Roofing Products And Methods And Apparatus Thereof

Abstract

A roof flashing for or suitable for flashing a “ridgeline” as herein defined, the flashing being of multiple materials and being at least in part laminated and comprising or including a “ridge” overlying region to overlie the actual or phantom “ridge” to be flashed, the ridge being as herein defined, a first flanking region extending from the ridge overlying region, and a second flanking region extending from the ridge overlying region, wherein the ridge overlying region is conformed to a retainable three dimensional form and/or is conformable and can retain to a three dimensional form, and wherein the first and second flanking regions extend from the ridge overlying region so as to flank the actual or phantom “ridge” to be flashed by the flashing, and wherein there is a weathering surface of one or more weathering material(s) and at least one of the flanking regions has at least a partial underlying support of the weathering material(s).

1 . A roof flashing for or suitable for flashing a “ridgeline” as herein defined, said flashing being of multiple materials and being at least in part laminated and comprising or including: 
 a) a “ridge” overlying region to overlie the actual or phantom “ridge” to be flashed, the ridge being as herein defined,    b) a first flanking region extending from the ridge overlying region, and    c) a second flanking region extending from the ridge overlying region,    wherein the ridge overlying region is conformed to a retainable three dimensional form and/or is conformable and can retain to a three dimensional form,    and wherein the first and second flanking regions extend from the ridge overlying region so as to flank the actual or phantom “ridge” to be flashed by the flashing,    and wherein there is a weathering surface of one or more weathering material(s) and at least one of the flanking regions has at least a partial underlying support of the weathering material(s), and at least one of said flanking regions is at least conformed to a three dimensional form, and is conformable to a retained or retainable three dimensional form or has a distal extremity greater in extent than the proximal extent of that flanking region to said ridge overlying region.    
   
   
       2 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of the flanking regions has at least a partial underlying support of the weathering material(s).  
   
   
       3 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first and second flanking regions depend from a first zone of articulation immediately adjacent said ridge overlying region.  
   
   
       4 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the roof flashing includes preferably by removal of a release sheet or release sheets to reveal an adhesive or other tack providing surface to allow at least part of at least one of the flanking regions to be adhesively attached to a support surface e.g. of a roofing material to be flashed.  
   
   
       5 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein in some options one or more materials e.g. as a laminate, provide the ridge overlying region whilst in other forms the ridge overlying region can be at least in part, primarily or wholly of the one or more material(s) providing a weathering surface notwithstanding the fact that the flashing is at least in part laminated (e.g. whether solely in one or both of the flanking regions or otherwise).  
   
   
       6 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the distal ends of one or each of said first and second flanking regions distal from said “ridge” overlying region is conformed into a three dimensional region to allow (by conformity or material thus made available) association with undulating or otherwise three dimensional roofing materials, to be flashed, flanking said “ridge” or “ridgeline”.  
   
   
       7 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said three dimensional region is at least in part held in its three dimensional form by said partial underlying support.  
   
   
       8 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said partial underlying support is a conformable yet shape retaining three dimensionally conformed material.  
   
   
       9 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said three dimensionally conformed material underlies said weathering layer.  
   
   
       10 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there is sufficient tack retaining adhesive on the non-weathering side of at least part of one or both said first and second flanking regions and/or said three dimensionally to associate said flanking regions to said roofing materials.  
   
   
       11 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said tack retaining adhesive lies between said weathering layer and said dimensionally conformed material.  
   
   
       12 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said dimensionally conformed material lies between said weathering layer and said tack retaining adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said three dimensionally conformed material is a metal.  
   
   
       14 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said metal can be sheet aluminium (and optionally may be wholly or in part be able to be expanded).  
   
   
       15 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said three dimensional region is configured so as to exhibit a substantially sinusoidal section when being viewed in section towards said distal ends.  
   
   
       16 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said three dimensionally conformed material is a perforate or expanded sheet of a suitable metal.  
   
   
       17 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said three dimensionally conformed material is only partially expanded prior to application of said flashing.  
   
   
       18 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said three dimensional region can expand and contract in directions parallel and transverse to said “ridgeline” which said flashing is to flash to further engage and conform to said roofing materials.  
   
   
       19 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a suitable natural or synthetic rubber material or plastics material provides said exterior flexible weathering surface.  
   
   
       20 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said suitable natural or synthetic rubber material or plastics material is selected from the Desmopan® range of thermoplastic polyurethane materials.  
   
   
       21 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said “ridge” overlying region is conformed, as part of said lamination to a substantially rigid section underlying said weathering layer.  
   
