Patent Application
20180209153
This invention relates to the field of roof construction, in which devices that reduce or prevent wind damage and moisture preventive devices and techniques are used for roofing assembly and repair. More specifically, the field of invention relates to devices which prevent lifting of shingles at the edge of the roof, and which additionally divert water flow off the roof and away from the walls of roofing structures. In particular, the devices of the invention provide an integrated combination of one or more drip edges with a starter strip for laying of roof shingles which secures the edge of the shingles to reduce wind penetration beneath the edges. The field of technical applicability also embraces methods of preventing moisture damage to a roof include incorporating the aforementioned devices during installation or repair.
The essential purpose of a roof is to protect the internal area of the building structure from the elements, i.e. wind, rain, snow and ice. Shingles are applied to a roofing baseboard or underlayment layer in layered fashion to build up the exterior, weather-resistant surface of the roof. To lay shingles, an initial layer is laid on the baseboard along the edge of a roof eave, usually on a glue coated starter strip attached to the baseboard at the edge. A layer of glue is further applied to the upper section of each of the laid shingles. Over this glue surface is laid another shingle such that the portion to which the glue was applied is covered by the lower surface of the second row shingle, while the portion of the first row to which no glue was applied remains exposed. In this fashion, layer after layer of shingle layers are laid until the entire roofing underlayment is covered with shingles. The glue under each shingle holds the layered shingles together. The gluing of shingles prevents the wind from penetrating beneath the shingle and lifting the shingle off the roof. However, the first, edge layer does not have the benefit of being glued to other shingles on the lower surface. Accordingly, in heavy winds, this is the first area of the roof to experience wind damage beneath the eave. The wind damage can remove the shingles and expose the roof elements to water damage. Apart from the obvious damage caused by this direct contact of the elements with the building's inner walls and contents, a buildup of moisture can also attract and harbor pests, including wild animals, birds and termites which cause long lasting and severe structural damage. Preventive means for dispelling water or preventing water accumulation on or below the roof surface are therefore an essential component of the building construction. Most North American residential building structures have roofs that are constructed with shingles laid over base boards mounted over a wood frame formed with standard framing planks. In other parts of the world most roof construction is composed of ceramic tiles. Other roofing materials are selected from natural materials, such as wood fibers, metals like aluminum and tin or copper alloys, slab materials such as concrete, or tiles such as slate. Often, the latter materials, which are more durable, are used most in commercial buildings in the United States; however the greatest proportion of residential roofs are constructed of asphalt or composite shingles.
Generally, the elements of a shingled roof include as a first, inner layer an underlayment made of a waterproof or sweat resistant membrane. This membrane is applied on top of solid wood sheeting such as plywood board. The membrane thus serves as a water barrier, a protective layer against heat buildup beneath the roof and it may also serve as a vapor barrier. In some instances, a specially coated paper may serve all these purposes. Shingles, or tiles, are laid in overlapping layers on top of the underlayment to form the outermost surface of the roof. The shingles are laid so that at least a portion of each layer is overlapped by a portion of the next superimposed layer. Flashing is applied over the finished roof surface. This element usually consists of pieces of metal that are installed over areas of the roof where water may tend to pool or collect, such as in the hips (joints between roofing panels) and valleys, which are the lowest points of an angled roof. In addition to the foregoing elements, trim is installed after the main body of the roof is put in place. The trim is composed of narrow strips of material that are applied over seams in the roof, for example at the hip or along the ridge, which extends along the highest point of a roof peak. Trim may also serve a decorative purpose.
Shingles are installed over all the surfaces and angles of the roof. Typically, they are formed of asphalt, asphalt composites or synthetic polymeric materials. The color and surface profile of shingles may vary. Roof profiles of shingled roofs may also vary. A hipped roof comprises hips, or high points where adjoining roof panels or sections meet. Gables are triangular, peaked structures that may be formed at the ends of a roof. A gable comprises an A-frame shape that extends from the eaves to the peak of the triangular peak. The eaves of a roof are the portions of the roof that extend over the side walls of the house. These are prime areas for runoff of water from the roof. It is critical that such runoff water be directed away from the side walls as water running down the sides will cause inordinate damage. Gutters are used to collect and channel the runoff. Flashing directs runoff in the central regions of the roof, but it is also necessary to direct runoff from the eaves, even in the areas where flashing or gutters are not in place. Drip edges are used in construction to direct the flow of water away from the building surfaces. A drip edge is required to be installed in flow communication with the building's gutters in the updated housing codes for new roofs. In this regard, the purpose of the drip edge is to protect the house surfaces, for example the fascia and siding, from water damage. However, while drip edges are known for use with gutters by diverting the roof runoff right into those structures, a solution remains necessary for diverting runoff from the edges of the roof at the eaves, where water can penetrate beneath the shingles at the eaves if not directed away.
