Cladding system.

Abstract

A cladding kit mountable to an underlying structure, the cladding kit comprising a plurality of elongated cladding boards, each cladding board including a board body defining longitudinally opposed board body first and second ends, board body first and second sides extending therebetween and opposed inside and outside surfaces; an outside flange protruding from the board body at the board body first side, the outside flange being recessed relative to the inside surface; and an inside flange protruding from the board body at the board body second side, the inside flange being recessed relative to the outside surface. The inside and outside flanges are configured and sized so that the inside and outside flanges of two cladding boards overlap when they are laid side-by-side with their outside surfaces substantially coplanar.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of buildings, and more specifically to a cladding system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are numerous cladding systems used in residential, commercial and industrial construction. Typically, these systems attach elongated cladding boards to underlying structures of the clad buildings, either directly or through the use of brackets. Some of these systems also use trims to hide some junctions between the cladding boards. However, these systems may be inconvenient to install, and may present some visually unpleasant features, such as slight gaps between cladding boards due to the fasteners used to secure the latter. These gaps may also allow water infiltration behind the cladding, which may lead to mould problems and rotting.

Against this background, there exists a need in the industry to provide novel cladding systems.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide improved cladding systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a broad aspect, there is provided a cladding kit mountable to an underlying structure, the cladding kit comprising: a plurality of elongated cladding boards, each cladding board including a board body defining longitudinally opposed board body first and second ends, board body first and second sides extending therebetween and opposed inside and outside surfaces each delimited by the board body first and second ends and first and second sides, the outside surface being visible when the cladding boards have been operatively mounted to the underlying structure; and an outside flange protruding from the board body at the board body first side, the outside flange being recessed relative to the inside surface; an inside flange protruding from the board body at the board body second side, the inside flange being recessed relative to the outside surface. The inside and outside flanges are configured and sized so that the inside and outside flanges of two of the cladding boards from the plurality of cladding boards overlap when the two of the cladding boards are laid side-by-side with their outside surfaces substantially coplanar.

There may also be provided a cladding kit wherein the inside flange defines an elongated groove extending longitudinally therealong and facing outwardly.

There may also be provided a cladding kit wherein the inside flange defines fastener receiving apertures for receiving fasteners to secure the cladding boards to the underlying structure.

There may also be provided a cladding kit wherein the fastener receiving apertures are in register with an elongated groove extending longitudinally along the inside flange opposed to the inside surface.

There may also be provided a cladding kit wherein the fastener receiving apertures are recessed in the inside flange.

There may also be provided a cladding kit wherein the inside and outside flanges have thicknesses such that the inside and outside flanges of the two of the cladding boards abut against each other when the two of the cladding boards are laid side-by-side with overlapping inside and outside flanges.

There may also be provided a cladding kit wherein the inside and outside flanges protrude laterally to the same extent from the board body.

There may also be provided a cladding kit wherein the outside flange defines a flange ridge protruding laterally outwardly therefrom, spaced apart from the inside and outside surfaces, and the cladding board defines a flange receiving groove at the board body second side configured and sized to receive thereinto the flange ridge of an adjacent one of the cladding boards.

There may also be provided a cladding kit further comprising trims mountable between adjacent ones of the cladding boards, each trim including a trim inside element mountable to the underlying structure and a trim outside element mountable to the trim inside element, the trim outside element being configured and sized to overlap the adjacent ones of the cladding boards adjacent their outside surfaces when the trim is inserted therebetween, the trim inside and outside elements being detached from each other prior to installation.

There may also be provided a cladding kit wherein the trim inside element defines an inside mounting member and the trim outside element defines an outside mounting member mountable to the inside mounting member.

There may also be provided a cladding kit wherein one of the inside and outside mounting members defines a corrugated recess and an other one of the inside and outside mounting members defines a corrugated protrusion insertable in the corrugated recess, the corrugated protrusion and recess being configured and sized to that the corrugated protrusion is retained in the corrugated recess once received thereinto.

There may also be provided a cladding kit wherein the corrugated recess and corrugated protrusion are corrugated such that removal of the corrugated protrusion from the corrugated recess requires a larger force than insertion of the corrugated protrusion in the corrugated recess.

