BUILDING

CONSTRUCTION and
MATERIALS III

ANQA PARVEZ
18ARC104
SEMESTER III
ROOF AND ITS FUNCTIONS:
A roof is defined as the uppermost part of a building which is
constructed in the form of a frame work to give protection to a
building against rain, heat, snow, wind etc.
A roof is part of the building envelope and it basically consists of
structural elements provided at the top of building for the support of roof
coverings. The characteristics of a roof are dependent upon the purpose of
a building that it covers, availability of materials, local traditions of
construction and wider concepts of the design.

FUNCTIONS (Psychological, Climatic and Structural):

• Definition of Space:
Building a roof defines a space even though space has no side or top
limits. The space created under a roof has distinctive characteristics
from the immediate surroundings, both from an environmental and
perceptual point of view.

• Sense of physical protection:

The space defined by a roof gives rise to meanings with a
psychological background. One of them lies in physical protection. A
body needs protection from attacks and damage, and the roof
provides a psychological association with security. A barrier covering
the top increases a sense of security, not only physical but also
psychological, from the attacks coming from above on a structure.

• Protection from Rain and Snow:

A roof is fundamentally a shelter which protects from the sky. The
architectural envelope offers protection from climatic condition like
rain and snow. The roof expels the rain and snow outside the
structure and keeps it as dry as possible, while avoiding water
infiltration. With not permitting penetration of moisture inside, the roof
extends the life of a building.
 Also, in areas that receive heavy snowfall, roofs collect heavy load of
the snow for weeks and expelling it eventually outside in the form of
water or snow itself.

• Protection from Solar Exposition:

Roofs are exposed to surfaces which are subject to radiation
exchanges with the environment. The roof is liable to receive plenty
of solar radiation during the daytime, which can lead to increase of its
own temperature. The absorbed radiation can be conducted to the
interior of the building in the form of heat, in a different degree
depending on the thickness and conductivity of roof materials.
Thus allowing only heat inside instead of harmful solar raditions, roof
protects the inside of the building in this manner.

• Sound and Heat Insulation:

The insulating properties of a roof are a consideration in its structure
and the choice of roofing material. Some roofing materials,
particularly those of natural fibrous material, such as thatch, have
excellent insulating properties. For those that do not, extra insulation
is often installed under the outer layer.

• Fire Resistance:
Fire resistant roofing materials play a crucial role in preventing fires to
spread across other structures in the proximity and thus limiting
damage. Bitumen felt roof coverings, by themselves, to an extent
encourage the spread of fire unless they are covered with stone
chippings, non combustible tiles, sand or cement screed or
macadam.
FLAT ROOF
AND ITS IMPORTANCE:
A roof which is approximately flat is called as a flat roof. Flat roofs aren’t
actually flat but must slope to drain water. Usually, a flat roof is built with a
slight slope to provide some drainage. Normally a slope of ¼ inch per foot
is used.

Flat roofs are an ancient form mostly used in arid climates and allow the
roof space to be used as a living space or a living roof. The flat roof is
commonly constructed in reinforced concrete, flat stone supported on rolled
steel joists (R.S.J), bricks, tiled, etc.

Types of flat roof:

• Built- Up Roof (BUR):
This type of flat roofing consists of multiple layers of material
laminated together. It is generally created with four basic
components: Base sheet, felts or fabric, bitumen and surfacing
component (gravel, mineral coating etc).
• Madras terrace Roof:
This is the traditional roofing found in South India. It involves use of
wood, aachikal and lime plaster. This type of roof is commonly used
for small spans.

• Jack Arch Flat Roof:

It is composed of arches of either brick or lime concrete, supported
on rolled steel joints.
 • Reinforced Concrete Slab Roof:
Roof platform made of reinforced concrete, which is either horizontal
or inclined to 10 degrees to prevent ponding.
This type of roof is usually surrounded by fascia or parapet wall.

IMPORTANCE:
• Flat roof area can be utilized for roof gardens, drying yards, etc. The
terrace can conveniently be used for sleeping in hot seasons in many
areas.
• The construction of roof is simplified and it is easier to make a flat
roof fire proof than a sloping roof.
• The construction work of upper floors can be easily started with flat
roof. In case of pitched roof, the entire roof is to be removed and is to
be replaced by a new roof under such circumstances. Thus flat roof is
important choice for multi storeyed buildings.
• A flat roof is more stable against high winds.
• It is not necessary to enclose the triangular space in case of a flat
roof and hence it leads to the overall improvement in the architectural
appearance of the building.
• A flat roof doesn’t require a false ceiling which is particularly desirable
in case of pitched roof.
• For multi-storeyed buildings, a flat roof is important because
overhead water storage tanks and other services are located on the
terrace.
• A flat roof is less labour and material intensive and economical.
PITCHED ROOF
AND ITS IMPORTANCE:
Pitched roof is a roof that slopes downward, typically in two parts at an
angle from the central ridge, but sometimes in one part, from one edge to
another. The ‘pitch’ of a roof is its vertical rise divided by its horizontal span
and is measure of its steepness.

