This invention relates to the application of stucco or plaster in homes or other buildings and specifically to an expansion/control joint used to relieve stress and limit or control cracking in a stucco or plaster wall or surface caused by stucco or plaster shrinkage and thermal movement in the stucco or plaster wall or surface.
Stucco and/or plaster are typically used for both interior and exterior surfaces in home or commercial building construction. Stucco or plaster is routinely applied to a galvanized wire mesh over felt paper which has been attached to underlying plywood or other sheathing material. In order to relieve stress and limit or control cracking in a stucco or a plaster surface, expansion/control joints are typically provided in the stucco or plaster surface every 144 square feet of stucco or plaster surface.
A makeshift expansion/control joint is often used for this purpose. The makeshift expansion/control joint comprises two plaster stops, e.g., a first plaster stop and a second plaster stop, which are positioned adjacent to each other and face opposite directions from each other. Each of the plaster stops generally comprise a perforated plastic strip approximately 2 inches wide with a plaster lip or edge acting to contain the stucco or plaster. The first plaster stop is typically installed approximately ¼ inch away from the second plaster stop with the back of the plaster lip of the first plaster stop facing the back of the plaster lip of the second plaster stop, leaving a gap between the hack of the plaster lip of the first plaster stop and the back of the plaster lip of the second plaster stop. In order to provide a complete finish, a worker must install a backer rod into the gap and then apply a finishing layer of caulk in the gap and over the backer rod. This process, which is used by some builders to prevent leaks, is very time consuming.
This method of stucco installation has often resulted in leaking problems between adjacent stucco or plaster surfaces, thereby causing significant additional repair costs and frustration to both home owners and construction companies. In addition, the extra time and materials necessary for installation of the backer rod and finishing caulk layer can add considerably to the costs and duration of the construction.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an expansion/control joint for use within at least one of a stucco and plaster wall. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The expansion/control joint for use within at least one of a stucco and plaster wall has a first base panel having a first stucco stop wall formed on the first base panel and extending from the first base panel. A second base panel has a second stucco stop wall formed on the second base panel and extends from the second base panel. The second stucco stop wall is positioned spaced a distance from the first stucco stop wall. A single expansion joint is connected between the first and second stucco stop walls and extends the spaced distance between the first and second stucco stop walls.
The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing an expansion/control joint for use within at least one of a stucco and plaster wall. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the joint, among others, can be implemented as follows. The expansion/control joint for use within at least one of a stucco and plaster wall has first base panel having a first stucco stop wall formed on the first base panel and extending from the first base panel. A second base panel has a second stucco stop wall formed on the second base panel and extends from the second base panel. The second stucco stop wall is positioned spaced a distance from the first stucco stop wall. The first and second base panels are affixed to a backing within the wall, wherein the first and second stucco stop walls extend outwardly from the wall, and wherein at least one layer of at least one of stucco and plaster is positioned over the first and second base panels. A single expansion joint is connected between the first and second stucco stop walls and extends the spaced distance between the first and second stucco stop walls. A bond breaking tape and quantity of caulk are positioned within the spaced distance exterior of the single expansion joint, wherein an exterior surface of the quantity of caulk is positioned in substantial alignment with an exterior surface of the at least one layer of at least one of stucco and plaster positioned over the first and second base panels.