   
       22 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said substantially rigid section is of substantially complimentary configuration conforming to said “ridge” beam or beams, or structure defining said “ridgeline”.  
   
   
       23 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said flashing has differing degrees of flexibility of the lamination over its cross section.  
   
   
       24 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said differing degree of flexibility is at least in part due to differing flexibility of said weathering later.  
   
   
       25 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said differing degree of flexibility of said weathering layer is due to differing thickness and/or differing material properties (such as density, flexural strength, Shore hardness etc) of said weathering layer.  
   
   
       26 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said weathering layer over said rigid section is between 100 and 600 microns thick.  
   
   
       27 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said weathering layer over said rigid section is 200 microns thick.  
   
   
       28 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said three dimensionally conformed material is mould embedded at least in part in another material, said another material being flexible but not necessarily being said flexible material(s) providing the exterior weathering surface.  
   
   
       29 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 4  wherein a release sheet is associated with said tack retaining adhesive.  
   
   
       30 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said “ridge” overlying region includes a number of openings therethrough to allow penetrative fixers to affix the same to a “ridge” beam or beams.  
   
   
       31 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said flashing is to underlie a ridge cap or ridge tile.  
   
   
       32 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said flashing has, at said distal ends further extensions (“flank returns”) which have a third zone of articulation from said distal end to be articulated to engage with the under side of said ridge capping(s) or tile(s) to form a further water and weather proofing of said ridge.  
   
   
       33 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 32  wherein said zone of articulation runs parallel to said ridge overlying region.  
   
   
       34 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 32  wherein said flank returns are separable into portions by lines of separation running substantially perpendicular to said line of articulation.  
   
   
       35 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 32  wherein said flank returns further have zones of adhesion to engage with the underside of said ridge capping(s) or tile(s).  
   
   
       36 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said flashing may form the ridgeline without reliance upon a ridge cap or ridge tile.  
   
   
       37 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said flashing is coloured to match the roofing material or tiles to which it is applied.  
   
   
       38 . The roof flashing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said flashing may be coloured in a form as desired by the end user.  
   
   
       39 . A method of flashing a roof with a flashing as herein before described, wherein the ridge overlying region is applied to an actual or phantom “ridge” to be flashed, 
 first and second flanking regions extending from said ridge overlying region are located to lie upon and confirm to roofing material(s) either side of said ridge with at least one of the flanking regions is at least conformed to a three dimensional form, and is conformable to a retained or retainable three dimensional form or has a distal extremity greater in extent than the proximal extent of that flanking region to said ridge overlying region to conform with said roofing material(s) and thus to form with said roofing material(s) a continuous weathering surface.    
   
   
       40 . The method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein each of the flanking regions has at least a partial underlying support of the weathering material(s).  
   
   
       41 . The method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein the roof flashing includes preferably by removal of a release sheet or release sheets to reveal an adhesive or other tack providing surface to allow at least part of at least one of the flanking regions to be adhesively attached to a support surface e.g. of a roofing material(s) to be flashed.  
   
   
       42 . The method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein in some options one or more materials e.g. as a laminate, provide the ridge overlying region whilst in other forms the ridge overlying region can be at least in part, primarily or wholly of the one or more material(s) providing a weathering surface notwithstanding the fact that the flashing is at least in part laminated (e.g. whether solely in one or both of the flanking regions or otherwise).  
   
   
       43 . The method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein said three dimensional region is at least in part held in its three dimensional form by said partial underlying support.  
   
   
       44 . The method as claimed in  claim 40  wherein said three dimensionally conformed material is a metal.  
   
   
       45 . The method as claimed in  claim 40  wherein said three dimensional region is configured so as to exhibit a substantially sinusoidal section when being viewed in section towards said distal ends.  
   
   
       46 . The method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein said ridge overlying region includes a number of openings therethrough to allow penetrative fixers to affix the same to a “ridge” beam or beams.  
   
   
       47 . The method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein said flashing is to underlie a ridge cap or ridge tile.  
   
   
       48 . The method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein said flashing may form the ridgeline without reliance upon a ridge cap or ridge tile.  
   
   
       49 . The method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein said flashing is coloured to match the roofing material or tiles to which it is applied.  
   
   
       50 . The method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein said flashing may be coloured in a form as desired by the end user.  
   
   
       51 . (canceled)  
   
   
       52 . The use or methods of use of a flashing or flashing structure of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       53 . The structure flashed by a flashing or flashing structure of  claim 1.