Pitched roof offer a more classical appearance. They remain the most
common and efficient solution in wet and cold climate to ensure maximum
protection.

Types of pitched roofs:

▪ Single roof:
In this type of roofs, common rafters are provided to
each slope without any intermediate support. The following are
the varieties of single roof:

a) Lean to roof: This is the simplest form of roof used for small span.
One wall is carried up sufficiently higher than the other one to give
necessary slope to the roof.
b) Couple roof: In this type of roof, common rafters slope upwards
from the opposite walls and they meet on a ridge piece in the middle.

c) Couple close roof: Similar to couple roof, except that the legs of
common rafters are connected by a tie beam.
 d) Collar beam roof: Variation of a couple close roof in which the tie
beam is raised and placed at a higher level.

▪ Double or Purlin roof:

When the span exceeds 2.4m, the necessary size for the rafters
becomes uneconomical. Hence in order to reduce the size of rafters,
intermediate supports called purlins are introduced under the rafters.
This roof can be adopted economically up to 4.8m.
▪ Trussed roofs:
When the span exceeds 4.8m and when there are no inside
supporting walls or partitions for purlins, framed structure known as
trusses are used on the roof. The spacing is 3m for wooden trusses.
Trusses carry the ridge piece and purlins on which the common
rafters rest. The trusses span in the same direction in which the
common rafters run.

King post roof truss

Queen post roof truss

IMPORTANCE:
• Pitched roofs are important because they offer protection against
environmental hazards. Shaped like a triangle, they are stable when
dealing with excessive weather, including heavy rain and snowfall.
The roof design helps to direct moisture away from the building and
leaves little chance of water logging.
• The natural ventilation underneath the top roof layer significantly
improves the thermal efficiency of a building. This ensures optimal
indoor comfort both in winter and summer.
• The building envelope is responsible for around 25-35% loss of
energy within a building. Pitched roofs are built to allow natural
ventilation between the outer layer and the building, preserving
energy.
• Flat roof require constant maintenance of their drainage systems to
avoid leaking. While pitched roofs are more expensive, cheaper and
less frequent repairs compensate for this.
• The pitched roof expels the rain and snow outside the building, thus
increasing its life and makes it easier to reuse rainwater.
• Pitched roofs can be converted to house substantial extra living
space inside.
COMPONENTS OF PITCHED ROOF
▪ Span: It is the clear distance between the two supports on which roof
is positioned by some other elements.

▪ Ridge: The apex of the angle which is developed at top by the

inclined surfaces at the top of slope is called ridge.

▪ Ridge board: A wooden piece provided at the ridge line of a sloping

roof is called ridge board or ridge piece. Common rafters are
attached to the ridge.

▪ Rise: It is the vertical distance or height of top ridge from wall plates.

▪ Wall plates: These are provided at the top of the wall or supports and
they receive the spars. They vary in size up to 115mm by 75mm and
are usually made of wood.

▪ Pitch: It is defined as slope or inclination of the roof with the

horizontal and is calculated as the ratio of rise to span.

▪ Eaves: These are the edges of a roof which overhang the face of a
wall and normally project the side of a building. The eaves form an
overhang to expel water away from the structure.

▪ Hip: Hip is the line produced when two sloping surfaces meet, where
exterior angle is more than 180 degrees.

▪ Hipped End: At the end of a roof, sloped triangular surface is formed

which is called hipped end.

▪ Valley: Valley is formed by the intersection of two roof surfaces,

having an exterior angle which is less than 180 degrees.

▪ Verge: Verge is the edge of a roof which runs between the ridge and
eaves.

▪ Rafters: There are the pieces of timber which extend from the eaves
to the ridge.
 There are four types of rafters:

• Common rafters or spars: These are the intermediate rafters,

which give support to the roof coverings. They are fixed to the
ridge board perpendicularly. General spacing between each
spar is 30 to 45 cm.
• Hip rafters: These are rafters provided at the hipped end. Hip
rafters run diagonally from ridge to the corner of the wall.
• Jack rafters: Any rafters, which is shorter than common rafters
is known as Jack Rafters. These run from hip to the valley and
are usually short in length.
• Principal rafters: These are the upper diagonal members of a
roof truss supporting the purlins and spars.
▪ Purlins: Purlins are horizontal timbers providing immediate support to
spars, and are supported by walls, hip, valley rafters and roof
trusses.

▪ Roof truss: These are structures formed of members framed

together in different patterns. They support purlins in absence of
cross walls.

▪ Barge Board: To hold the verge formed by common rafters a wooden

board is used known as barge board.

▪ Battens: Battens are wood pieces that are nailed to the rafters to give
support to the roof covering material.

▪ Cleats: To support the purlins, short sections of steel or wood are

fixed to the rafters and these sections are called cleats.

▪ Boarding: Boarding or sarking consists of 25mm boards nailed o the

backs of spars, and to which slates and other roofing materials are
secured.
Components of pitched roof