Roof-sheeting element with integral lath structure

Claim 1

An elongate roof-sheeting element with an integral lath structure for supporting roof tiles on an inclined roof structure comprising: a board-like member having an upper surface to be positioned adjacent the lower surface of roof tiles to be supported thereby and having a lower surface to be supported by an inclined roof structure; a lath-like member integral with said board-like member and extending along the entire length of one only of the longitudinal sides of said board member, said lath-like member having a first portion extending upwardly from the upper surface of said board-like member along its entire length and having a second portion projecting outwardly from said first portion beyond said one longitudinal side only of said board-like member along its entire length, said lath-like member being constructed and arranged such that when two of said elongate roof-sheeting elements are located with said one longitudinal side of a first roof-sheeting element adjacent the longitudinal side of a second roof sheeting element remote from said one longitudinal side of said second roof sheeting element, said second portion of said lath-like member extends over the upper surface of said second roof sheeting element adjacent said remote side thereof thereby covering a joint formed between the adjacent longitudinal sides of said first and second roof sheeting elements; said board-like member and said lath-like member being integral and having a light core composite structure comprising an expanded plastic core and a layer of a covering material bonded to said expanded plastic core; and an elongate reinforcing element embedded in said expanded plastic core and disposed lengthwise in said lath-like member along the entire length thereof, said reinforcing element being angled and perforated and having a longitudinal marginal portion extending into the expanded plastic core of said board-like member along the entire length thereof.