APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR A LATH AND RAIN SCREEN ASSEMBLY
A lath and rain screen assembly for fastening to an exterior building surface or the like is provided. The lath and rain screen assembly comprises (a) a rain screen having a first side and a second side and defining a first plane, the first side including a plurality of first side spacer elements extending outwardly in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane; and (b) a lath defining a second plane spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first plane, the lath being operatively attached to an outermost surface of each of the first side spacer elements positioned adjacent the second plane. In certain embodiments, the lath and rain screen assembly further comprises a plurality of second side spacer elements extending outwardly in a second direction. A method of applying the lath and rain screen assembly is also provided.
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In the construction of buildings, frequently used construction products include exterior cladding materials. Exterior cladding materials can be used to cover the exterior surfaces formed from various framing structures. Non-limiting examples of exterior cladding materials include masonry products, such as for example, stone and brick and stucco.
In certain instances, the exterior building cladding is applied to sub-structures that are attached to the exterior surfaces of the framing structures. One example of a sub-structure is rain screens. Generally speaking, rain screens are configured to create a cavity between the exterior cladding materials and the exterior surface of the framing structure. The cavity allows weather-related moisture to easily pass through and away from the building. Another example of a sub-structure is laths. Laths are materials configured to support mortar or plasterwork.
Historically, rain screens and laths were provided as separate stand-alone products that could be sequentially attached to the exterior surfaces of framing structures. As a result, significant amounts of time were necessary for installation, contributing, at least in part, to increasingly rising occurrences of delay and cost overruns in a variety of projects contexts.
Further, traditional methods of installation of stand-alone rain screens and laths often inadvertently created moisture barriers between the rain screens and any moisture resistant layers incorporated between the rain screens and the exterior surfaces of the framing structures. Such led to potential issues regarding ventilation and drying due to impediments to the removal of both liquid water and water vapor.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous if various sub-structures could be improved to alleviate these and other problems and inefficiencies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, a lath and rain screen assembly is provided for fastening to an exterior building surface. The lath and rain screen assembly comprises (a) a rain screen having a first side and a second side and defining a first plane, the first side including a plurality of first side spacer elements extending outwardly in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane; and (b) a lath defining a second plane spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first plane, the lath being operatively attached to an outermost surface of each of the first side spacer elements positioned adjacent the second plane. In certain embodiments, the lath and rain screen assembly further comprises a plurality of second side spacer elements extending outwardly in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane, the second direction being substantially 180 degrees from that of the first direction.
In accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention as described herein, a lath and rain screen assembly is provided for fastening to an exterior building surface. The lath and rain screen assembly comprises (a) a rain screen having a first side and a second side and defining a first plane, the first side including a plurality of first side spacer elements extending outwardly in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane; and (b) a lath defining a second plane spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first plane, the lath being operatively attached to an outermost surface of each of the first side spacer elements positioned adjacent the second plane such that attachment of the lath to the outermost surface creates a first cavity. In certain embodiments, the first cavity is configured to receive at least a portion of a first layer of mortar such that the first layer substantially encapsulates the lath. In still other embodiments, the lath includes a plurality of spaced apart apertures configured to permit passage of the first layer of mortar substantially through the lath, further substantially encapsulating the lath.
In accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention, a method of applying a lath and rain screen assembly to an exterior building surface is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) positioning the lath and rain screen assembly adjacent the exterior building surface, the lath and rain screen assembly comprising a rain screen having a first side with a plurality of outwardly extending first side spacer elements and a second side with a plurality of oppositely outwardly extending second side spacer elements; and (b) applying a first layer of mortar onto the lath.
Various advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain certain principles of the invention. In the drawings:
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention will now be described with occasional reference to the specific embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of dimensions such as length, width, height, and so forth as used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical properties set forth in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained in embodiments of the present invention. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical values, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from error found in their respective measurements.
