DECK-CAP MOISTURE-AND-UV BARRIER
The current application is directed to a moisture-and-UV barrier that can be applied to a corner of a deck cap during deck construction or subsequently retrofit to the corner of the deck cap in order to prevent deterioration of the deck cap and of the deck structure below the deck cap. The moisture-and-UV barrier includes a waterproof, UV-resistant, and crack-and-tear resistant top surface that conforms to the top surface of the deck-cap corner as well as vertical sides that together enclose a portion of the deck cap at the deck corner to prevent exposure of the miter joint between deck-cap members at the deck-cap corner to UV radiation, water, and other harmful substances and agents.
The current application is directed to building and remodeling materials and devices and, in particular, to a moisture-and-UV barrier that can be applied to the corners of deck caps in order to prevent ingress of moisture into, as well as UV damage to, deck-cap members and other portions of a deck below the deck cap.
BACKGROUNDMany residential and commercial buildings include external decks that are exposed to moisture, weather, and UV radiation. Maintenance and upkeep of these deck structures may represent significant cost to home and commercial-building owners. Often, decks are made from lumber, manufactured wood products, and other materials that are prone to long-term degradation due to rain, snow, other types of moisture, ultraviolet (“UV”) radiation, various stresses and forces due to shifting of structures to which the decks are attached, aging of deck materials, and other such causes. Owners, remodelers, and maintainers of residential and commercial structures that include external decks seek methods, materials, and devices to facilitate deck maintenance, weatherability, and long-term robustness.
SUMMARYThe current application is directed to a moisture-and-UV barrier that can be applied to a corner of a deck cap during deck construction or subsequently retrofit to the corner of the deck cap in order to prevent deterioration of the deck cap and of the deck structure below the deck cap. The moisture-and-UV barrier includes a waterproof, UV-resistant, and crack-and-tear resistant top surface that conforms to the top surface of the deck-cap corner as well as vertical sides that together enclose a portion of the deck cap at the deck corner to prevent exposure of the miter joint between deck-cap members at the deck-cap corner to UV radiation, water, and other harmful substances and agents.
The current application is directed to protecting miter joints between deck-cap members at the corners of decks, such as at deck corner 206 in
Deck caps are often caulked and/or painted to improve weatherability. However, over time, due to a variety of different agents and effects, the interface between deck-cap members at deck corners often degrades, resulting in emergence of a gap between the deck-cap members that permits ingress of moisture and exposure of the interior surfaces of the miter joint between the deck-cap members to UV radiation. Moisture and UV radiation can both degrade wood and other deck-cap materials.
The moisture-and-UV barrier is generally fabricated from a waterproof polymer by a molding process, although other types of waterproof materials may be used. The moisture-and-UV barrier is constructed from both waterproof and UV-resistant materials or from materials that can be coated to produce a robust and resilient waterproof and UV-resistance surface. Thickness of the top surface and sidewalls of the moisture-and-UV barrier may vary, depending on materials and manufacturing processes. The thickness may run from 1/32 of an inch or less to a thickness greater than ⅛ inch. The material, although waterproof; exhibits a surface that can be painted using commonly available latex-based and oil-based exterior paints, for many moisture-and-UV barriers. The material from which the moisture-and-UV barrier is manufactured is both crack and tear resistant. A variety of different organic polymers that are waterproof, UV-resistant, and crack-and-tear resistant can be used, as well as various other polymers that can be surface treated to produce a waterproof and UV-resistant barrier. Moisture-and-UV barriers can alternatively be fashioned from sheet metal, composite materials, and from other types of materials.
