ROOF

COVERING 345
ROOFS
AND

upto16
m span.
nly
only trusses are fire-proof.
5. Steel
Steel trusses are termite proof.
trusses are most resistant to other environmental have
7. Steel agencies, and
longer life.

8. The fabrication ot steel trusses is easier and quicker,

machined and shaped in the workshop, and then transported to the construction
since the sections can

mac
be
site for erection.

15.9. ROOF coVERINGS FOR PITCHED ROOrs

Roof covering is an essential component of pitched roof, to be placed over the
ennf frame work, to protect it from rain, snow, sun, wind and other atmospheric agencies.
Various types of roofing materials are available, and their selection depends upon ()
tNDe of building, (u) type of roof framework, (ii) initial cost, (iv) maintenance requirements,
ii fabrication facilities, (vi) appearance and special features of the locality, (vii) durability,
Lautt) availability of the material itself, and (ix) climate of the locality.
The following are the roof-covering materials commonly used for pitched roofs:
1. Thatch covering 2. Wood shingles
3. Tiles 4. Asbestos cement sheets
5. Galvanised corrugated iron sheets 6. Eternit slates.
7. Light weight roofing.
(a) Thatch covering
This is the cheapest roof-covering, commonly used in villages. It is very light,
but is highly combustible. It is unstable against high winds. It absorbs moisture and
is liable to decay. It harbours rats and other burrowing animals, and gives bad smel
in rainy season. Thatch roof-covering consists of bundles of reeds or straw . The frame
work to support thatch consists of round bamboo rafters spaced 20 to 30 cm apart
and tied with split bamboos 1laid at right angles to the rafters. The reed or straw
must be well-soaked in water or fire-resisting solution to facilitáte packing, and the
bundles are laid with their butt ends pointing towards the eaves. The thatch is tightly
secured to the frame work with the help of ropes or twines dipped in tar. In order
t0 drain the roof effectively, a minimum slope of 45° is kept. The thickness of thatch
cOvering should at least be 15 cm ; normal thickness varies from 20 to 30 cm according
1ts quality and pitch of roof. It is claimed that reed thatch can last about 60 years
ndstraw thatch can last for 20 years, if properly attended to.
6) Wood
shingle roofing
th Shingles are thin slabs of wood used to cover roofs. The use of shingles is restricted
l y areas where local timber is easily available at low cost. Though shingle roofing
n t weight, it is not fire and termite resistant, Wood shingles are obtained from
T Seasoned timber, by either sawing or splitting. Sawn shingles are used chiefy.
Cnare ined in lengths varying from 30 to 40 cm and widths varying from 6
to
to 33 cm. They are approximately 10 mm thick at the tail or butt end and taper
m o r less at the head. They are laid in a similar fashion as tiles and slates.
c) Tile roofing
builse of tiles for roofing is one of the oldest, and is still preferred for residential
ngs and
country houses. This is because country tiles are manufactured from locally
 346
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
and pattern, and th
available earth. Tiles named according to their shape
are
manufactured by a process similar to the one
used for the manutacture of bricke
of
bricks. re
The
various types of tiles generally used are
2. Curved or pan-tiles.
1. Plain or flat files.
Pot tiles or half-round country tiles. 4. Spanish tiles.
3.
Italian or Allahabad tiles.
5. 6. Inter-locking tiles.
1. Plain or Flat tiles (Fig. 15.24)
Plain tiles are made of clay or concrete, though clay tiles are more comm
mmon
in this country. Plain or flat tiles are manufactured in rectangular shapes, of sizes
varying form 25 cmx 15 cm to 28 cm x 18 cm, with thickness from 9 mm to 15 m
The tiles are not perfectly flat, but have slight camber of 5 to 10 mm in their length
mm
which ensures that the tails will bed and not ride on the backs of those in course
below. Plain tiles have stubs or nibs which project on the bed or under side at the
head in order that they
may be hung from the Nib Head nib
battens. Sometimes, con- C o n t i n u o u s
n i b

tinuous nib is provided Hole

at the head. Each tile
has two holes formed at Bed
about 25 mm from the Tail Back Nib
head and 38 mn from -Camber
the edges. The tiles can
be nailed through these (a) Plain tile with two nibs (b) Tile with continuous nib
holes, using copper or
composition nails of 38
mm length. It is not nec-
essary to nail every tile.
Before laying the
tiles, common rafers are
laid at 20 to 30 cm spac- (c) Tile and a half tile
(d) Eaves under tile
ing. Battns or reepers
are then fixed across the
rafters at a spacing of
4 to 6 cm. The tiles are
then laid over it with suf-
ficient overlap on sides A
and edges. Plain tiles are
laid in regular bond. For
normal exposures, it is
usual to nail every fourth
or fifth course. However,
in very Untearable felt
exposed posi Rafter
tions, specially if the
roofs are steeply pitched, Wall
it may be necessary to
(e) Eaves details ( Aidge details
nail every tile.
FIG. 15.24. ROOFING
WITH PLAIN TILES.
 347
AND ROOF CoVERING
ROOFS
Hog-back ridge tiles

