GB2324815A

GB2324815A - Gutter structure for building construction

Info

Publication number: GB2324815A
Application number: GB9708283A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen T Johnson
Original assignee: T & K Home Improvements Limite
Current assignee: T & K Home Improvements Limite
Priority date: 1997-04-24
Filing date: 1997-04-24
Publication date: 1998-11-04
Also published as: GB9708283D0

Abstract

A building structure comprises a gutter (1) mounted on a wall (8), the gutter (1) supporting a roof (6), and forming an integral and structural part of the building. The gutter (1) may be made of aluminium, or aluminium alloy. The inner wall (3) of the gutter (1) may have means (5) to which to affix the roof structure (6), eg an extruded profile (5), the means (5) preferably being able to accommodate a range of roof pitches. The outer wall (4) of the gutter (1) may be higher than the inner wall (3) to obscure the roof edge from view. The gutter (1) may also be provided with means (19) for affixing a decorative cladding (16) to an exposed side, eg integrally formed ridges (19). To facilitate the mounting of the gutter (1) to the wall (8), a support foot (9) may be provided to lessen the likelihood of damage to the gutter (1) during mounting.

Description

GUTTER STRUCTURE FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Traditional building construction techniques involve the erection of a wall and the subsequent erection of a roof supported on the wall structure. Often, a gutter is provided for collecting and removal of water from the roof. Traditionally, the gutter is secured to and supported by the wall, or the rafters of the roof structure, or a facia board secured to the wall or to the rafters. In such constructions, fitting of the gutter is a separate operation completed after erection of the wall and roof structure, and the gutter performs no purpose other than the collection and removal of water running off the roof.

According to one aspect of the present invention a building construction comprises a wall structure, a gutter mounted atop the wall structure and supported thereon, and a roof structure mounted on and supported by the gutter.

Accordingly, in the present invention the gutter forms a structural member which is located between the wall structure and the roof structure. This provides a number of significant advantages, particularly in the case of the construction of conservatories and similar structures. The fact that the gutter forms an integral part of the construction eliminates the need to supply and fix a separate gutter and accordingly saves the time and cost associated with the provision and fixing of a separate gutter whilst at the same time offering the opportunity to improve the overall aesthetic appearance of the structure.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the gutter is generally channel-shaped in transverse cross-section (i.e. the transverse cross-section comprises a generally flat base and generally flat side walls which extend parallel to each other perpendicular to the base). Such a crosssection is particularly well adapted to transfer the load of the roof onto the wall. Preferably, the inner side wall of the gutter (i.e. that which is furthest away from a person viewing the building from the exterior thereof) is formed with means for fixing the roof structure thereto. Such means may, for example, comprise an extruded profile adapted to support the roof structure and to receive securing means for securing the roof structure to the profile.

Preferably, the upper edge of the inner side wall of the gutter is located below the level of the upper edge of the outer side wall of the gutter so that the lowermost end of the roof structure is at least in part hidden behind the outer side wall of the gutter when viewed from the exterior of the building.

Preferably, the roof supporting edge of the gutter is adapted to receive roof structures having a range of pitches. To this end, the roof supporting edge of the gutter preferably provides a seat on which a roof structure can rest over a range of pitch angles, for example between 10 and 45" Means are preferably provided for securing the roof structure to the gutter for any angle within the preferred range. The securing means may, for example, comprise a captive bolt, the head of which is secured within an extruded profile on the edge of the gutter and which is secured to the rafter by way of a separate nut.

Preferably, the gutter includes means for fixing a decorative cladding thereto. The decorative cladding may, for example, comprise extruded PVC-U cladding. The means for securing the cladding may comprise ridges formed integrally with the gutter to be gripped between gripping members provided on the cladding.

Preferably, the gutter includes a support foot formed integrally therewith and spaced from the base of the gutter by a leg. Such an arrangement will enable the gutter to be secured to the wall structure by screws driven from below through the wall structure into the foot, thereby obviating the risk of perforating the gutter base.

Preferably, the gutter is an integral extrusion of suitable material, for example aluminium or an aluminium alloy.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein the single figure shows in transverse cross-section a preferred embodiment of the invention forming part of a conservatory construction.

Referring to the drawing, the gutter 1 is an integral structure formed by extrusion of appropriate material, for example aluminium or an aluminium alloy. The gutter is generally channel-shaped in transverse crosssection and includes a base 2, an inner wall 3, and an outer wall 4. The walls 3,4 are mutually parallel and extend substantially perpendicular to the base 2.

