The present invention relates to roofing for buildings and the like, and in particular to a drip edge with a compliant fastener strip and related method.
Drip rails or edges are well known in the building industry, and typically comprise L-shaped sheet metal strips which are installed along the bottom edge of a roof to prevent rainwater and/or snow melt from leaking under the shingles or other roofing media. Without such protection around the perimeter of the building roof, capillary action between the roofing material and the roof structure, as well as high winds and other environmental conditions, will result in moisture collecting on the building structure, which ultimately results in leaks and degradation of the integrity of the roof.
One drawback associated with current drip edges is manifested during installation of the drip edge on an associated roof. Fasteners, such as nails or the like, are typically driven through the upper flange of the drip edge and into the roof underlayment to anchor the drip edge in place. As the fasteners are driven through the drip edge and into the roof structure, the normally flat shape of the upper flange becomes cupped and/or otherwise distorted, particularly in the areas around the heads of the fasteners. This distortion can be sufficiently severe to result in leakage. Also, the shank of the fastener does not normally seal well around the associated hole formed in the upper flange of the drip edge, even when the cupping and/or other distortion is not severe, thereby jeopardizing the sealing integrity of the drip edge. Accordingly, there exists the need for an improved drip edge, which addresses these concerns in a cost effective manner.
One aspect of the present invention is a building roof construction of the type having shingles overlying an upper surface of an associated roof, and fascia extending along a bottom edge of the roof. The building roof construction includes an improved drip edge, comprising an elongate, substantially rigid edge strip having a generally L-shaped lateral cross-sectional configuration defined by an upper flange having a forward portion thereof protruding outwardly from the bottom edge of the roof, a generally flat rearward portion thereof extending along and covering at least a portion of the upper surface of the roof adjacent the bottom edge thereof, and a lower flange disposed at a predetermined angle relative to the upper flange, extending vertically downwardly from the forward edge of the upper flange and covering the bottom edge of the roof and an adjacent portion of the fascia. The drip edge further includes a compliant fastener strip operably connected with the rearward portion of the upper flange and extending rearwardly away from the upper flange. The fastener strip has a flexible construction, which conforms with the underlying portion of the upper surface of the roof, and is adapted to receive fasteners therethrough which extend into the roof to anchor the drip edge in place, whereby deformation of the fastener strip during installation of the fasteners does not alter the flat shape of the upper flange, thereby alleviating leakage about the drip edge.
Another aspect of the present invention is a drip edge for building constructions of the type having shingles overlying an upper surface of an associated roof, and a fascia extending along a bottom edge of the roof. The drip edge includes an elongate, substantially rigid edge strip having a generally L-shaped lateral cross-sectional configuration defined by an upper flange having a forward portion thereof shaped to protrude outwardly from the bottom edge of the roof, a generally flat rearward portion thereof shaped to extend along and cover at least a portion of the upper surface of the roof adjacent the bottom edge thereof, and a lower flange disposed at a predetermined angle to the upper flange and shaped to extend vertically downwardly from the forward portion of the upper flange and cover the bottom edge of the roof and an adjacent portion of the fascia. The drip edge further includes a compliant fastener strip operably connected with the rearward portion of the upper flange and extending rearwardly away from the upper flange. The fastener strip has a flexible construction adapted to conform with the underlying portion of the upper surface of the roof, and configured to receive fasteners therethrough which extend into the roof to anchor the drip edge in place, whereby deformation of the fastener strip during installation of the fasteners does not alter the flat shape of the upper flange, thereby alleviating leakage around the drip edge.