11. Hip and Valley details th plain tile inset

Special tiles for the under

eaves, top course at the
course at
and tor hips and valley
ridges,
are used. At hip, special granny
Bonnet hip tile
bonnet hip tiles (Fig. 15.25 a) are
tiles are bonded
used. These hip (a) Hip details
tiles. Each
with the general plain
well-bedded with mortar
hip tile is
on the
back of the tile below and
with a long nail to the Special valley tiles
is secured
(6) shows
hip rafter.. Fig. 15,.25formed
the details of a valley
with
purpose
made valley tilees.
Plain tile
2. Curved or pan-tiles (Fig.
Battens
15.26) Valley rafter
Pan-tiles are 33 to 36 cm
and 12
long, 22.5 to 25 cm wide Section X-X
are flat lon-
to 19 mm thick. They Plan
gitudinally, but are curved trans- (b) Valley details

versely to a flat w a v e or S-curve. DETAILS.

HIP AND VALLEY
One nib is provided at the head FIG. 15.25.

on the underside of the trough

Pan
Side lap
tiles
Nib Side lap
mmmmmn
Back Bed
Hole
uwnuuuww X-- X

uIwwuw
Reversed
(a) Pan tiles
FNibs-U
Section X - X

(b) Side lap Plan

Pan tiles
Side up

Insulation

Gutter

Section
(c) Eaves details Elevation
Fascla
WITH PAN-TILES.
FIG. 15.26. ROOFING
 348 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
of the wave, nail hole is formed below the nib and two of the
a opposite diagonals
corners are splayed or rounded. Pan-tiles are laid with overlapping side joints with
two thicknesses only at the head joints and a single thickness at the unlapped portions,
Pan-tiles are unbonded,
having continuous side joints from eaves to the ridge. Thus,
pan-tiles are single lapped in contrast to the plain tiles which are double lapped. Side
lap in pan-tiles varies from 38 to 50 mm. The head or longitudinal lap varies rom
7.5 to 10 cm,
according to the pitch of the roof. Plain tiles are also nailed. As stated
above, two diagonally opposite corners or shoulders are splayed
off to the depthof
the lap, to permit a reasonably close fit between the tiles. If this is not done, four
thicknesses would occur at the corners, resulting in
open joints due to tilting or
over-riding
of tiles. Fig. 15.26 shows the details of
roofing with pan-tiles.
3. Halfround
country tiles : Head
Spanish tiles (Fig. 15.27)
Half-round country tiles are Head
commonly used in villages. These Tail
tiles are laid in pairs of under-tiles
and over-tiles. The under-tiles are
Tail
laid with concave surface (a) Over tile (b) Under tile
upwards,
while the over-tiles are laid with Unders
convex surface
Overs
upwards. These -AAAA

tiles are semi-circular in section Vertical

battens
at each end, but the diameter ta-
pers longitudinally. In one variety
of tiles, the under-tiles are flat
with broader head tapering to- Lap
wards the tail, while the over-tile
is segmental in section, with wider
tail and narrower head. In another
(c) Plan
variety, both the under-tiles as well
as over-tiles are semi-circular, and Overs - Nails-

taper from head to tail.

The country tiles are similar
to the spanish tiles. The overtiles
taper down from tail to head while Spars Boarding
the under-tiles taper down from (d) Section
head to tail.
4. Italian or Allahabad tiles
(Fig. 15.28)
These tiles are also used in
pairs-flat broad bottom under-
tile which alternate with convex Plain
curved over-tile. The under-tile is tile course
Unders
flat, tapered, with upturned edges
Holes Gutter
Insets
or flanges at the sides. It measures (e) Elevation at eaves
23 cm at the interior end (tail), FIG. 15.27. ROOFING HALF-ROUND
COUNTRY TILES
OR SPANISH TILES.
 AND ROOF COVERING
ROOFS 349

at the wide end (head)