There may also be provided a cladding kit wherein the trims include end trims mountable between longitudinally adjacent cladding boards, inside corner trims mountable between two cladded surfaces forming an inside corner and outside corner trims mountable between two cladded surfaces forming an outside corner.

There may also be provided a cladding kit wherein the trim outside elements include at least one external wing extending generally parallel to the underlying structure when the cladding kit is operatively mounted to the underlying structure.

There may also be provided a cladding kit wherein the trim inside elements include at least one internal wing extending generally parallel to the underlying structure when the cladding kit is operatively mounted to the underlying structure.

There may also be provided a cladding kit further comprising a starting trim defining a U-shaped recess for receiving the cladding boards at a perimeter of a cladded surface.

In another broad aspect, there is provided a cladding board mountable to an underlying structure, the cladding board comprising: a board body defining longitudinally opposed board body first and second ends, board body first and second sides extending therebetween and opposed inside and outside surfaces each delimited by the board body first and second ends and first and second sides, the outside surface being visible when the cladding boards have been laid; an outside flange protruding from the board body at the board body first side, the outside flange being recessed relative to the inside surface; and an inside flange protruding from the board body at the board body second side, the inside flange being recessed relative to the outside surface. The inside and outside flanges are configured and sized so that the inside flange of the cladding board overlaps the outside flange of a similar cladding board when the two cladding boards are laid side-by-side with their outside surfaces substantially coplanar.

In yet another broad aspect, there is provided cladding system mounted to an underlying structure, comprising: a plurality of elongated cladding boards, each cladding board including a board body defining longitudinally opposed board body first and second ends, board body first and second sides extending therebetween and opposed inside and outside surfaces each delimited by the board body first and second ends and first and second sides, the outside surface being visible when the cladding boards have been operatively mounted to the underlying structure; an outside flange protruding from the board body at the board body first side, the outside flange being recessed relative to the inside surface; and an inside flange protruding from the board body at the board body second side, the inside flange being recessed relative to the outside surface. The cladding boards are mounted side-by side with the their outside surfaces substantially coplanar and the outside flange of each of the cladding board overlapping the inside flange of an adjacent one of the cladding boards.

There may also be provided a cladding system wherein a transversal profile of a junction between two adjacent ones of the cladding boards includes a first segment extending from the outside surface towards the inside surface, a second segment extending from the inside surface towards the outside surface, the first and second segment being laterally offset relative to each other, and a J-shaped intermediate segment extending between the first and second segments.

There may also be provided a cladding system wherein the inside flange defines fastener receiving apertures for receiving fasteners to secure the cladding boards to the underlying structure, the fastener receiving apertures being recessed in the inside flange.

Advantageously, the proposed cladding system may, in some embodiments, be installed relatively easily, and yet provide a relatively pleasant visual appearance. Overlap between the various components of the cladding system may also help in providing a waterproof cladding to the building.

The present application hereby incorporates by reference the contents of the priority document, U.S. provisional patent application 63/503,039 filed May 18, 2023.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings:

FIG. 1, in a perspective view, illustrate part of a building clad with a cladding system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the cladding system including cladding boards secured to the building with their longitudinal axis substantially horizontal.

FIG. 2, in a perspective view, illustrates part of a building clad with a variant of the cladding system of FIG. 1, with cladding boards secured to the building with their longitudinal axis substantially vertical;

FIG. 3, in a perspective view, illustrates various components of the cladding system of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

FIG. 4, in a perspective view, illustrates two alternative cladding boards usable in the cladding system of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

FIG. 5, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates two adjacent cladding boards of the cladding system of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6A, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates a vertical junction trim internal element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6B, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates a vertical junction trim external element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1 mounted to the vertical junction trim internal element of FIG. 6A;

FIGS. 6C, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates the vertical junction trim external element of FIG. 6B;

FIGS. 7A, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates a board end trim internal element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7B, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates a board end trim external element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1 mounted to the board end trim internal element of FIG. 7A;

FIGS. 7C, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates the board end trim external element of FIG. 7C;

FIGS. 8A, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates a horizontal single starting trim internal element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 8B, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates a horizontal starting trim external element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1 mounted to the horizontal single starting trim element of FIG. 8A;