There is therefore a need in the field of roof construction to prevent wind damage from gusts penetrating under and flipping or loosening the shingles at the edge of the roof, for example at the eaves. This is the predominant cause of storm-related roof damage. There is a further need for means that improve the direction of rainwater runoff from roof eaves by directing the accumulation of runoff from the roof and away from the building walls. Desirably, such a device and method should also minimize the amount of roofing materials, time and manpower needed to install the roof and improve runoff flow. The many pieces of roofing materials needed to construct a roof and necessary roof accessories increase the cost of installation as well as the time and number of personnel required to install all these parts. Non-exhaustive examples of these in the construction of a roof might include roofing base boards, usually of plywood, starter strips for starting the first row of shingles at the roof edge, flashing, gutters and downspouts and gutter covers. With respect to shingle installation, the shingles are laid in overlapping fashion, with each row partially overlapping the row laid adjacent to it. As such, an initial row of shingles must be installed and securely held in place as a base for the next overlapping layer. Installation of this starter row typically requires a starter strip at each edge of the roof as a separate device to be installed, adding to the time and expense relating to the construction. It is therefore desirable in the field of roofing construction to identify multi-functional devices that can meet several technical needs in one part. Such a need is met by the features of the claimed inventive concept.
The various embodiments of the invention comprises as elements one or more drip edges, a shingle starter strip flange and clip, which form a single, unitary device. In other embodiments the clip is a separate detachable device that is attached to the integrated drip edge starter strip. This type of clip can be replaced without removal of the starter strip or the drip edge. The components of the device according to the various embodiments described and contemplated in this disclosure include one or more functional drip edge elements. The device thus may comprise a starter strip flange having a substantially flat portion, wherein said substantially flat portion provides a starter strip for receiving a starter row of shingles at the edge of a roofing base to which the flange is attached; a clip element which formed from an upper extension of the drip edge which is angled perpendicularly over the surface of the substantially flat portion of the flange; and a lower extension of the drip edge which is angled in relation to the plane of the flange. The elongated starter strip flange extends along a length of the roof edge or eave. The integral clip, which is itself a termination of the starter strip flange, holds the starter shingles firmly in place and eliminates the need for installation of a separate starter strip. In addition, the gutter cover of the invention can be installed securely outer lip of the gutter without nails because of the tensioned spring closure by which it snaps over the gutter edge.
In one aspect, the invention comprises a drip edge starter strip device for installing roof shingles at the edge of a roof eave which protects said shingles and directs water runoff away from a roof edge comprising a vertically disposed drip edge that includes an upper edge and a lower edge; a spring action clip formed as an extension of the upper edge of the drip edge; a starter strip flange attached perpendicular to the drip edge, which comprises an extended flange portion that includes a first and a second opposed side edge each defining the width of said starter strip flange, and a front edge disposed between the first and second opposed side edges; wherein the distance between the drip edge and said front edge defines the length of the starter strip flange; and said starter strip flange provides a surface for laying a first row of roofing shingles across the width thereof at the edge of the roof eave; wherein the drip edge further comprises an upper portion extending above the starter strip flange and a lower portion extending below said starter strip flange; and wherein the spring action clip is disposed over the surface of the starter strip flange to define a receptacle area for receiving the edge of a roofing shingle. The inventive concept further includes a roofing system comprising elements to which the device is attached.
In another aspect, the invention comprises a unitary drip edge device for use in roofing construction, for example for preventing moisture damage from water runoff or from ice, snow or sleet, which comprises opposed and angularly connected drip edge starter strips. The angular connection of the starter strip flanges forms a peak having an angle that corresponds to the pitch angle formed by the panels of a roof peak over which the drip edge is to be installed. In this binary flange construction, each flange comprises a substantially flat portion that provides a starter strip for laying of a starter row of shingles at the edge of a roofing base to which that flange is attached; a clip element which comprises an extension which is angled perpendicularly over the surface of the flat portion of the flange; and an elongated drip edge which is angled in relation to the surface of the flange. In this configuration, the clip on one flange is contiguous with the clip on the opposing flange. In such embodiments, the clip again serves to anchor the starter row of shingles on either side of the roof peak without the need for installing a separate starter strip.
The invention further comprises methods of preventing wind penetration and damage beneath the starter layer of shingles at the edge of a roof, methods for directing water flow from a roof surface, and methods of protecting building surfaces from moisture damage. Further provided are methods of installing the devices of the invention on a building structure.