26 cm
with a length of
37 cm and flange
cm. Italian tiles have
Head
uuUuunnu Head
height of 4
the under-tile
with flanges ta-
Shoulder at uuuwwuuun
red, with a sligh increase in lap
depth towards the head. The Tail
) Over tile Tail
over-tile is half-round in section (i) Under tile
(a) The tile pair
and tapered in plan. The di-
ameter tapers from 16 cm at Vertical Side lap
tail to 12 cm at the head. The batten Under tile
Over tile
tile may be slightly shouldered
allow it clear the under-tile
in the course above at the head
CARLLALAN
lap. The head lap varies from Batten Rafter
6.5 to 7.5 cm, depending upon (b) Section
the pitch while the side lap is
5 cm. The taper in over-tile al
lows the tile in the next course
to fit in. The ground work
consists of rafters to which
5 cmx 2.5 cm battes are fixed
at the gauge apart. Alterna- Fascia
Under eaves course
(c) Elevation of eaves
tively, 2.5 cm boarding, covered
FIG. 15.28. ROOFING WITH ITALIAN TILES
with felt may be used. The gauge OR ALLAHABAD TILES.
equals the length of tile-lap. Ver-
tical battens of size 2.2 cm x 7.5 cm are fixed between sides of adjacent under-tiles
and to these the half-round over-tiles or boarding with 38 mm long copper nails, while
the over-tiles are fixed to vertical battens with 75 mm nails.
6. Inter-locking tiles (Fig. 15.29)
These tiles are available under patent names, with patent locking devices, the
object of which is to prevent their dislodgment even in the most exposed conditions.
Side up
Side up

(b) Double roman

(a) Single roman
Sialkot tiles
Nail hole Battens
Under side NIOS Head
Left-hand
verge tile Side lap

(c) Flat interlocking (d) Sialkot tiles

FIG. 15.29. VARIOUS FORMS OF INTER-LOCKING TILBS.
350 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
These tiles are machine made. Some of the forms of inter-locking tiles are
are shown
shown in
Fig. 15.29.
(d) Asbestos cement sheets (A.C. sheets)
Asbestos cement sheets are now increasingly becoming popularfor industrial buildingu
factories, sheds, cinema houses, auditorium and even residential buildings, since thegs,
are cheap, light weight, tough, durable, water tight, fire-resisting and vermin resistar
The biggest advantage is that they are available in bigger units unlike tiles, and tant.
hence
Supporting frame work (ground work) is also cheaper, easier and lighter. These shee
do not require any protective paint, and no elaborate maintenance is required. Ala
the construction with A.C. sheets is very fast. A.C. sheets are manufactured from asbestas
fibre (about 15%) and
in veins of
Portland cement. Asbestos 1s
aSilky ibrous mineral existingg
metamorphized volcanic rocks. It is found in several varieties but white
asbestos, which is a compound of magnesia and silica, is principally used.
Asbestos
cement is now used for the manufacture of
roofing slates, tiles and corrugated sheets
In India, asbestos cement roof
coverings are available in the following three forms:
1. Everest big-six
corrugated A.C. sheets.
2. Everest standard
corrugated A.C. shee
3. Everest trafford A.C. tiles
(or sheets)
These sheets have length of 1.25 to 3 metres in increments of 15 cm. The details
of these sheets (Fig. 15.30) are
given in Table 15.1.
TABLE 15.1. PARTICULARS OF ASBESTOS CEMENT
SHEETS
Type of Standard
AC. sheet
Laid Thick Side lap No. of Pitch Depth
width ness (mm) corrugations (mm) (mm)
length (m) (mm)
(m)
1. Everest big 1 to 3 mn 1.05
six in 25 cm 50 mm or 130 55
increments| corrugation
2. Everest 1 to 3 1.05 6
100 mm or 1|
standard 10 55 25
corrugations
3. Trafford 1.2 to 1.09 6 |74 mm or
tiles 3 m 340 50
1 corrugation

The big-six type

A.C. sheets have
7 corrugations per sheet and their overall
depth is 55 mm. These sheets are fixed direct with
smooth surface uppermost, to eiune
steel purlins or wood purlins. The standard
corrugated sheet is a smaller version
big-six, with over all depth of corrugation of 25 mm. There
are 10 corrugations p
sheet. The end or head lap is 150 mm and
the side lap is equal to tely
1 corrugations or 100 mm.
approima
Trafford tiles are large tiles of 1.09 m standard wiau
Each sheet has four 50 mm deep corrugations
are fixed to steel purlins by 8 mm diameter hook
alternating with flat portions. They wood
bolts, or
purlins by l15 mm long driving screws. The head lap is straight bolts, and to
150 mm and the side
is approximately one corrugation of 74 mm.
 ROOF coVERING 351
AND
ROOFS

1.05m
Side lap

44.45 mm

Steel
purlin 1.02 m-
1.09 m

Nut
(a) Everest big six G . I. washer

Purlin
Wood purlin
Hook bolt
(b) Everest standard (c)Everesttrafford
FIG. 15.30. A.C. SHEETS3

15.31 shows typical fixing bolts and serews used with

Fig. corrugated A.C. sheets.
A.C. sheet at eaves, ridge and intermediate
Fig. 15.32 shows the details of fixing big-six
locations.
Lead
washer
(Cup)

Cranked Asbestos
Bitumen h o o k bolt washer
washer

(d) G.I. coach

(a) G.I. hook bolt (b) G.I. hook bolt (o) J- hook bolt
screw

BOLTS AND SOREWS.