The inner wall 3 is somewhat shorter than the outer wall 4 and terminates in an extruded profile 5 for supporting the rafters 6 of a roof structure. The outer wall 4 terminates in a strengthening rib 7. The gutter 1 is supported on a wall structure 8 by way of a foot 9 which is connected to the base 2 by a leg 10. A flange 20 extends downwardly from the juncture of the base 2 and inner wall 3 to strengthen the gutter structure and to locate the gutter relative to the wall structure 8. The foot 9 is designed so that screws 11 may be driven upwardly through the top member of the wall structure 8 into the foot to secure the gutter to the wall structure without piercing the base 2 of the gutter. Screws 11 may also be driven through the flange 20 into the wall structure 8.

The profile 5 is designed to accommodate a range of roof pitches.

The profile consists of an outer flange 12 which extends at approximately 45" to the horizontal and an inner flange 13 which extends at approximately 10 to the horizontal. The rafter 6 may rest on the profile 5 at any angle between 10 and 45" to the horizontal. When the rafter extends at an angle of 30 to the horizontal it rests on the adjacent ends of both of the flanges 12,13. The rafters 6 are secured to the profile 5 by way of captive bolts, the heads of which are located within a groove 14 provided in the profile 5. A suitable plastic fill strip 15 is also secured within the groove 14 and extends between adjacent rafters to seal with the glazing material supported by the rafters.

As illustrated, the gutter structure is clad with decorative PVC cladding members 16,17,18. In order to secure the cladding members in position, ridges 19 are extruded as part of the gutter cross-section and are gripped by appropriate jaws forming part of the cladding extrusions. Cladding 17 is secured at the inner edge thereof by being trapped between the wall structure 8 and the base 2 of the gutter, and at the outer end thereof by the lower edge of the cladding 16.

The above described embodiment of the invention offers a number of advantages. Firstly, because the gutter is an integral part of the construction it is not necessary to provide a separate gutter, thereby improving the aesthetic appeal of the structure and eliminating the cost of providing separate gutter components and the cost of fixing same. Further, because the inner wall of the gutter is shorter than the outer wall the somewhat unsightly lower end of the roof structure is substantially or completely hidden from view within the gutter, thereby providing a pleasant appearance to the building construction.

It will be noted that the gutter is of a substantial cross-section and provides a relatively strong member to couple the wall structure to the roof structure. To this end, the gutter is preferably extruded in relatively long sections and joined together as by welding at change of direction points.

Accordingly, the gutter forms a "ring beam" structure located between the walls 8 and the roof of the building, thereby substantially improving the overall strength and stability of the building.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A building construction comprising: a wall structure; a gutter mounted atop the wall structure and supported thereo;, and a roof structure mounted on and supported by the gutter.

2. A building construction according to claim 1 wherein the transverse cross-section of the gutter comprises a generally flat base and generally flat side walls which extend generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to the base.

3. A building construction according to claim lor claim 2 wherein the inner side wall of the gutter is formed with means for fixing the roof structure thereto.

4. A building construction according to claim 3 wherein the fixing means comprise an extruded profile adapted to support the roof structure and to receive securing means for securing the roof structure to the profile.

5. A building construction according to any preceding claim wherein the upper edge of the inner side wall of the gutter is located below the level of the upper edge of the outer side wall of the gutter so that the lowermost end of the roof structure is at least in part hidden behind the outer side wall of the gutter when viewed from the exterior of the building.

6. A building construction according to any preceding claim wherein the roof supporting edge of the gutter is adapted to receive roof structures having a range of pitches and means are provided for securing the roof structure to the gutter for any angle within the range.

7. A building construction according to claim 6 wherein the securing means comprise a captive bolt, the head of which is secured within an extruded profile on the edge of the gutter and which is secured to a rafter of the roof by way of a separate nut.

8. A building construction according to any preceding claim wherein the gutter includes means for fixing a decorative cladding thereto.

9. A building construction according to claim 8 whrein the decorative cladding is extruded PVC-U cladding, and the means for securing the cladding comprises ridges formed integrally with the gutter to be gripped between gripping members provided on the cladding.

10. A building construction according to any preceding claim wherein the gutter includes a support foot formed integrally therewith and spaced from the base of the gutter by a leg.

11. A building construction according to any preceding claim wherein the gutter is an integral extrusion of suitable material, for example aluminium or an aluminium alloy.