Recently in a discussion about going up or out in a possible addition to a house and about internal load bearing walls I was told, that the 'roof is tonged' or tongued. It was pronounced tong as in sugar tongs. The roof is over a state house type house that was of the type used by Maori Affairs & Lands and Survey for their rural dwellings. So a basic and common plan. These ex state houses are everywhere and often altered. The roof line is much flatter than say a villa or bungalow roof.

I have looked for a definition of this tonged or tongued roof on line. As the conversation took place in Southland and as I know they have a fair sprinkling of different terms and pronounciations I am wondering if this tonged roof is a term used for something more common in the rest of NZ.

What are the implications of this 'tonged' or 'tongued' roof over and above (ha ha) those that others face when going up or out or dealing with load bearing walls? I have done an extension to a 1905 villa upwards and so have a fair knowledge of what is involved and roof lines and trusses and interior roof framing did not enter into it except from an aesthetic angle as I did not want the roof 'popped' so it could be seen from the street.

Edited by shanreagh at 10:58 am, Fri 30 Apr

shanreagh - 2021-04-30 10:55:00

when was the house built?

tweake - 2021-04-30 13:49:00

Mid- Late 1940s. To a basic state house plan used by L & S & Maori Affairs.
I have looked here but cannot find the term.
https://www.renovate.org.nz/1940-60s/

shanreagh - 2021-04-30 17:40:00

This message was deleted.

hooserat - 2021-04-30 18:37:00

'Tommed' definitely sounds like it could be a contender.

shanreagh - 2021-04-30 19:01:00