FIG. 15.31. FIXING

Procedure for laying A.C. sheets

to right, or from right to left. These should
A.C. sheets are laid either from left
be laid at the end opposite to the direction of prevailing wind and rain. The purlin
point and specified
at
pacing are adjusted to provide specihed overlap Intermediate
purlins, top of corrugations,
to the from
overhang at the eaves. The sheets are fixed than the dia. of bolts. Coach screws
nrough holes which are made 3 mm greater
are generally used with wooden purlins and crank bolts are used with steel purlins.

The laying is always commenced from eaves. The eaves course is, therefore, laid
nrst. When laying is done from left to right (Fig. 15.33), the first sheet is laid uncut
 352 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
Ridge capping

Bigsix
m.s corrugated
sheet
burlin
M . S .a n g l e

Head lap purlin Wooc purlin

Wood
purlin

Bigsix
Corrugated
(c) Ridge details
Hook
bolt sheets M.S.angle
rafter

m . s .a n g l e

purlin (b) Purlin details

Eaves
filler
plece

Eaves gutter

(a) Eaves details

FIG. 15.32. FIXING DETAILS OF

BIG-SIX-SHEETS
while the subsequent sheets in the bottom row
should have the top left hand corners
cut or mitred. After
laying the first tow (eaves row), the second row is laid.
The sheets
in second row or intermediate rows should
have both the left hand
right hand bottom cor- top corner and
ners mitred, except the Purlin
first sheet which should
have only the top left
-A.C. sheets
corner mitred. In the top 16 cm end lap
row (last row), every Purlin 1.65max
sheet should have bot
tom right corner mitred, Mitred 1.65 max
except the last sheet /or cut
which is not mitred. The
process is reversed when Laid
1.35
the sheets are laid from width =
1.05 m
right to left.
1.35
The following
Over
points should be noted hang
while fixing A.C. sheets. Eaves
FIG. 15.33. LAYING OF A.c.
SHEETS (LEFT TO RIGHT)
 AND ROOF COVERING 353
ROOFS

1. The A.C. sheets should be laid with smooth side upward, and the end marked
toward the ridge.
Top' pointing
2. End lap and side lap should be properly maintained. General end lap is 15
but this can be vaned to suit
purlin spacing.
3. Purlin spacing and length of sheets should properly checked, before
4. The holes for fixing accessories should be drilled (and not punched) in the
laying
crown of the corrugations. The diameter of the holes should be 3 mm greater than
the diameter of the fixing bolt or screw. Thus 8 mm dia. drilled holes, and screwed

lightly
5. Bitumen washers should be provided under G.I. flat washer. The nuts of the
screws or bolts are moderately tightened when 10 to 12 sheets have been laid. They
should not be screwed very tight.
6. Ridge cappings
should be secured to the ridge purlin.
7. The sheets should be 'mitred' properly as
required.
8. The unsupported overhang of A.C. sheets should not exceed 30 cm.
(e) Galvanised Iron corrugated sheets (G.I. sheets)
G.I.
are also
sheets used. They are stronger than A.C. sheets.
widely
because of their higher cost, they are now gradually replaced by A.C. sheets. They
However
are not used for slopes flatter than 1 in 4. G.I. sheets are manufactured with corrugations
running from one end to the other. The corrugations impart additional strength to
the sheets. G.I. sheets are made of iron sheets which are galvanised with zinc to
protect them from rusting action of water and wet weather. These sheets are fixed
in a manner similar to the A.C. sheets. End lap should not be less than 15 cm and
the side lap varies from 1 to 2 corrugations. The holes are either drilled or punched
in the sheet crowns. The sheets are secured to purlins by means of G.I. hook bolts,
screws and nails etc., with curved washers. The sheets should be fixed to eaves by
means of flat iron wind ties.
Slate
Slate roofing
Slate is a hard, fine-grained sedimentary argillaceous(clayey) stone. Slate is obtained
trom either open qquarries or mines, in the form of blocks. A diamond or circular saw
Ised to divide each block into sections which are 450 to B00 mm wide and upto
360 mm thick. The saw blocks are then reduced to slabs which are about 15 to 30
mm thick. Each slab is then divided into thin laminae or slates, by hand labour, using
à splitter. The thickness of slate, used for roofing may vary from 4 to 8 mm. The
e s of slates vary from 600 mm x 300 mm to 400 mm x z00 mm. A good slate should