FIGS. 8C, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates the horizontal starting trim external element of FIG. 8B;

FIGS. 9A, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates a horizontal double starting trim internal element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 9B, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates the horizontal starting trim external element of FIG. 8C mounted to the horizontal double starting trim internal element of FIG. 9A;

FIGS. 10A, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates a horizontal junction trim internal element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 10B, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates a horizontal junction trim external element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1 mounted to the horizontal junction trim internal element of FIG. 9A, the horizontal junction trim external element being similar to the horizontal starting trim external element of FIG. 8C;

FIGS. 11A, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates an inside corner trim internal element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 11B, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates an inside corner trim external element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1 mounted to the inside corner trim internal element of FIG. 11A;

FIGS. 11C, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates the inside corner trim external element of FIG. 11B;

FIGS. 12A, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates an outside corner trim internal element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 12B, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates an outside corner trim external element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1 mounted to the outside corner trim internal element of FIG. 12A;

FIGS. 12C, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates the outside corner trim external element of FIG. 12B;

FIGS. 13A, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates a finishing end trim internal element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 13B, in a transversal elevation view, illustrates a finishing end trim external element part of the cladding system of FIG. 1 mounted to the finishing end trim internal element of FIG. 13A, the finishing end trim external element being similar to the horizontal starting trim external element of FIG. 8C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The term “substantially” is used throughout this document to indicate variations in the thus qualified terms. These variations are variations that do not materially affect the way the invention works and can be due, for example, to uncertainties in manufacturing processes or to small deviations from a nominal value or ideal shape that do not cause significant changes to the invention. These variations are to be interpreted from the point of view of the person skilled in the art.

Directional terminology, such as top, bottom, horizontal and vertical, among others, refers to the orientation relative to an upstanding building on which the proposed cladding system is installed. This terminology is used for clarity reasons and should not be used to unduly restrict the scope of the invention.

Referring collectively to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a cladding system 10. The cladding system 10 includes cladding boards 12, inside corner trims 14, and outside corner trims 16. In some embodiments, the cladding system 10 also includes vertical and horizontal board junction trims 18 and 19, board end trims 20A, end finishing trim 20B, single starting trims 21A and double starting trims 21B. Once installed, the cladding boards 12 are overlapping each other, and the various trims 14, 16, 18, 19, 20A, 20B, 21A and 21B are used to hide the ends of the cladding boards 12 at junctions therebetween, and at parts of the building where cladding starts or ends.

The cladding boards 12 are generally elongated and can be mounted to a building 13 (only part of which is represented schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2), or to any other suitable underlying structure, either horizontally, as in FIG. 1, or vertically, as in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, vertical and horizontal mounting can be combined in the same building to provide various patterns on building 13. The cladding boards 12 can be used to ornate the outside of the building 13 or can be used inside the building 13 to ornate one or more of the inside walls. Various lengths of cladding boards 12 can be provided. In some embodiments, the cladding boards 12 are of constant transversal cross-sectional configuration along their whole length and can be cut at any point longitudinally therealong to match the dimensions of the building 13.

While the cladding board 12 shown in FIG. 1 presents a relatively flat visible surface when mounted, in other embodiments, such as in cladding boards 12′ and 12″ shown in FIG. 4, other designs can be used. For example, cladding board 12′ is configured so that the cladding system presents a corrugated texture when installed. To that effect, an outside surface 30′ thereof defines regularly spaced elongated channels 31′ extending thereinto. In the cladding board 12″, the outside surface 30″ is flat, except for a longitudinally extending ridge 31″ protruding therefrom.

Referring to FIG. 3, the cladding board 12 includes a board body 29 defining opposed board body ends 22 and 24, and laterally opposed board body sides 26 and 28 extending therebetween. The cladding board 12 also defines opposed outside and inside surfaces 30 and 32 each delimited by the board body first and second ends 22 and 24 and sides 26 and 28. The outside surface 30 is the portion of the cladding board 12 that is visible when the cladding board 12 is operatively mounted to the building 13. The inside surface 32 faces the building 13 to which the cladding board 12 is mounted. In some embodiments, the outside surface 30 is provided with a texture, such as for example a fake wood texture, among other possibilities, but textureless surfaces are also within the scope of the invention. The cladding board 12 can also be colored.