The description and figures disclose lath and rain screen assemblies configured for attachment to an exterior building framework and further configured as a support surface for external cladding materials. The term “lath”, as used herein, is defined to mean a pattern of material configured to support mortar or plasterwork. The term “rain screen”, as used herein, is defined to mean an infrastructure positioned on exterior building framework and configured to (1) create a cavity that allows weather-related moisture to easily pass through and away from the building; and (2) provide the potential for ventilation and drying to assist in the removal of both liquid water and water vapor. The term “external cladding material”, as used herein, is defined to mean a covering of one or more materials on the exterior of a building.
Referring now to
Referring again to
Similarly, in certain embodiments, the second side 20 of the sheet 16 includes a plurality of spaced apart second side nodules 24 (a.k.a. spacer elements). The second side nodules in these embodiments extend in a direction away from the second side 20 of the sheet 16. In other embodiments, the first and second side nodules, 22 and 24, may be arranged in alternative manners; however the first and second side nodules are generally oriented such that they extend in opposing directions. In this regard, the first and second side nodules, 22 and 24, will be discussed in more detail below.
The body of the rain screen 12 can be thought of as being planar with a nominal thickness intermediate opposing primary planar first and second sides, with the first and second sides lying in corresponding first and second co-parallel planes. The nodules (a.k.a. spacer elements) extend from these sides. The dimples lie between the planes
Referring again to
In various embodiments, as shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the sheet 16 is formed from a polymer-based material, such as for example polyvinyl chloride. In other embodiments, the sheet 16 may be formed from other polymer-based materials, including the non-limiting examples of polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene. In still other embodiments, the sheet 16 may be formed from combinations of polymer-based materials.
In various embodiments, the sheet 16 may be configured for moisture transmission. That is, the sheet 16 may be configured to substantially retard the flow of gases (e.g. air and moisture), without requiring the use of a separate vapor or air barrier or an incorporated vapor or air barrier. In the illustrated embodiment, the sheet 16 has a permeability value in a range of from about 80 coulombs to about 250 coulombs as determined by water vapor transmission tests, such as, for example ASTM C1202 and/or Standard E-96. Typical water vapor transmission tests, such as the ASTM C1202, evaluate the transfer of water vapor through semi-permeable and permeable materials over a period of time. In other embodiments, the sheet 16 can have a permeability rating of less than about 80 coulombs or more than about 250 coulombs.
Referring now to
As will be explained in more detail below, the alternating pattern of the first and second side nodules, 22 and 24, according to various embodiments is configured, for example, to provide support for the lath 14 when the lath and screen assembly 10 is positioned on the exterior of a building. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the first side nodules 22 and the second side nodules 24 can be arranged in other desired patterns sufficient to provide similar degrees of support for the lath 14 when the lath and screen assembly 10 is positioned on the exterior of a building.
Referring again to
Similarly, as also shown in
Referring again to
In various embodiments, as shown generally in
Returning to
In those embodiments having a woven sheet 30, the sheet may be formed by threading (e.g., weaving) a plurality of individual fibers 31 into a plurality of straps 33, each of the straps comprising a portion of the plurality of individual fibers, as generally shown in
The sheet 30 according to various embodiments may have any desired thickness sufficient to provide support for subsequently installed external cladding material. In certain embodiments, the sheet 30 may have a thickness of 1/64 of an inch to about ¼ of an inch. In other embodiments, the sheet 30 may have a thickness of approximately 1/32 of an inch. In any of these and other embodiments, an overall thickness of the sheet 16 of the rain screen 12, the nodules of the rain screen, and the sheet 30 of the lath 14 may be from about ¼ of an inch to ½ of an inch. In certain embodiment, the overall thickness may be approximately ⅜ of an inch.