be hard, tough and durable, of rough texture, ring bell-like when struck, not split
Wnen holed or dressed, practically non-absorbant and of a satisfactory colour. Slates
re not commonly used in our country. However, in hilly areas, where slate roofing
as been used, the roofing consists of bituminous slates known as Eternit. They are
Eenerally available in three colours-grey, black and red.
Slates are laid so that each slate overlaps a slate in the next course but below
t h e amount is known as lap. The amount of lap depends upon the pitch and the
 354
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

exposure. For fixing slates, two

holes are made at the centre
Hog-back ridge
or the head. The holes are made
from the bed of the slab so
Felt lapped
that the spalling forms a coun- over ridge
tersinking for the head of nail.
Slates are fixed to the battens Battens
by means of copper or zinc nails. Batteng
The spacing of the battens,
Nails
known as gauge is determined
from the following expression.
Felt
length of slate - lap
Gauge Felt
2
Ridges and hips are gen- Ridge
erally covered with blue or grey
ridge tiles--matching the colour
of slate.
Rafters
Fig. 15.34. shows a view
of slate roofing. In order to ex-
clude rain water and moisture, Boarding
a layer of felt is used below
slates. FIG. 15.34. DETAILS OF SLATE R0OFING.
Light Weight roofing
For wide-span industrial structures, it is desirable to reduce the
so that structural framing can be economised.
weight of roof,
Conventional roofing materials (such as
tiles, slates etc.) are heavy and require heavy framing to support them. The
roofing materials are of two types
light weight
(a) Sheeting
(i) Aluminium sheets
(ii) Asbestos cement sheets.
(6) Decking
(i) Wood wool
(ii) Straw board
(ii) Aluminium alloy and steel
decking.
All these require a water proof
layer of asphalt or roofing felt. Sheeting is used
for sloping roofs while decking is used both for
Aluminium roof sheeting consists of aluminium sloping as well as flat roofs.
of manganese for strength. It is the alloyed with a small percentage
lightest of all roofing. The sections are shown
in Fig. 15.35.
Wood wool is made from wood fibre interwoven
together and cement bonded under
pressure in a mould. They are available in the form of
from 12 mm .to 100 mm, and in size of 0.6 m width and
slabs, varying in thickness
3.9 m length. Woou
upto For
wool has good sound absorbing and thermal insulation properties. roofing, the slabs
 ANDROOF COVERING
OOPS AND

355

Sheet width 965

0.9
76.2 (a) Pitch corrugated sheet 80
Cover width 900 Side lap

O.9
(b) Pitch troughed sheet
Sheet width 928
0.9
P 127
e/T (c) Industrial corrugated sheet H
45
150 Side lap
0.6 mm
600 to 1000
(d) Aluminium alloy and steel decking
FIG. 15.35. METAL ROOF
SHEETING
aTe generally of 50 to 75 mm thickness. They are nailed to timber joists at 600 to
900 mm centres, with the help of 102 to 125 mm long clout nails. These slabs, when
unreinforced, can take load upto 0.75 kN/m2.
Straw board decking is made of
compressed straw with thick water
eovering. The thickness is 50 mm, width 1.2 m and length from 1.8 to proof paper
3.6 m. For
roof decking, the board is
supported at 600 mm centres, all along all edges.
Aleminium alloy and steel can be pressed to form
troughed roof decking (Fig.
15.35 d) with thicknesses varying from 0.7 mm to 1.2 mm, depth of corrugations varying
rom 25 to 85
mm, widths varying from 450 to 900 mm, and lengths 10 m.
bese are suitable
upto
upto a super-imposed load of 0.75 kN/m. The deck is fixed to the
oot
supports by hook bolts, or bolts and cleats, or by hammer drive screws. A felt
Roof lRidge cap
finish
Grit-finish 5-ply felt
Hot Bitumen
Fibre
board S t e e ld e c k *
Steel dech
Internal ridge
E n dl a p
A A Z

