Trade News...

February 2008

QUICK AND SIMPLE…

Time is money, so the quicker a conservatory can be built, the more profitable an installer can be. Aztec Conservatory Roof Systems has always played heavily on its speed of build, claiming it is up to 30% faster than alternatives, and that one man can do it alone….
The claim is put to the test with a simple Edwardian 3m x 3m roof, supplied in kit form.
In the first place, the only tools needed are a nylon hammer, a cordless drill/driver, tap measure, hacksaw, Stanley knife, low modulus silicone and gun, a 4mm drill bit and a spirit level.
Firstly, assemble the ring beam on top of the window frames. Slide the members into the corner cleats and screw together with self-tapping screws.
Transom rafters simply drop into place on the ring beam and ridge with pre-fixed rafter pins.
The roof will self-support without any additional fixings, and rafters need to be made permanent simply by securing self-tapping screws
Jack rafters are mechanically jointed with the unique ‘C’ plate system which clamps the rafter tight to the hip bar with a simple tighten of a screw.
Check the roof is ‘true’ and centralised on the frames so the inside edges of the ring beam are flush with the frames.
Drill up through the frames into the ring beam at centres no more than 500mm apart and secure with suitable combi screws. Drill through the wall plate below the integral drainage channel into the masonry and secure with anchor bolts.
Grind grooves into the wall mortar progressively at each course and position the patented ridge flashing behind the ridge and into the wall plate channels.
The lead flashing can now be cut, positioned, dressed into the wall plate channel and sealed. This is a unique system, meaning the flashing can be completed before the roof is glazed, or the ridge capping fitted.  Aztec claims this yields a time saving of up to 60% over conventional techniques. It is also safer, eliminating the risk of reaching across glazing, and helps ensure a neater job.
Off the roof, push each appropriate glazing panel support trim into position on the eaves end of each glazing panel. Offer the glazing panel into position and locate the support trim into the groove in the ring beam. This eliminates the need for infills with the use of double sided tape that is traditionally used to prevent the glazing from slipping.
Individual glazing beads are then aligned and tapped into the rafter with the nylon mallet, This means that glazing can be secured individually- particularly desirable when glazing jack rafter hips.
The rafter is finished with bar caps that simply slide into position without the need for screws. Glazing time can be reduced by 40%. The individual glazing beads have an added benefit in their ability to accommodate thermal change and do not suffer from the twisting and warping that can be associated with conventional PVCu cappings.
Fit the external ring beam, fascia, attach the corner joints. Next, twist-fit the gutter brackets into the integral slot in the ring beam and clip the gutters into place.
Move back to the ridge, apply a bead of silicone along the face of the ridge flashing and position the ridge cap by pushing down onto the ridge connectors. Clip-fix decorative crestings and finials into position on the ridge.
Because these elements clip fix into place there are no fixing holes through which water can potentially penetrate. The detailings themselves are designed to encourage water flow away from the ridge into the gutter channels.
With the exterior of the roof complete, it is just a case of finishing details internally. Internal fascia cladding is knocked into the ring beam with the nylon mallet, and the boss cover slid into position over the boss plate before internal fascia cladding is tapped into position under the ridge.
Job done.