The cladding board 12 also defines an outside flange 34 protruding from the board body 29 at the board body first side 26. The outside flange 34 is recessed relative to the inside surface 32, and is typically continuous with the outside surface 30. The cladding board 12 also defines an inside flange 36 protruding from the board body 29 at the board body second side 28. The inside flange 36 is recessed relative to the outside surface 30 and is typically continuous with the inside surface 32. The inside and outside flanges 36 and 34 typically extend the whole length of the cladding board 12 between the two board body ends 22 and 24. The outside and inside flanges 34 and 36 extend only partially across the thickness of the cladding boards 12 and are configured to overlap when similar cladding boards 12 are laid side-by-side with their inside surfaces 32 substantially coplanar and with their outside surfaces 30 substantially coplanar, as seen in FIG. 5. Typically, the outside and inside flanges 34 and 36 of adjacent cladding boards 12 abut against each other when the cladding system 10 is installed at their overlapping surfaces. The inside and outside flanges 36 and 34 are configured and sized so that the outside surfaces 30 of adjacent cladding boards 12 are in continuity of each other once the cladding system 10 is installed. Typically, the inside and outside flanges 36 and 34 protrude laterally to the same extent from the board body 29.

In some embodiments, the outside flange 34 defines a flange ridge 35 protruding laterally outwardly therefrom, spaced apart from the inside and outside surfaces 32 and 30. Also, the cladding board 12 defines a flange receiving groove 37 at the board body side 28, located to receive thereinto the flange ridge 35 of an adjacent cladding board 12 when the cladding system 10 is secured to the building 13. The flange ridge 35 secures the cladding board 12 to an adjacent cladding board 12, preventing the board body side 26 on which it is located from moving away from the building 13, so that only the inside flange 36 of the cladding boards 12 needs to be secured to the building 13 to mount the cladding board 12. In alternative embodiments, the locations of the flange ridge 35 and flange receiving groove 37 are exchanged.

As seen from FIG. 5, the cross-section of the junction between two cladding boards 12 therefore defines a convoluted profile, which not only helps in securing the cladding boards 12 to each other, but also provide impermeability to this junction. Typically, the two adjacent cladding boards 12 abut against each other along most or all of their junction between the board body sides 26 and 28 of adjacent cladding boards 12. This junction starts with a first rectilinear segment 70 extending perpendicular to the outside surfaces 30. Then, a J-shaped segment 72 is present. The J-shaped segment 72 opens in a direction perpendicular to the first rectilinear segment 70, with the shorter leg of the J-shaped segment 72 extending from the first rectilinear segment 70, typically perpendicular thereto. Finally, a second rectilinear segment 74 extends from the longer portion of the J-shaped segment 72 to reach the inside surfaces 32.

In some embodiments, the inside flange 36 defines an elongated flange groove 38 extending longitudinally and facing outwardly when the cladding board 12 is secured to the building 13, and extending typically along the whole length of the cladding board 12, opposed to the inside surface 32. The flange groove 38 provides a recessed portion in the outside facing surface of the inside flange 36. The cladding boards 12 can be mounted to buildings 13 by screwing a screw through the inside flange 36 in register with the flange groove 38, so that suitably sized fasteners 85, for example screws, can have their head entirely received in the flange groove 38. Therefore, the outside flange 34 of an adjacent cladding board 12 can be mounted flush with the inside flange 36 without interference from such heads. In some embodiments, the fasteners 85 are directly screwed in the cladding boards 12. In other embodiments, mounting apertures 84 are drilled in the cladding boards 12 to facilitate insertion of the fasteners 85 therethrough.

The cladding board 12 is for example made of molded or extruded wood plastic composite, aluminum, polymers or metal, and may for example, be mostly empty inside to reduce material cost, with the presence of reinforcing ribs extending between outer walls thereof at suitable locations to improve rigidity. When extruded, as in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the cladding boards 12 have a substantially constant transversal cross-sectional configuration longitudinally therealong.