Purtin Purlin
Purlin

(a) Purin details (b) Ridge details

FIG. 15.36. ALUMINIUM ALLOY AND STEEL DECKING
 356 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
vapour barrier is bonded with bitumen to the top of the top of the deck on
an insulating media like fibre board or expanded poly stryrene is bonded to be cowhi
with two or three layers of felt roofing. The top surface is finished with a layer
white stone chipplings spread on bitumen to provide tor Solar retiectivty and redu
heat absorption in summer. The purlin and ridge. details are shown in Fig. reduce
152
5.36,
15.10. FLAT TERRACED ROOFING
Flat roof is the one which is either horizontal, or practically horizontal with slon.
less than 10°. Even a perfectly horizontal roof has to have some slope at top so tha
rain water can be drained off easily and rapidly. Similar to the upper floor, the
at
na
roofs can be constructed of flag stones, R.S.J. and flag stones, reinforced cement concrete
reinforced brick work, jack arch roof or precast cement concrete units. However, the
lat roof differ from the upper floor only from the point of view of top finish, commonl
called terracing, to protect it from adverse effects of rain, snow, heat ete.
Advantages of flat roofs
1. The roof can be used as terrace for
playing, gardening sleeping and for
celebrating
functions.
2. Construction and maintenance is easier.
3. They can be easily made fire
proof, in comparison to pitched roof.
4. They
avoid the enclosure of the triangular space. Due to this, the
architectural
appearance of the building is very much improved.
5. Flat roofs have better
insulating properties.
6. They require lesser area of roofing material than pitched roof.
7. They are more stable
against high winds.
8. They do not require false
ceiling, which is essential in pitched roofs.
9. Flat roofs are proved to be overall
economical.
10. In multi-storeyed buildings, flat roof is the
tanks and other services are located on the terrace.
only choice, since overhead water
11. The construction of upper floors can be
easily done over flat roofs, if so
required in future.
Disadvantages of flat roofs
1. The span of flat roof is
restricted, unless intermediate columns are introduced.
Pitched roofs can be used
large spans without any intermediate columns..
over
2. The self weight of flat roof is
very high. Due to this, the sizes of beams,
columns, foundations and other structural members are
3. They are unsuitable at
heavy.
places of heavy rainfall.
4. They are highly unsuitable
snow fall.
to hilly areas or other areas where there is heavy
5. They are vulnerable to heavy temperature e
to which cracks are developed variations, specially in tropics,
the surface. These cracks
on ion
may lead to water peneura
later, if not repaired in time.
6. It is difficult to locate and rectify leak in flat roof.
 ROOF COVERING
ROOFS AND 357

7The speed of tlat root construction is much slower than the pitched roof.
aThe initial cost of flat roof is more than pitched roof.
8.
aThe flat roof exposes the entire building to the weather agencies, while the
ing elements (such as eaves ete.) of pitched roof provide some protection to the
projecting e l e m e n t s

building.

Types of flat terraced roofing

Rollowing are the commonly used terraced roofing
1. Mud-terrace roofing.
2. Brick-jelly or Madras terrace roofing.
3. Mud-phaska terracing with tile paving
4. Lime concrete terracing.
5. Lime concrete terracing with tile paving.
6. Bengal terrace roofing.
7. Light weight flat roofing.
1. Mud-terrace roofing
This type of terracing is suitable where rainfall is less. It can be provided either
on tiles (Punjab type terracing) or on wood boards (Maharastra and Madhya Pradesh
practice). In both the cases, terracing is made with white earth mud containing large
percentage of sodium salt.
The mud-terracing in Punjab is provided over roof which consists of
50 mm x 50 mm x 6 mm T-sections spaced at 32 cm centre to centre over R.S.J. Well-burnt
tiles of size 30 cmx 30 cm x 5 cm or 30 cm x 15 cm x5 cm are placed between the
flanges of the T-sections ; using lime mortar. Over the tiles, a 15 cm thick layer
of stiff mud, white in colour and containing sodium salts, is spread and beaten withh
sticks till the surface becomes hard and the beater rebounds. The surface is then plastered
with mud and cow-dung mix plaster. Finally, the surface is finished with 1:4 cement-cowdung
plaster.
In the Maharastra and Madhya Pradesh practice, mud terracing is done on teak
wood boards (4 to 5 cm thick) nailed to the wooden joists. On the boards, a 2.5 cm
thick layer of wood shaving is spread, over which bricks are laid on edge, in lime
Or mud mortar. On the bricks, a 8 to 10 cm thick layer of mud is spread and beaten
ard. Finally, a 2.5 cm thick layer of white earth containing high percentage of sodium
salts is applied. This top layer has to be renewed once in a year. Such roofs do not
eak, provide insulation against heat and thus keep the building cool and comfortable.
2. Brick jelly roofing or Madras terrace roofing
Fig. 15.37 shows the section through the roofing, which is constructed in the
following steps
)Wooden joists are placed on R.S.J. with a furring piece in-between. The furring
E
height at the centre is so adjusted that the required slope of the roof is obtained.
A course of specially prepared bricks of size 15 cm x 5 cm x 12 mm is placed
on
age in lime mortar (1: 1.5) laid diagonally across the joists.
 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
358