In various embodiments, the spaced apart apertures 32 form a mesh or grid structure for the sheet 16, as generally depicted in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring again to
According to various embodiments, as shown in
In various embodiments, the moisture resistant layer 50 may have any desired thickness and any desired permeability value. In the illustrated embodiment of
Referring again to
As shown in the cross sectional view of
In various embodiments, the first space 54 has a width, as generally depicted in
Referring again to the cross-sectional view of
In various embodiments, the second space 56, as depicted in at least the cross-sectional view of
In various embodiments, a combined width 55 of the first space 54 and the second space 56 may have a width 55, as generally depicted in
In various embodiments, as shown in
While the various embodiments of the lath and rain screen assembly 10 illustrated in
Referring again to
According to various embodiments, as shown in
Referring again to
A method of installing a lath and rain screen assembly 10 according to various embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to
The next step of the method according to various embodiments, involves the application of a first layer 58 of mortar to the lath 14 such that the first layer substantially encapsulates the lath 14, as generally depicted in
Generally speaking, the installation of a lath and rain screen assembly 110, as shown in
Various embodiments of the above-described lath and rain screen assemblies, 10 and 110, advantageously provide several benefits over traditional stand alone rain screens and laths, although all of the benefits may not be present in all embodiments. First, in certain embodiments, the lath and rain screen assemblies, 10 and 110, combine the traditional stand alone lath and the stand alone rain screen into a single integrated product, thereby allowing for reduced installation time and installation cost. Second, in certain embodiments, the lath and rain screen assemblies, 10 and 110, create a pathway between the moisture resistant layer and the sheet. In contrast, traditional rain screens are prone to trapping moisture between the moisture resistant layer and the rain screen.
The foregoing description of the various embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled. The drawings and preferred embodiments do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims in their fair and broad interpretation in any way.
Claims
1. A lath and rain screen assembly configured for fastening to an exterior building surface, the lath and rain screen assembly comprising:
- A) a rain screen configured to encourage ventilation and drying, said rain screen including 1) a substantially planar body having a nominal thickness, said body having opposing primary planar first and second sides lying in corresponding first and second coparallel planes; and 2) a plurality of first side spacer elements, each of said first side spacer elements extending from said first side of said rain screen body along a direction substantially parallel to a first axis being substantially normal to said first plane, each of said first side spacer elements terminating in a free end, the tips of each of said free ends lying in a first free end plane being substantially coparallel to said first and second coparallel planes; and
- B) a lath configured to receive at least a portion of a first mortar layer, said lath including a substantially planar body having a nominal thickness, said body defining a third plane spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said first plane of said rain screen body,
- said lath being operably connected to said rain screen at least in part by a plurality of connections between said body of said lath and each of said free ends of said spacer elements,
- such that said rain screen and said lath are spaced apart so as to provide an intermediate first cavity therebetween configured for permitting the passage of liquid water and water vapor.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rain screen further comprises a plurality of second side spacer elements, each of said second side spacer elements extending from said second side of said rain screen body in a direction substantially opposite to that of said first side spacer elements, said direction being substantially parallel to said first axis, each of said second side spacer elements terminating in a free end.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first side spacer elements and the second side spacer elements are arranged in an alternating pattern.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connections between said body of said lath and each of said free ends of said spacer elements are provided by heat bonding.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lath and rain screen assembly further comprises adhesive for providing said connections between said body of said lath and each of said free ends of said spacer elements.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first cavity has a width of from about 0.25 inches to about 0.50 inches.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rain screen is formed from a polymer-based material.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said polymer-based material is selected from a group consisting of: polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, or any combination thereof.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rain screen has a thickness in a range of about 0.005 inches to about 0.040 inches.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rain screen has a permeability value in a range of about 80 coulombs to about 250 coulombs.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lath includes a plurality of spaced apart apertures configured to permit passage of the first layer of mortar substantially through the lath.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lath is formed from a fiberglass-based material.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said lath is formed by weaving the fiberglass-based material into a mesh configuration.
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first side spacer elements and the second side spacer elements are each spaced apart relative to their respective adjacent first and second side spacer elements an equal distance.
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the equal distance is from about one inch to about four inches.
16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein:
- each of the first side spacer elements are spaced apart a distance of approximately two inches relative to adjacently located first side spacer elements;
- each of the second side spacer elements are spaced apart a distance of approximately two inches relative to adjacently located second side spacer elements; and
- each of the first and second side spacer elements are spaced apart a distance of approximately one inch relative to one other.