The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing an expansion/control joint used to separate stucco or plaster material during application of the stucco or plaster material to a wall into sub-portions, and to relieve stress and limit or control cracking in a stucco or plaster wall or surface caused by stucco or plaster shrinkage and thermal movement in the stucco or plaster wall or surface. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the joint, among others, can be implemented as follows. An expansion/control joint is used to separate stucco or plaster material during application of the stucco or plaster material to a wall into sub-portions, and to relieve stress and limit or control cracking in a stucco or plaster wall or surface caused by stucco or plaster shrinkage and thermal movement in the stucco or plaster wall or surface. The expansion/control joint has: a first base panel having a front face, a first stucco stop wall formed on the first base panel and extending outwardly above the front face of the first base panel, the first stucco stop wall having a first side and a second side, the first side of the first stucco stop wall having an engaging surface for engaging plaster or stucco material, a second base panel having a front face, a second stucco stop wall formed on the second base panel and extending outwardly above the front face of the second base panel, the second stucco stop wall having a first side and a second side, the first side of the second stucco stop wall having an engaging surface for engaging plaster or stucco material, a single expansion/contraction member extending between the second side of the first stucco stop wall of the first base panel and the second side of the second stucco stop wall of the second base panel for relieving stress and controlling cracks in stucco or plaster surfaces, the expansion/contraction member being flexible to permit movement of the expansion/contraction member responsive to weather induced movement of the stucco or plaster material, the expansion/contraction member comprising a. single flexible panel extending between the second sides of the first and second stucco stop walls, the single flexible panel forming in conjunction with the second sides of the first and second stucco stop walls a flexible slot extending along and between the second sides of the first and second stucco stop walls which flexes to accommodate expansion and contraction of the stucco or plaster material, a caulk receiving area formed between the second sides of the first and second stucco stop walls and above the upper panel of the expansion/contraction member for receiving caulk, the upper panel of the expansion/contraction member having an upper end portion having an outer surface, and bond-breaking tape mounted on the outer surface of the upper end portion of the upper panel of the expansion/contraction member the first stucco stop wall having an upper end portion and a flange formed in its upper end portion to assist in containing stucco or plaster material, the flange extending laterally away from the first stucco stop wall and over the first base panel, and the flange of the first stucco stop wall having an upper outer surface, the second stucco stop wall having an upper end portion and a flange formed in its upper end portion to assist in containing stucco or plaster material, the flange extending laterally away from the second stucco stop wall and over the second base panel, and the flange of the second stucco stop wall having an upper outer surface, and further including a strip of removable tape applied to the upper outer surface of the flange of the first stucco stop wall and to the upper outer surface of the flange of the second stucco stop wall and extending over the channel between the first and second stucco stop walls such that the removable tape covers the channel between the first and second stucco stop walls to prevent dirt, stucco, plaster, and the like from entering the channel during installation of the stucco or plaster material.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
To improve upon the conventional makeshift control/expansion joints, various improvements have been proposed.
The expansion/control joint 2 also includes a second base panel 31 having a front face 33 over which plaster or stucco material 4,5 is applied after the expansion/control joint 2 is mounted in place on the hacking wall or surface 11. A stucco stop wall 35 is formed on the second base panel 31 and extends outwardly above the front face 33 of the second base panel 31, and the stucco stop wall 35 has a first side 37 and a second side 39. The first side 37 of the stucco stop wall 35 has an engaging surface for engaging plaster or stucco material. Preferably, the stucco stop wall 35 has a flange or return 41 formed on its upper end portion 43 to assist in containing plaster or stucco, with the flange 41 having a first portion 45 that extends laterally away from the stucco stop wall 35 and over the second base panel 31 and a second portion 47 extending from the first portion 45 downwardly toward the second base panel 31.
The expansion/control joint 2 also includes an expansion/contraction portion 49 extending between the second side 21 of the stucco stop wall 17 of the first base panel 13 and the second side 39 of the stucco stop wall 35 of the second base panel 31 for relieving stress and limiting or controlling cracking in stucco or plaster walls or surfaces. In the first exemplary embodiment, the expansion/contraction portion 49 comprises two panels 51 and 53 extending between the second sides 21 and 39 of the stucco stop walls 17 and 35 forming a hollow tube extending along and between the stucco stop walls 17 and 35, and preferably, the each panel 51 and 53 bows slightly upwardly such that force placed thereon due to expansion of the stucco or plaster wall or surface facilitates flexing of the panels 51 and 53 to permit the two stucco stop walls 17 and 35 to move closer to each other in response to expansion forces placed on the expansion/control joint 2 by the stucco or plaster walls or surfaces in contact with the expansion/control joint 2, and such that force placed thereon due to contraction of the stucco or plaster wall or surface tends to straighten the panels 51 and 53 to permit the two stucco stop walls 17 and 35 to move away from each other in response to contraction forces placed on the expansion/control joint 2 by the stucco or plaster walls or surfaces in contact with the expansion/control joint 2.
The expansion/contraction portion 49 may be comprised of a flexible, preferably resilient, material, such as a plastic or a polymer such as flexible vinyl, which is preferably a flexible exterior grade vinyl, metal, or similar material, which may be formed by co-extruding the expansion/contraction portion 49 with the remainder of the expansion/control joint 2. Accordingly, the expansion/control joint 2 may be formed from a material that is compatible for co-extrusion with the material that is used for the base panels 13 and 31 and the stucco stop walls 17 and 35, such as a rigid exterior grade vinyl which is compatible with a flexible exterior grade vinyl if a flexible exterior grade vinyl is used for the expansion/contraction portion 49, or a rigid metal with a flexible metal compatible to the rigid metal if a flexible metal is used for the expansion/contraction portion 49. Also, the expansion/control joint 2 preferably is extruded as one piece.