(iii) After the brick

course is set, a 10 cm thick
3 Coats of plaster Flat tiles
layer of brick-bat concrete is
Brickbat ooncrete
laid, consisting of 3 parts of
brick-bats, 1 part of gravel and Terrace bricks
sand, and 50 percent of of lime RE-Timber joists
mortar by volume. The con-
crete is well-rammed for 3
Furring piece
Stone T Rolled steel
days, that the thickness re-
so
joist (R.S.J.)
template
duces to 7.5 cm, by wooden
hand beaters. The surface is
FIG. 15.37. MADRAS TERRACE ROOF.
cured for 3 days, by sprinking
lime water.
(iv) When the brick-bat concrete has set, three courses of Madras flat tiles
(15 cm x 10 cm x 12 mm) are laid in lime mortar (1: 15), making a total thickness of
50 mm. The vertical joints of the tiles in successive layers should be broken. The
joints of tiles in top layer are left open to provide key for top plaster. Alternatively,
China mosaic tiles may be used.
(o) Finally, the top surface is plastered with three coats of lime mortar. The
surface is rubbed and polished.
3. Mud-phuska terracing with tile paving
This method of terracing is equally suitable to hot as well as arid regions, and
is commonly used over R.C.C. roofing. The section of roofing is shown in Fig. 15.38.
The work is carried out in the following steps
1. The R.c.c. slab is cleaned off dust and loose material. A layer of hot bitumen
is spread over it at the rate of 1.70 kg of bitumen per square metre of roof surface
2. A layer of coarse sand is immediately spread over the hot coat of bitumen,
at the rate of 0.6 m of sand per 100 m of roof surface.
3. Mud-phuska is prepared from puddled clay mixed with bhusa at the rate o
about 8 kg of bhusa per m' of clay. A 10 cm thick layer of this mud-phuska
applied over the sand-bitumen
layer. Proper slope (usually 1
in 40) is given in mud-phuska Hot Bitumen painting
layer. Alternatively, slope may Plaster Mud Fuska
be given in R.C.C. slab itself. ,Lime Bata Tiles
4. The mud-phuska layer
is consolidated properly. It is
then plastered with 13 mm coat
ofmud-cow-dung mortar (3: 1).
5. Tile bricks are laid flat R.C.C. slab Ceiling plaster
on plastered surface. The joints
are grouted in 1:3 cement mor-
tar. ING
PIG. 15.38. MUD-PHUSKA AND TILE TERRACL
 COVERING
ROOF 359
AND
s0OFS

concrete terracing : Jodhpur type roofing

4. This type of terracing is commonly used over flag stone roofing, though 1it can

also b e
sed over RC.C. slab. The procedure of lime terracing varies from place to
he one adopted for Jodhpur stone slab roofing is described below, in steps
place. T h e

T1.h e longitudina Joints between the stone slabs are first pointed in cement
The joints should be V-shaped, not exceeding 25 mm at the top and 10 mm
morta
ttom. This
the bottom. This joint is filled with cement mortar (mix 1:2 to 1:4) and pickedd
astone
stor
chips of wedge shape and top finish rounded with cement mortar so as
with
tle above
ct little above the slabs. Before filling mortar in the joints, flat strips of timber
toainch dia. bamboos) should be kept along the joint on the other face of the stone
(Or
slabs that
so that mortar does not fall down. Similarly, the space left over the walls at

ends of
he slabs, and
the also the space on walls between the slabs where ro001
is
the
ntipuous should be filled with 1:2:4 cement concrete. These joints should properly
continu

cured, at
least days.
for 7
2. In order to provide proper slope to the roof, ralthal is laid. This is done
hylaving stone spawls in l : 2 lime mortar over the surface of the slabs in the required
thickness. Hydraulic lime (kankar lime) should be used. Ralthal so laid should be cured
for 7 days.
3. Laying of the lime chhat is done in four consecutive days. On the first day,
unslaked kankar lime (hydraulic lime) 10 cm in thickness is spread over the roof slabs.
The lime is then slaked in situ, by adding water. It is then beaten with conical stones
by hand, so that no particles of lime remain unslaked to cause blisters.
4. On the second day, the lime is watered, raked up and again the process of
first day is repeated.
5. On the third day, 250 gm of hemp (finely choped) and methi 750 gm finely
powdered per 10 sq. metre is evenly and thoroughly mixed with the lime. Then coarse
stone aggregate duly washed should be spread over this lime in a thickness not less
than 10 cm.
The coarse aggregate is thoroughly beaten with conical stones by hand so that
this stone aggregate gets well-embedded in lime mass.
6. On the fourth day, stone grit or screening is spread in a layer of 40 mn
and beaten with stone beaters till they are well set. This process of beating should
continue with wooden thapies and by sprinkling water till the whole mass becomes
T and offers resistance to penetration. Thickness of lime chhat should not be less
than 15 cm at
any place.
7. The above work should be cured at least for 7 days.