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method for roofing a building of the type having shingles overlying an upper surface of an associated roof, and a fascia extending along a bottom edge of the roof. The method includes forming an elongate, substantially rigid edge strip having a generally L-shaped lateral cross-sectional configuration defined by an upper flange having a forward portion thereof and a generally flat rearward portion thereof, and a lower flange disposed at a predetermined angle to the upper flange and shaped to extend vertically downwardly from the forward portion of the upper flange. The method further includes forming a compliant fastener strip having a flexible construction, which conforms with the underlying portion of the upper surface of the roof, and is adapted to receive fasteners therethrough. The method further includes operably connecting the fastener strip with the rearward portion of the upper flange, such that the fastener strip extends away from the upper flange. The method further includes positioning the drip edge over the bottom edge of the roof, such that the forward portion of the upper flange protrudes outwardly from the bottom edge of the roof, the flat portion of the upper flange extends along and covers at least a portion of the upper surface of the roof adjacent the bottom edge thereof, and the lower flange extends vertically downwardly from the forward portion of the upper flange and covers the bottom edge of the roof and an adjacent portion of the fascia. The method further includes driving fasteners through the fastener strip and into the roof to anchor the drip edge in place, whereby deformation of the fastener strip during installation of the fasteners does not alter the flat shape of the upper flange, thereby alleviating leakage about the drip edge.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method for making a drip edge for building roofs of the type having shingles overlying an upper surface of an associated roof, and a fascia extending along a bottom edge of the roof. The method includes forming an elongate, substantially rigid edge strip having a generally L-shaped lateral cross-sectional configuration defined by an upper flange having a forward portion thereof and a generally flat rearward portion thereof, and a lower flange disposed at a predetermined angle to the upper flange and shaped to extend vertically downwardly from the forward portion of the upper flange. The method further includes forming a compliant fastener strip having a flexible construction, which conforms with the underlying portion of the upper surface of the roof, and is adapted to receive fasteners therethrough. The method further includes operably connecting the fastener strip with the rearward portion of the upper flange, such that the fastener strip extends away from the upper flange, and covers at least a portion of the upper surface of the roof adjacent the bottom edge thereof, with the lower flange extending vertically downwardly from the forward portion of the upper flange and covering the bottom edge of the roof and an adjacent portion of the fascia, whereby deformation of the fastener strip during installation of the fasteners does not alter the flat shape of the upper flange, thereby alleviating leakage about the drip edge.
The drip edge and related method are efficient in use, economical to manufacture and install, capable of a long operating life, and particularly well adapted for the proposed use.
These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.
For purposes of description herein the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “rear”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
The reference numeral 1 (
The illustrated roof 2 has a conventional construction, wherein sheets of underlayment 18 made from plywood, composite board or the like are supported on angled rafters 19. In the illustrated example, the fascia 5 is in the form of a board, which extends along the bottom edge 6 of roof 2 in a generally vertical orientation.
In the illustrated example the edge strip portion 7 of drip edge 1 has a one-piece construction, and is preferably roll formed from a strip of sheet metal, such as steel, aluminum or the like. As best illustrated in
In the illustrated example, the fastener strip portion 12 of drip edge 1 is constructed from a flexible sheet containing a glass fiber material or other weather resistant compositions.
Fastener strip 12 is sufficiently compliant to mate closely with the upper surface 4 of roof 2, and is adapted to permit fasteners 13 to penetrate therethrough and into the adjacent upper surface 4 of roof 2.
The illustrated fastener strip portion 12 is attached to the lower surface of the upper flange 8 of edge strip portion 7 along the rearward portion of upper flange 8. Preferably, the connection between fastener strip portion 12 and edge strip portion 7 is continuous along drip edge 1, so as to form a seal therebetween. In the example shown in
As noted above, the fastener strip portion 12 of drip edge 1 is formed from a flexible, compliant material, which may include a woven fiberglass scrim, layers of fiberglass or other inorganic threads or fibers. Adhesive 28 is selected particularly to securely attach the selected type of fastener strip material to the edge strip portion 7 of drip edge 1.
The edge strip portion 7 of drip edge 1 may be constructed from aluminum or other similar alloys, and can be formed by continuous roll form, stamping, press brake or other similar techniques.
In one working embodiment of the present invention, upper flange 8 has a width in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 inches, and may be provided in any suitable length. In the working embodiment, fastener strip 12 has a width in the range of 1.00 to 3.00 inches, and preferably around 2.00 inches, and may be provided in any suitable length corresponding to the length of edge strip 7.
In use, drip edge 1 is installed on roof 2 in the following manner. The lower flange 11 of edge strip 7 is positioned flush along the exterior surface of fascia 5 in the manner illustrated in
In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.