Also, preferably, a strip of bond-breaking tape 55 is affixed to the upper surface of the upper panel 51, to hinder caulk 6 that is applied in the channel 59 between the two second sides 21 and 39 of the stucco stop walls 17 and 35 from bonding to the upper surface of the upper panel 51, such that the caulk 6 adheres only to the two opposing second sides 21 and 39 of the two stucco stop walls 17 and 35 and not to the upper panel 51. The bond-breaking tape 55 hinders formation of a bond between the caulk 6 and the bond-breaking tape 55.
With the bond-breaking tape 55 in place on the upper surface of the upper panel 51, the caulk 6 positioned within the channel 59 (not shown in
While the expansion/control joint 2 may have various sizes, in one example it may be about 4 inches wide and about ¾ inches high (at the top of the stucco stop walls 17 and 35), and the width of the expansion/contraction portion 49 preferably is ¼ inch to ½ inch and more preferably ⅜ inch. Also, the distance from the top of the expansion/contraction portion 49 to the top of the stucco stop walls 17 and 35 preferably is ¼ inch.
It is noted that the base panels 13 and 31, which preferably have perforations 63 formed therein, arc nailed or otherwise attached to the backing wall 11. The two higher lip parts of the joint 2 contain the stucco or plaster. The expansion portion 49 of the expansion/control joint 2 eliminates the need for a hacker rod, thereby cutting down on both leaks and installation time. During an extrusion process for manufacturing of the expansion/control joint 2, preferably the bond-breaking tape 55 and the removable strip of tape 61 are applied to the expansion/control joint 2 as the expansion/control joint 2 exits the extruder.
In use, the expansion/control joint 2 is mounted to a backing wall or surface 11 over, behind, or adjacent to a wire mesh layer 3 of galvanized wire which is anchored to the backing wall or surface 11 over felt paper 1. Plaster or stucco material 4, 5 is applied to the wall or surface 11 and kept separate into sub-portions typically having an area of 144 square feet or less by one or more expansion/control joints 2. Caulk 6 is applied in the channel 59 of the expansion/control joint 2 to seal between adjacent second sides 21 and 39 of the stucco stop walls 17 and 35 of the expansion/control joint 2 and to provide a neat finish.
Because the expansion/contraction portion 49 of the expansion/control joint 2 is flexible and preferably resilient, it permits the stucco or plaster wall or surface 65 to expand and contract, thereby relieving stress and limiting or controlling cracking in the stucco or plaster wall or surface 65 caused by stucco or plaster shrinkage and thermal movement in the stucco or plaster wall or surface 65.
As is shown in
The use of only a single panel 153, as opposed to two panels per the first exemplary embodiment, may reduce the manufacturing costs of the expansion/control joint 102 by providing easier extruding of the structure or easier manufacturing by other means. Further, the single panel 153 may still be capable of connecting the first and second stucco stop walls 117, 135 while allowing them to flex, as needed. Instead of forming a hollow tube extending along and between the stucco stop walls 117 and 135, the use of the single panel 153 may allow for an open channel to he created above the single panel 153 and a closed channel below the single panel 153, where the closed channel abuts a wall surface and where the open channel can receive a bond breaking tape 55 and caulk 6 when the product is installed, as shown in
It is noted that the single panel 153 may be constructed from the same material as the stucco stop walls 117, 135 and the base panels 113, 131 or it may be constructed from a different material, or a similar material with different structural properties. For example, it may be advantageous to form the single panel 153 from a vinyl material which is more flexible than a vinyl material used to form the stucco stop walls 117, 135 and the base panels 113, 131. In this example, the additional flexibility of the single panel 153 may be achieved through a different vinyl composition for the single panel 153, a smaller thickness of the single panel 153, or another manufacturing or structural difference. As shown in
Additionally, the continuous arced path or circular curvature of the flanges 123, 141 minimizes the portions of the flanges 123, 141 that will be visible along the exterior of the finished stucco wall. For example, only the very distal points of the flanges 123, 141, e.g., along the distal edges of the curve, may be visible when the finished stucco coat is applied, which acts to reduce the unsightly nature of the expansion/control joint 102 and allows installers to use color-neutral expansion/control joints 102 instead of needing to match a finished color of the wall. The flanges 123, 141 may include different shapes, curvatures, and dimensions, including curved flanges 123, 141 with differing radii.
The use of the rounded edges 225 and the angular flanges 260, 262 may allow for a better finish of the stucco or plaster wall, while providing sufficient structural integrity for the stucco or plaster joint and the interface between the stucco or plaster material 4, 5 (
Similar to
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present disclosure and protected by the following claims.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/444,670 entitled, “Expansion/Control Joint for Stucco Surfaces” filed Jan. 10, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62444670 | Jan 2017 | US |