Roof Help Please!

[Copacetic]

Can anyone tell me what sort of roof I have, I have taken some pics from the attic door, the contractors working here have never seen one like it.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=5ahuon&;s=9#.Vo6BphWLRQI

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=dgnq5s&;s=9#.Vo6CGRWLRQI

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2uji7u8&s=9#.Vo6CXBWLRQI

[VHG]

I think it is called a "badly built one".

[AB Editor]

I've never seen supports like that, only ever wood. Are they permanent?

[Copacetic]

yes the supports are permanent, the roof has a lot of holes in it as well

[retrocop]

Looks like the inside of a Zeppelin with those metal cross braces.

[The Builder]

Possibly a "U-Roof".............

http://www.u-roof.com/

Galvanised steel trusses or rafters. I've never come across them.
Sorry to disagree with VHG, but they are quite kosher. With yours, You'd have to see the engineering calcs to decide on possible load etc.

What's your finished covering going to be?

[Baldric]

A cheap one.

[Copacetic]

Lol!

The roof is the same age as the house I believe, I think the house was buillt around 1940's ish, that is it finished, the contractors were laying insulation, the roof tiles on the outside are in poor condition and have a lot of holes in them, they were confused to see the roof the way it was inside

[The Builder]

1940s explains everything, Copa........... wartime shortage of timber, but plenty of recycled steel and iron.

It's obviously designed for your roof covering. Looks in pretty good shape for a 70 year old roof structure :o)

What sort of tiles? I can't see how they would fix the battens.

[The Builder]

Your roof ladder has just given me some perspective on sizing. I think those timbers ARE the battens.

[Khandro]

It looks like the metal members were designed for industrial/ agricultural buildings, I don't think it is a one-off because there appear to special cleats and brackets at the joints. It would certainly have been erected by a local builder, it would be interesting to see if there were any other contemporary barns of factory roofs like it in the area.
The war-time furniture was called "utility" (now collected) and made with the most minimal amount of wood for the sake of economy. It seems you might have a "utility" roof, and it would be of architectural interest. Like the furniture, It has stood up well to the test of time.

[Copacetic]

the tiles look like concrete, breeze block sort of material

[melv16]

Could the tiles be made of asbestos? I think it could be too early for concrete tiles.

[The Builder]

Interesting post from Khandro. Is it on an estate/terrace/semi? Or just a one-off?

RE Melv's post - the thickness would be the best guide to material.

[melv16]

Are there any tiles/slates on top of the dark grey tiles?

[Copacetic]

The house is ex-local Authority, It's on a busy road with lots of similar looking houses, there are roof tiles on the outside of the slates, a lot of the roof tiles are in bad condition /loose or missing.

I have no idea if they are asbestos, I hope not!