17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lath and rain screen assembly is capable of being stored in a rolled-up fashion.
18. A method of providing a lath and rain screen assembly configured to be attached to an exterior building surface, said method comprising the steps of:
- A) providing a rain screen configured to encourage ventilation and drying, said rain screen including 1) a substantially planar body having a nominal thickness, said body having opposing primary planar first and second sides lying in corresponding first and second coparallel planes; and 2) a plurality of first side spacer elements, each of said first side spacer elements extending from said first side of said rain screen body along a direction substantially parallel to a first axis being substantially normal to said first plane, each of said first side spacer elements terminating in a free end;
- B) providing a lath configured to receive at least a portion of a first mortar layer, said lath including a substantially planar body having a nominal thickness, said body defining a third plane spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said first plane of said rain screen body; and
- C) providing said lath and rain screen assembly by connecting said rain screen and said lath at least in part by connections between said body of said lath and each of said free ends of said spacer elements, such that said rain screen and said lath are spaced apart so as to provide an intermediate first cavity therebetween configured for permitting the passage of liquid water and water vapor.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein in Step “C” said connection between said rain screen and said lath is provided by heat bonding.
20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein in Step “C” said connection between said rain screen and said lath is provided by adhesive.
21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein in Step “B” said lath is provided with apertures configured to permit passage of mortar therethrough.
22. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein in Step “A” said rain screen is provided with a permeability value in a range of about 80 coulombs to about 250 coulombs.
23. A method of applying a lath and rain screen assembly to an exterior building surface to facilitate the attachment of exterior cladding materials, said method comprising the steps of:
- A) providing a rain screen configured to encourage ventilation and drying, said rain screen including 1) a substantially planar body having a nominal thickness, said body having opposing primary planar first and second sides lying in corresponding first and second coparallel planes; and 2) a plurality of first side spacer elements, each of said first side spacer elements extending from said first side of said rain screen body along a direction substantially parallel to a first axis being substantially normal to said first plane, each of said first side spacer elements terminating in a free end;
- B) providing a lath configured to receive at least a portion of a first mortar layer, said lath including a substantially planar body having a nominal thickness, said body defining a third plane spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said first plane of said rain screen body;
- C) providing said lath and rain screen assembly by connecting said rain screen and said lath at least in part by connections between said body of said lath and each of said free ends of said spacer elements, such that said rain screen and said lath are spaced apart so as to provide an intermediate first cavity therebetween configured for permitting the passage of liquid water and water vapor;
- D) positioning said lath and rain screen assembly adjacent said exterior building surface;
- E) applying a first layer of mortar onto the lath; and
- F) attaching a plurality of exterior cladding materials to aid lath at least partially with the use of said mortar.
24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein in Step “E” said first cavity receives at least a portion of a first layer of mortar.
25. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein in step “B” said lath is provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures configured to permit passage of a portion of said first layer of mortar substantially through the lath in Step “E”, and wherein in Step “F”, said first layer of mortar, upon passing substantially through the lath, further substantially encapsulates the lath.
26. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein step “E” furthers comprises the step of applying a second layer of mortar onto the first layer of mortar once the first layer has been allowed to cure.
27. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said step “D” of positioning said lath and rain screen assembly adjacent said exterior building surface comprises positioning said plurality of second side spacer elements in contact with the exterior building surface.
28. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said step “D” of positioning said plurality of second side spacer elements adjacent said exterior building surfaces creates a second cavity configured to provide a pathway for moisture management and ventilation between said second side spacer elements and the exterior building surface.
29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein following Step “D” said second cavity has a width of from about 0.125 inches to about 0.50 inches.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 1, 2011
Publication Date: Oct 4, 2012
Applicant:
Inventors: Wayne J. Buoni (New Albany, OH), David Chris Hines (Swanton, OH)
Application Number: 13/078,614
International Classification: E04B 1/70 (20060101); E04B 1/38 (20060101); E04B 1/66 (20060101);