composite
shake covering element 21 and a composite sawn shingle
filler element 30 are applied al the same time so that
a portion of the shake 21a will overlie a portion of
both adjacent backing shingles 32 and -the longitudinal
sides 24 of the shake 21a will substantially abut the
adjacent sides 37 of both adjacent face shingles 31.
With the components so positioned, the shoulders 25 of
the shake 21a and adjacent shoulders 38 of the adjacent
face shingles 31 are abutted tightly. A succeeding
course is applied with the butt portions of the components
overlying the tip portions of the components of the
previous course, covering the shoulders and nails of
the previous course. Since both faces of each course
are substantially coplanar, the butt portion of the
succeeding course closely overlies the previous course,
deterring blowback of rain and reducing- the rate at
which fire would spread should a fire occur.
18
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Since only 5 to 5-1/2 inches (12.7 to 14 cm)
of the face shingle 31 and backing shingle 32 are
exposed, only 5 to 5-1/2 inches (12.7 to 14 cm) of each
of the shingles must be clear, that is, free of defects.
Therefo~e, a less expensive shingle material may be
used without loss of weathertightness.
To increase the ease and speed of application,
the composite covering elements 21 and composite filler
elements 30 can be assembled into a panel 42, shown in
Figure 19, prior to being secured to the roof or sidewall.
The panel components can be secured together by blind
staples, for example, with a portion of the shakes 21a
overlying portions of the adjacent backing shingles 32,
the adjacent sides of the shakes 21a and face shingles
31 substantially abutting, and the adjacent shoulders
abutting. Application of the panel of a succeeding
course over the panel of a preceding course is illustrated
in Figure 20. Preferably the sides of the wood shingles
of the succeeding course are not aligned with the sides
of the wood shingles of the preceding course.
Figures 21 to 24 show a further modification
in which the shake 21a' and the face shingle 31' are
generally rectangular and do not include stepped sides
forming shoulders. The composite shake covering element
21' and composite filler element 30l are applied to a
roof or sidewall with the butt end 22' of the shake
21a' and the butt end 34' of backing shingle 32' sub-
stantially coplanar, a portion of shake 21a' overlapping
a portion of backing shingle 32', and the adjacent
sides 24' and 37' substantially abutting. Although
less resistant to blowback and spread of fire, the
embodiment of Figures 21 to 24 re~uires less material
lg
~ ~9~0~3
and milling and, therefore, is less expensive to manu-
fac~ure.
Another modification of the embodiment shown
in Figure 21 is the use of two narrow underlayer sawn
shingles 28' in place of one underlayer sawn shingle.
This allows the use of otherwise scrap sawn shingles.
The Figures 21 and 22 elements can be assembled
into a panel 42', shown in Figure 23, similar to the
panel 42 shown in Figure 19. As shown in Figure 24,
the roofing panels 42' can be applied to a roofing
felt-covered roof-supporting structure with the shakes
21a' of one course in alignment with the shakes of the
preceding course. ~Iowever, the sides of the wood
shingles of the succeeding course preferably are not
aligned with the sides of the wood shingles of the
preceding course. Optionally, shakes and face shingles
of random widths can be used so that some of the grooved
shakes of one course will ~e in registration and some
will be out of registration with the shakes of the
preceding course.
