The present invention relates to devices for protecting the bottom edge of exterior sheathing on a structure at the point where it adjoins the foundation of the structure and more particularly to a foundation sill screed for installation at the sill plate to provide moisture control and protection against moisture penetration and pest infestation.
Due to its inherent durability and ability to incorporate aesthetically pleasing colors textures and colors, stucco is frequently used in the construction of buildings. The stucco is used to form the exterior wall surface above the stem wall of the foundation. The stem wall, which is typically not constructed to be aesthetically appealing, is therefore normally left exposed and uncovered. When finishing buildings with stucco, it becomes necessary to establish a horizontal and straight lower edge on the stucco.
The foundation includes a footer, which is buried in the ground, and a stem wall extending upwards from the footer. A sill plate or “mud sill” typically is provided at the top of the stem wall. The sill plate serves as the bottom horizontal member of the framed portion of the building and supports the wall studs and other portions of the frame. The outer edges of the wall studs are typically aligned even with the outer surface of the stem wall. For buildings finished with stucco, a shear panel is then typically secured to the wall studs to stabilize and strengthen the walls. Since the shear panel is secured to the wall studs and the wall studs are flush with the outer surface of the stem wall, the shear panel therefore extends outward from the stem wall by an amount equal to the thickness of the shear panel.
Weep screeds are typically produced in long lengths of 10 feet or more and are commonly used to establish a straight and horizontal lower edge on the stucco layer of a building. The weep screed provides reinforcement for stucco at or below the foundation sill plate line of the building and protects the sill plate from penetration of moisture.
Although the weep screeds of the prior art provide reinforcement for stucco, as a result of being installed incorrectly, they frequently do not properly protect the sill plate area from being infiltrated by moisture. This is mainly a result of improper installation techniques. Some installers are not adequately trained in the proper procedures for installing weep screeds and this can lead to open pathways for the inward seepage of moisture or water. What is needed therefore is a foundation sill screed that can be easily and accurately positioned to protect the sill plate against penetration by moisture.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a foundation sill screed with an alignment guide to enable quick and accurate installation so that the plate line or stem wall is adequately protected against moisture penetration and pest infestation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a foundation sill screed with a tapered nailing flange to mask the juncture of the screed with the wall.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a foundation sill screed with a bottom lip that enables compressive sealing against the outer surface of the stem wall.
According to the present invention there is provided a foundation sill screed with a vertical flange having a top end and a bottom end and a thickness that is tapered from a minimum at the top end to a maximum at the bottom end. The foundation sill screed includes a first leg extending downwardly and outwardly from the bottom end of the vertical flange, a second leg extending downwardly and inwardly from the stucco ledge, and a lip extending downwardly and inwardly from the inwardly extending member. The foundation sill screed includes a floor line alignment guide extending longitudinally along the vertical flange to provide accurate positioning of the foundation sill screed with respect to the sill plate of a building in order to properly protect the sill plate against moisture penetration and pest infestation.
The following is a listing of part numbers used in the drawings along with a brief description:
With reference to
As shown in
Referring to
With reference to the top view of the foundation sill screed 20 in
With reference to
Preferably second leg 32 extends inward beyond vertical flange 22 as shown in
While the foundation sill screed 20 of the present invention can be manufactured from a wide variety of materials including metals such as aluminum or copper, it is preferred for purposes of cost and ease of manufacture that it be fabricated from an extrudable polymeric material such as polyvinyl chloride or the like.
As the invention has been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same may be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Any and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country |
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