Application of the moisture-and-UV barrier to deck structures generally involves initially fitting the moisture-and-UV barrier to the deck cap, drilling screw holes into the vertical sides of the moisture-and-UV barrier and deck-cap members, applying a bead of weatherproofing caulk to the inside of the moisture-and-UV barrier on either side of a centerline complementary to the miter joint of the deck corner, then securely fastening the moisture-and-UV barrier to the deck cap so that the caulk is pressed into the deck cap to form a waterproof barrier on either side of the miter joint, with screws threaded into the deck cap through the moisture-and-UV barrier to securely fasten the moisture-and-UV barrier to the deck cap. In addition, it may be necessary to cut one or more of the vertical sides of the moisture-and-UV barrier to properly conform to the deck cap. In many cases, it is desirable that the moisture-and-UV barrier extend vertically at least ¼ inch below the bottom edge of the deck cap to ensure that no moisture is able to wick up between the inner sides of the vertical walls of the moisture-and-UV barrier and the external vertical walls of the deck cap. In certain cases, additional caulking may be applied to create a moisture seal on the sides and bottoms of the vertical walls in addition to along the inner side of the top portion of the moisture-and-UV barrier. The moisture-and-UV barrier may be manufactured to have wood-like colors and simulated wood grain, in order to conform, in appearance, to wood deck caps. Other colors and textures may be employed to conform to the appearance of other types of deck-cap material.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to these embodiments. Modifications within the spirit of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, as discussed above, any of many different types of materials may be employed to fashion the moisture-and-UV barrier. The moisture-and-UV barrier may have different colors, surface textures, and other ornamental features. Moisture-and-UV barriers can be manufactured to conform to a variety of differently shaped and sized deck-cap corners.
It is appreciated that the previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A moisture-and-UV barrier comprising:
- a top surface with a first point complementary to an outside corner point of a deck-cap corner, an interior vertex point complementary to an inside corner point of the deck-cap corner, and two wings, each complementary to a top surface of one of two different deck-cap members that meet along a mitered joint at the deck-cap corner, the two wings adjoined along a first line from the first point to the vertex point, the first line corresponding in length and direction to the mitered joint; and
- and two pairs of vertical sides, the first pair of vertical sides joined along a line segment extending from the first point in a direction approximately orthogonal to the top surface and complementary to outside surfaces of the deck-cap members that are approximately orthogonal to the top surface of the deck cap and the second pair of vertical sides joined along a line segment extending from the vertex point in a direction approximately orthogonal to the top surface and complementary to inside surfaces of the deck-cap members that are approximately orthogonal to the top surface of the deck cap.
2. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 1 wherein the moisture-and-UV barrier is molded from a waterproof, UV-resistant, tear-and-crack resistant polymer.
3. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 1 wherein the moisture-and-UV barrier is molded from a tear-and-crack resistant polymer that can be surface treated to provide a waterproof and UV-resistant external surface.
4. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 1 wherein the moisture-and-UV barrier is waterproof, UV-resistant, tear-and-crack resistant.
5. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 1 wherein all external surfaces of the moisture-and-UV barrier are compatible with latex and oil-based paints.
6. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 1 wherein all internal surfaces of the moisture-and-UV barrier are compatible with waterproof sealants and calking compounds.
7. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 1 further including molded fasteners that can be driven into the deck cap during installation.
8. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 1 further including molded fasteners that can be clipped to an underside of the deck cap during installation.
9. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 1 further including two beads of waterproof sealant or caulking compound parallel to the first line.
10. A moisture-and-UV barrier for protecting the mitered joint between two deck-cap members at a deck corner, the moisture-and-UV barrier comprising:
- a top surface complementary in shape and size to a top surface of the deck cap that includes the mitered joint; and
- two sides approximately orthogonal to the top surface, a first side complementary to the external sides of the two deck-cap members and a second side complementary to the internal sides of the two deck-cap members.
11. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 10 wherein the moisture-and-UV barrier is molded from a waterproof, UV-resistant, tear-and-crack resistant polymer.
12. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 10 wherein the moisture-and-UV barrier is molded from a tear-and-crack resistant polymer that can be surface treated to provide a waterproof and UV-resistant external surface.
13. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 10 wherein the moisture-and-UV barrier is waterproof, UV-resistant, tear-and-crack resistant.
14. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 10 wherein all external surfaces of the moisture-and-UV barrier are compatible with latex and oil-based paints.
15. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 10 wherein all internal surfaces of the moisture-and-UV barrier are compatible with waterproof sealants and calking compounds.
16. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 10 further including molded fasteners that can be driven into the deck cap during installation.
17. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 10 further including molded fasteners that can be clipped to an underside of the deck cap during installation.
18. The moisture-and-UV barrier of claim 10 further including two beads of waterproof sealant or caulking compound parallel to the first line.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 2, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 7, 2013
Inventor: Gordon C. Tang (Bellevue, WA)
Application Number: 13/225,343
International Classification: E04B 1/684 (20060101); E04B 1/64 (20060101); E04B 1/68 (20060101);