The various trims 14, 16, 18, 19, 20A, 20B, 21A and 21B are used to hide the ends of the cladding boards 12 at junctions therebetween, and they typically each include a trim inside element mountable to the underlying structure and a trim outside element mountable to the trim inside element, the trim outside element being configured and sized to overlap the adjacent ones of the cladding boards 12 adjacent their outside surfaces 30 when the trim 14, 16, 18, 19, 20A, 20B, 21A and 21B is inserted therebetween. Typically, the trim inside and outside elements are detached from each other prior to installation, so that the trim inside elements and cladding boards 12 can be all mounted to the building 13, followed by mounting of the trim outside elements to the trim inside elements. The trim inside elements each define one or more inside mounting member 46 and the trim outside elements each define one ore more outside mounting member 54 mountable to the inside mounting member 46, as further described hereinbelow. Variants of the trim inside and outside elements are further described below. When extruded, as in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the cladding boards 12 have a substantially constant transversal cross-sectional configuration longitudinally therealong.

The trims 14, 16, 18, 19, 20A, 20B, 21A and 21B are for example made of molded or extruded wood plastic composite, aluminum polymers or metal. When extruded, the trims 14, 16, 18, 19, 20A, 20B, 21A and 21B have a substantially constant transversal cross-sectional configuration longitudinally therealong.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 6A to 6C collectively, in some embodiments in which the cladding boards 12 are installed with their longitudinal axis extending horizontally, vertical board junction trims 18 are used at the junction between the board ends 22 and 24 of two cladding boards 12. The vertical board junction trims 18 include vertical junction trim internal and external elements 57 and 59. The vertical junction trim internal and external elements 57 and 59 define respectively pair of oppositely extending internal and external wings 44 and 52, pairwise in a common plane, so that the vertical junction trim 18 can be mounted to the flat surface of a wall on which cladding boards 12 are mounted end-to-end by screwing the internal wings 44 thereto. When the vertical board junction trims 18 are assembled, the internal and external wings 44 and 52 are parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other by a distance substantially similar to a thickness of the cladding boards 12. When the cladding system 10 is assembled, the board ends 22 and 24 of cladding boards 12 that are longitudinally aligned are received between the internal and external wings 44 and 52, with the inside mounting member 46 between the board ends 22 and 24.

Referring collectively to FIGS. 12, 3, 7A to 7C and 13A to 13B, in some embodiments, board end trims 20A and/or 20B are provided at the top or side of the cladding boards 12 or along the edge of windows, doors and other similar apertures. The board end trims 20A or 20B are substantially J-shaped, and open towards the cladding boards 12 when mounted to the building 13 to cover the board body ends 22 and 24 or board inside and outside flanges 36 and 34 that are installed at the top or around an aperture in the building 13. More specifically, the board end trims 20A include board end trim internal and external elements 64 and 66, and the board end trims 20B includes board end trim internal and external elements 64 and 62. The board end trim internal element 64 include an internal wing 44 from which an inside mounting member 46, described in further details below, extend perpendicularly at a bottom end thereof. The board end trim external elements 62 and 66 include an external wing 52 that extends parallel to the internal wing 44 and an outside mounting member 54, described in further details below, that extends perpendicularly to the external wing 52. the external wing 52 and outside mounting member 54 form an L-shape. The board end trim external element 20A also includes a second wing 51 extending parallel to the outside mounting member 54 and overlapping the inside mounting member 46 when the board end trim internal and external elements 64 and 66 are assembled.