After seven days, sandala coat consisting of cream of lime is laid over the
lime
hat in thin layers and rubbed for full four kours or more, using rounded pebbles
for
rubbing and polishing.
During the process rubbing, solution of 65 gm of Gur
of
g m of Gugal per 10 square metres is sprinkled every now and then.
.The surface thus prepared is cured with water at least for 15
days using
d or moist gunny bags so as to keep the surface constantly wet.
.
Lime
terracing with tiles
ncrete
h s type of terracing is commonly adopted over R.C.C. roofing. Fig. 15.39 shows
PCal
section of roofing, which is laid in the following steps
 360
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

1. The R.C. slab is cleaned Coping

off dust etc., land layer of hot bi-
tumen is applied at the rate of First course
Plaster Second course of tiles
1.7 kg per sq. m. of roof surface. . LC. backing of tiless
2. A layer of coarse sand is Flat tile

immediately spread over the hot Lime

layer of bitumen, at the rate of concrete
0.6 cubic metre of sand per 100
sq. m. of roof surface.
3. A 10 cm thick (average) R.C.C. slab Ceiling plaster
layer of lime concrete is laid, in
proper slope. The entire slope is
N
FIG. 15.39. LIME CONCRETE AND TILES ROOFING.
given in lime concrete itself. The
lime concrete may consist of 2 parts
of lime, 2 parts of surkhi and 7 parts of brick ballast of 25 mm gauge. The concrete
is well beaten.
4. Two courses of flat brick tilesare laid in 1:3 cement mortar. The joints
of top course are pointed with 1:3 cement mortar. The vertical joints in the two courses
are broken.
6. Bengal terrace roofing Finishing
This type of roofing is adopted Flat tiles
for timber roofs of verandah etc. Fig. Battens
15 cm clc
15.40 shows the section of such roof
ing, which is constructed in the fol-
lowing steps Rafters
(i) Wooden rafters are placed 30 cm c/c
at 30 to 50 cm c/c, slope.
on some
- Main wall Verandah
(i) Wooden battens (5 x1 cm) wall
are placed across the rafters, at 15
dc. FIG. 15.40

(iüi) A of flat tiles (15 cm x 8 cm x 2 cm),

course
well-soaked in white wash, is
laid in lime or cement mortar, over the battens.
(iv) The roof is then finished with one
of the following two methods
Method (a). Two or more courses of flat tiles are laid
coats of lime plaster are
in mortar. Two to three
applied. TLe final course of lime plaster is rubbed smooth
and polished.
Method (6). A 4 to 5
thick layer of fine jelly concrete is
Over this concrete, a course of flat tiles is laid. laid over the tiles.
The surface is then finally finished
with two or three coats of lime plaster, the final coat
7. Light weight flat roof being rubbed smooth and polished.
This consists of aluminium alloy and steel
decking, described earlier under pitched
roofing. The section of roof with aluminium alloy and steel
15.41. The decking shown has an additional soffit sheet. decking is shown in P18
The decking sheet is suitably
supported on steel beams. Table 15.2 gives the maximum span over
used, for an imposed load of0.75 kN/m?. which these can
 ROOF COVERING 361
ROOFSA
AND

TABLE 15.2. METAL DECKING

Thickness Maximum span (m)
Depth of of metal
c o r r u g a t i o n

(mm) Aluminium Steel

(mm)
Single spanDoublespan Single spanDouble span _
0.7 1.42 1.71
25
0.7 2.1 2.54
45

0.9 0.99 1.19 L.95 2.31

25
45 0.9 1.99 2.38 2.82 3.34

1.2 1.54 1.85

25
45 1.2 2.25 2.67
1.2 3.60 3.98
85
On the top ofdeck-
barrier Fine grit finish with cold bitumen adhesive
ing, a felt vapour
bitumen.
is bonded with
3 Ply felt on hot bitumen
Over it, fibre board or
expanded polystyrene is ::i
Fiber board on hot bitumen
bonded, for insulation.
This is then covered with Fiber board on hot bitumen
two or three layers of
felt roofing. Finally, the
top surface is finished
with a layer of white
stone chipping spread on Felt vapour Self tapping screw
Side lap
barrier
bitumen to provide for
solar reflectivity and re- FIG. 15.41. LIGHT WEIGHT FLAT ROOF
WITH METAL DECKING
duce heat absorption.

PROBLEMS

1. a) State briefly the essential requirements of

a good roof.
flat and pitched roofs.
(6)Compare merits and demerits of
various basic forms of pitched roofs.
2. Explain, in brief, but with sketches,
3. Define the following terms
; Common rafters Cleat ;
Pitch Hip; Eaves; Verge; Jack rafters
Boarding ; Template.
4. Write notes on:
(a) Lean to roof.
(6) Couple close roof.
(c) Mansard roof truss.
(d) Couple roof.