Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Architrix : Undulating roof _____________________________________________________ Author: Wegelin, Hans In: SA Architect Vol 24, Issue 93, Apr Date: 1999 Pages: 34 _____________________________________________________
UNDULATING ROOF House Millen, Greenside, 1996 Kate has used the undulating lean-to roof as a generic type since 1992. The undulations emphasize space — high in habitable rooms, low in utility rooms. The roof is either solid or translucent, or with mesh over open spaces to keep out the bad guys. The ceiling is mostly plywood to follow the curve. The roof structure is simple to keep down cost. Gumpole beams span the distance, at a low angle of about 2½ degrees, and at different levels to form the desired curve. The roof sheets are standard corrugated iron or polyester in single lengths, fixed directly to the beams with standard drive screws. Side laps are 2½ laps instead of the normal 1½ laps as an added precaution against water ingress and to add stiffness to the sheets. The flexibility of the roof sheet across the corrugations is thus used to follow the curve of the roof. No secondary battens are used. The ceiling is also fixed directly to the beams. The detail shows the last beam over the inside face of the wall, acting as a plaster stop, and allowing an overhang of one sheet width. The position of the beam is of course dependant on the cover width of the roof sheets, leaving roof edges to be dealt with in different ways. The free edge of the sheet is supported with a steel bracket. When erecting the roof, care must be taken to tread on the beams. Architect: Kate Otten Architects cc
Buildings linked to this article House Millen, 1996, Greenside, Johannesburg, Gauteng. pp 34