Referring collectively to FIGS. 2, 8A to 8C and 9A to 9B, The single starting trim 21A and double starting trim 21B are used at the bottom of the cladding boards 12, adjacent the ground. The single starting trim 21A includes a single starting trim internal element 47 and a single starting trim external element 62, In some embodiments, the board end trim external element 62 and the single starting trim external element 62 are identical, but that is not the case in alternative embodiments of the invention. The double starting trims 21B includes a double starting trim internal element 45 and a double starting trim external element 62, which may also be substantially identical to the board end trim external element 62. The single and double starting trims 21A and 21B are similar to the board end trims 20B, except that a second internal wing 44 extends opposed to the inside mounting member 46. The difference between the single starting trim 21A and double starting trim 21B resides in the length of this additional wing 44, which is longer in the double starting trim 21B than in the single starting trim 21A.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 10A and 10B collectively, in some embodiments in which the cladding boards 12 are installed with their longitudinal axis extending vertically, horizontal board junction trims 19 including horizontal junction trim internal and external elements 57 and 62 are used at the junction between the board ends 22 and 24 of two cladding boards 12. The horizontal junction trim internal element 57 is substantially similar to the vertical junction trim internal element 57. However, the horizontal junction trim outside element 62 differs slightly from the vertical junction trim external element 59. Indeed, the horizontal junction trim outside element 62 is typically substantially similar to the single starting trim external element 62 and includes short and long wings 52′ and 52″. The short wing 52′ is pointing up and the long wing 52″ is pointing down when the horizontal board junction trim 19 is mounted to the building 13. The short wing 52′ is relatively short compared to the long wing 52″. In some embodiments, the The short wing 52′ defines a bevelled surface 55 facing upwardly and sloping away from the when the vertical junction trim internal element 57 when the horizontal board junction trim 19 is mounted to the building, so that water flowing down the cladding boards 12 when precipitations fall thereonto may be directed away from the junction between the cladding boards 12.

Referring collectively to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 11A to 11 C, the inside corner trim 14 includes elongated inside corner trim internal and external elements 40 and 42. The inside corner trim 14 is usable to hide the junction of cladding boards 12 at an inside corner of a building 13, that is a corner that is concave. The inside corner trim internal element 40 is securable to the building 13, using for example screws or any other suitable fastener 85. The inside corner trim external element 42 is mountable to the inside corner trim internal element 40 with the board body ends 22 or 24 or inside and outside flanges 36 and 34 of cladding boards 12 therebetween. More specifically, the inside corner trim internal element 40 defines a pair of substantially plate-shaped internal wings 44 extending typically at about 90 degrees relative to each other. The internal wings 44 abut against the walls of building 13 to which the cladding system 10 is mounted and are mounted thereto, using for example screws that are screwed through the internal wings 44 into a suitable structure of the building 13. The internal wings 44 may be angled at an angle that differs from 90 degrees if the building includes walls that merge with each other an angle that is not a 90 degrees corner. Similarly, the inside corner trim external element 42 defines a pair of substantially plate-shaped external wings 52 extending typically at about 90 degrees relative to each other. The external wings 52 are spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the internal wings 44, typically at a distance substantially similar to a thickness of the cladding boards 12, when the cladding system 10 is assembled. The external wings 52 are angled relative to each other at an angle that matches the relative angle between the internal wings 44.

Referring collectively to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 12A to 12C, the outside corner trim 16 includes elongated outside corner trim internal and external elements 58 and 60. The outside corner trim 16 is usable to hide the junction of cladding boards 12 at an outside corner of a building, that is a corner that is convex. The outside corner trim internal element 58 is securable to the building 13, using for example screws or any other suitable fastener 85. The outside corner trim external element 60 is mountable to the outside corner trim internal element 58 with the board ends 22 and 24 or inside and outside flanges 36 and 34 of adjacent cladding boards 12 therebetween. More specifically, the outside corner trim internal element 58 defines a pair of substantially plate-shaped internal wings 44 extending typically at about 90 degrees relative to each other. The internal wings 44 abut against the walls of building 13 to which the cladding system 10 is mounted and are mounted thereto, using for example screws that are screwed through the internal wings 44 into a suitable structure of the building 13. The internal wings 44 may be angled at an angle that differs from 90 degrees if the building includes walls that merge with each other an angle that is not a 90 degrees corner. Similarly, the outside corner trim external element 60 defines a pair of substantially plate-shaped external wings 52 extending typically at about 90 degrees relative to each other. The external wings 52 are spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the internal wings 44, typically at a distance substantially similar to a thickness of the cladding boards 12, when the cladding system 10 is assembled. The external wings 52 are angled relative to each other at an angle that matches the relative angle between the internal wings 44.

For all the trims, a longitudinally extending inside mounting member 46 extends at the junction of the internal wings 44, typically bisecting the latter, and facing outwardly when the internal wings 44 are mounted to the building 13. The inside mounting member 46 defines a longitudinally extending groove 48 extending thereinto, from its free end towards the intersection of the internal wings 44. Groove teeth 50 are defined in groove 48 and oriented to form a pair of facing corrugated profiles as a function of depth in the groove 48. Typically, the inside mounting member 46 extends along the whole length of the trims. However, inside mounting members 46 that extend along only part of the trims are within the scope of the invention. In yet other embodiments, the inside mounting member may be replaced by a plurality of relatively small mounting members longitudinally spaced apart along the trims.