Some embodiments of the present invention provide one or more drip edges to facilitate runoff of water or condensate from a roof surface, combined with an integrally formed starter strip for underlayment of the first row of shingles deposited on the baseboard surface of the roof structure. The various embodiments of such a device may be installed at the edges of roof peaks to facilitate runoff. While roofs are usually installed in flow communication with a gutter that extends around the periphery of the roof, the drip edges of the invention are useful even when a gutter is not present.
As used herein, the term “substantially vertically positioned,” means that the vertical plane of the drip edge is approximately perpendicular and at right angles to the horizontal plane of the starter strip flange of the invention to which the drip edge is connected. At the distal unconnected end of the exemplary drip edge of the invention there is a lip that is disposed at a slight angle, preferably at an angle greater than 90° The device of the invention is connected directly to the roof underlayment of the building in which it is installed. Contiguous with the topmost end of the drip edge is a starter strip flange. This flange is formed as a planar element. It serves as an integrated starter strip that provides an anchor for the device beneath the roof surface and also serves as a stable point of attachment for the first row of shingles. This feature prevents the shingles closest to the roof edge from lifting during wind or rain and prevents water penetration beneath the edge. In roofing construction, typically a separate starter strip must be purchased or provided as part of roofing system kits. However, the current invention eliminates the need to purchase a separate starter strip. Since it is offers one unitary piece for installation, the invention also saves time and manpower in the construction of the roof. At the end of the starter strip flange and proximal to the drip edge, the device further includes a flexible spring action clip. The clip in certain embodiments is approximately U-shaped, either as an angled U-configuration or as a more rounded or claw-like feature. The upper wall of the clip is parallel to the planar surface of the starter strip flange, which also forms the lower wall of the clip. The receptacle area between these upper and lower walls is sized to accommodate the edge width of a standard roof shingle as received by the clip edge. The width of the receptacle area between the upper wall and the lower wall is sized to accommodate the thickness of the shingle installed in the starter row. This width is varied by the spring-like action of the upper wall of the clip in relation to the surface of the starter strip flange. The spring action clip has some degree of flexibility to allow for minor variations in thickness of the shingles and also to allow the clip to flex open slightly to receive the edge of the shingle and then grip the shingle tightly after it is inserted.
The devices of the invention do not require installation with a gutter or any flow communication with a gutter. However, depending on the roof configuration, runoff from the drip edge lip may be aligned to channel into a gutter or other catchment apparatus installed in relation to the roof. The extended starter strip flange provides a more secure attachment to the roof; and thus eliminates the need for a separate starter strip. Moreover, the spring action clip element secures the starter row of shingles at their vulnerable point of attachment. Not only is water prevented from contacting the building side walls, the gap can be kept rodent free and otherwise bar the entry of wild animals, birds and other pests. The devices of the invention are safer, easier and cheaper to install when installation is performed at the time a new roof is being installed. The cost of providing securely anchored and multifunctional gutter covers is reduced to much less than the cost for installing conventional gutters with covers after the roof has already been built.
In construction, the flange end of the device is attached, for example by nailing or stapling, to the exposed roofing boards. The roofing board underlayment is typically of plywood or similar material. The device may be formed with one or more nail holes for points of attachment. The device is positioned with the drip edge hanging downward from the edge of a roof eave or peak and then attached at the starter strip flange to the roofing board underlayment. The clip is thus positioned at the edge of the eave to receive the shingles. Installation of roof shingles is then commenced by laying the first row of shingles and attaching them with roofing nails over the starter strip. The starter strip flange may optionally include an adhesive layer at the free edge thereof to further secure the starter row of shingles. Use of the starter strip flange eliminates the need for purchasing and installing a separate starter strip.
In certain embodiments of the invention there is provided a combination drip edge and starter strip which is installed at the edge of a roof peak. In this regard as shown in
In the perspective view of the embodiment of
In
In the embodiment of
The drip edges of the invention are desirably formed from a substantially impermeable or impervious material such as metal, composite or polymer material, which is rigid yet at the same time possesses some flexibility to allow for operation of the hinges and the spring action closures. Preferably the devices, especially those at the roof peak installations are designed to match or approximate the color of the roof shingles to blend in appearance and not create a visual interruption at the roof line.
The foregoing description of specific embodiments is not intended to be limiting on the scope of this disclosure, but rather to be illustrative of the broad concepts embodied by this invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention contemplates the various embodiments of the invention herein described as well as equivalents thereof. Those or ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the scope of this invention should be measured by the attached claims as well as by the embodiments herein described.
The devices of the invention have applicability in the field of building construction, in particular in the field of roof erection, repair and replacement. In its various embodiments, the device may be used as moisture barrier materials and in methods of abating undesirable moisture buildup and facilitating runoff from the roofs of buildings, especially residential buildings.