An elongated substantially longitudinally extending outside mounting member 54 extends at the junction of the trim external wings 52, typically bisecting the latter, and facing inwardly when the trim internal wing 44 is mounted to the building 13. The outside mounting member 54 takes the form of one or more elongated element shaped complementarily to the groove 48 so as to be insertable thereinto. Mounting member teeth 56 are defined on the outside mounting member 54 and oriented to form a pair of opposed corrugated profiles. The mounting member teeth 56 and groove teeth 50 are complementarily shaped, typically oriented and shaped to that insertion of the outside mounting member 54 in the groove 48 is relatively easy, while removable therefrom is difficult or impossible without damage due to mechanical interference between the mounting member teeth 56 and groove teeth 50. This is achieved by having mounting member teeth 56 and groove teeth 50 that have one surface that slopes relative to the depth of the groove 48 and another surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the depth of the groove 48.

When two-part trims 14, 16, 18, 19, 20A, 20B, 21A and 21B are used to clad the building 13, only the internal components, including the internal wings 44 and the inside mounting member 46 are mounted, by screwing the internal wings 44 to the building. Then the cladding boards 12 are secured to building 13. For example, all the components of the cladding system 10 secured to the building 13 are secured using furring that has been properly secured to the remainder of the building 13. Finally, the external components, including the external wings 52 and the outside mounting member 54, are mounted to the internal components by inserting the outside mounting members 54 in the grooves 48, so that the board body ends 22 and 24 board body sides 26 and 28 are hidden from view. In addition to improving the aesthetic appeal of the cladding system 10, this use of internal and external components clipped to each other, in combination with the overlapping cladding boards 12, greatly reduces the likelihood that significant portions of rain or other precipitations will enter the space between the cladding boards 12 and the building 13 and cause water-related damage, such as rotting and mold problems.

The various components of the system 10 that can be mounted to the building 13 are provided with mounting apertures 84 extending therethrough at locations when a screw is used to install these components to the building 13, so that the screw can be inserted through the mounting aperture 84 before being fastened to the building 13 to avoid damaging the cladding boards 12. For example, the mounting apertures 84 extend through the internal wings 44, or through the inside flange 36, in the flange groove 38. In this latter case, the mounting apertures 84 are therefore recessed in the inside flange 36.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be readily appreciated that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the claims should not be limited by the exemplary embodiments, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cladding kit mountable to an underlying structure, the cladding kit comprising: a plurality of elongated cladding boards, each cladding board including a board body defining longitudinally opposed board body first and second ends, board body first and second sides extending therebetween and opposed inside and outside surfaces each delimited by the board body first and second ends and first and second sides, the outside surface being visible when the cladding boards have been operatively mounted to the underlying structure;an outside flange protruding from the board body at the board body first side, the outside flange being recessed relative to the inside surface;an inside flange protruding from the board body at the board body second side, the inside flange being recessed relative to the outside surface;wherein the inside and outside flanges are configured and sized so that the inside and outside flanges of two of the cladding boards from the plurality of cladding boards overlap when the two of the cladding boards are laid side-by-side with their outside surfaces substantially coplanar.

2. The cladding kit as defined in claim 1, wherein the inside flange defines an elongated groove extending longitudinally therealong and facing outwardly.

3. The cladding kit as defined in claim 1, wherein the inside flange defines fastener receiving apertures for receiving fasteners to secure the cladding boards to the underlying structure.

4. The cladding kit as defined in claim 3, wherein the fastener receiving apertures are in register with an elongated groove extending longitudinally along the inside flange opposed to the inside surface.

5. The cladding kit as defined in claim 3, wherein the fastener receiving apertures are recessed in the inside flange.

6. The cladding kit as defined in claim 5, wherein the inside and outside flanges have thicknesses such that the inside and outside flanges of the two of the cladding boards abut against each other when the two of the cladding boards are laid side-by-side with overlapping inside and outside flanges.

7. The cladding kit as defined in claim 1, wherein the inside and outside flanges protrude laterally to the same extent from the board body.

8. The cladding kit as defined in claim 1, wherein the outside flange defines a flange ridge protruding laterally outwardly therefrom, spaced apart from the inside and outside surfaces, and the cladding board defines a flange receiving groove at the board body second side configured and sized to receive thereinto the flange ridge of an adjacent one of the cladding boards.

9. The cladding kit as defined in claim 1, further comprising trims mountable between adjacent ones of the cladding boards, each trim including a trim inside element mountable to the underlying structure and a trim outside element mountable to the trim inside element, the trim outside element being configured and sized to overlap the adjacent ones of the cladding boards adjacent their outside surfaces when the trim is inserted therebetween, the trim inside and outside elements being detached from each other prior to installation.

10. The cladding kit as defined in claim 9, wherein the trim inside element defines an inside mounting member and the trim outside element defines an outside mounting member mountable to the inside mounting member.

11. The cladding kit as defined in claim 10, wherein one of the inside and outside mounting members defines a corrugated recess and an other one of the inside and outside mounting members defines a corrugated protrusion insertable in the corrugated recess, the corrugated protrusion and recess being configured and sized to that the corrugated protrusion is retained in the corrugated recess once received thereinto.

12. The cladding kit as defined in claim 11, wherein the corrugated recess and corrugated protrusion are corrugated such that removal of the corrugated protrusion from the corrugated recess requires a larger force than insertion of the corrugated protrusion in the corrugated recess.

13. The cladding kit as defined in claim 9, wherein the trims include end trims mountable between longitudinally adjacent cladding boards, inside corner trims mountable between two cladded surfaces forming an inside corner and outside corner trims mountable between two cladded surfaces forming an outside corner.

14. The cladding kit as defined in claim 9, wherein the trim outside elements include at least one external wing extending generally parallel to the underlying structure when the cladding kit is operatively mounted to the underlying structure.

15. The cladding kit as defined in claim 9, wherein the trim inside elements include at least one internal wing extending generally parallel to the underlying structure when the cladding kit is operatively mounted to the underlying structure.

16. The cladding kit as defined in claim 1, further comprising a starting trim defining a U-shaped recess for receiving the cladding boards at a perimeter of a cladded surface.

17. A cladding board mountable to an underlying structure, the cladding board comprising: a board body defining longitudinally opposed board body first and second ends, board body first and second sides extending therebetween and opposed inside and outside surfaces each delimited by the board body first and second ends and first and second sides, the outside surface being visible when the cladding boards have been laid;an outside flange protruding from the board body at the board body first side, the outside flange being recessed relative to the inside surface;an inside flange protruding from the board body at the board body second side, the inside flange being recessed relative to the outside surface;wherein the inside and outside flanges are configured and sized so that the inside flange of the cladding board overlaps the outside flange of a similar cladding board when the two cladding boards are laid side-by-side with their outside surfaces substantially coplanar.

18. A cladding system mounted to an underlying structure, comprising: a plurality of elongated cladding boards, each cladding board includinga board body defining longitudinally opposed board body first and second ends, board body first and second sides extending therebetween and opposed inside and outside surfaces each delimited by the board body first and second ends and first and second sides, the outside surface being visible when the cladding boards have been operatively mounted to the underlying structure;an outside flange protruding from the board body at the board body first side, the outside flange being recessed relative to the inside surface;an inside flange protruding from the board body at the board body second side, the inside flange being recessed relative to the outside surface;wherein the cladding boards are mounted side-by side with the their outside surfaces substantially coplanar and the outside flange of each of the cladding board overlapping the inside flange of an adjacent one of the cladding boards.

19. The cladding system as defined in claim 18, wherein a transversal profile of a junction between two adjacent ones of the cladding boards includes a first segment extending from the outside surface towards the inside surface, a second segment extending from the inside surface towards the outside surface, the first and second segment being laterally offset relative to each other, and a J-shaped intermediate segment extending between the first and second segments.

20. The cladding system as defined in claim 18, wherein the inside flange defines fastener receiving apertures for receiving fasteners to secure the cladding boards to the underlying structure, the fastener receiving apertures being recessed in the inside flange.