Fascia sections with interfitting parts for building walls

[57] ABSTRACT

A fascia adapted to be mounted on a support on a side of a building adjacent to the roof. The fascia consists of sections each of which is adapted to be slidably engaged on the support and terminates at one end in a flap for fixing the section to the support. The flap is curved where it is connected to the main part of the section to form a recess for receiving an opposite end of a second fascia section. When in place, the opposite end of the second fascia section covers the flap on the first section to present a pleasing continuous appearance. Because each of the sections is fixed by one end only to the support, the sections are free to expand and contract both longitudinally and transversely with temperature changes.

Claims, 6 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED JUL 4 1972

3,673,748

SHEET 1 OF 3

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FIG. 1

INVENTOR.

EDWARD P. MINIALOFF

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PATENTED JUL 41972

3,673,748

SHEET 2 OF 3

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<img file="US3673748A_D0005.tif" />

PATENTED JUL 4 1972

3,673,748

SHEET 3 OF 3

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3,673,748

FASCIA SECTIONS WITH INTERFITTING PARTS FOR BUILDING WALLS

This invention relates to a prefabricated fascia for use on buildings.

Fascias are commonly used to protect the joint between the roof and the wall but are also used as a decorative finish. Conventional fascias usually consist of boards of wood and the like attached about the edge of the roof by nails or other similar fasteners and covered by a metal flashing which is in turn nailed to the boards. A serious disadvantage of this arrangement is that the flashing distorts due to temperature fluctuations and tends to loosen the fascia off the building. Also if the fascia must be removed for repairs to the roof, there are numerous fasteners to remove and replace.

Objects of the present invention include providing a fascia which permits free expansion and contraction and which can be removed for repairs relatively easily.

In its preferred form the present invention provides a fascia which includes a support adapted to be mounted on the side of a building adjacent the roof, and fascia sections each of which is adapted to be slidably engaged on the support. Each section terminates at one end in a flap for fixing the section to the support. The flap is curved where it is connected to the main part of the section to form a recess for receiving an opposite end of a second fascia section. When in place the opposite end of the second fascia section covers the flap on the first section to present a pleasing continuous appearance. Because each of the sections is fixed by one end only to the support, the sections are free to expand and contract both longitudinally and transversely with temperature changes.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a fascia according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first element of the fascia section;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second element of the fascia section;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional plan view of a plurality of fascia sections as they would be arranged about a comer of a building;

FIG. 5 is a sectional end view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing a further embodiment of the invention.

As seen in FIG. 1 a fascia section 10 is coupled to a support 12 which includes an elongated water stop 14 and an elongated drip strip 16. The water stop 14 has a generally Tshaped section and the drip strip 16 has an L-shaped crosssection. Both the stop 14 and the strip 16 are attached by conventional fasteners to a board 18 which is in turn fixed to strapping members 20, 22 on a wall or roof 24. Roofing material 25 overlaps a portion of the water stop to waterproof the roof.

The fascia section 10 includes a contoured first element 26 and a generally flat second element 28. The element 26 is attached by a first flap 30 to the board 18 to locate the first element longitudinally, and the second element 28 is interfitted in the first element and attached by one of its ends to the support 12 as will be described. The element 26 is hung by an upper lip 32 on an upwardly extending flange 31 which is part of the water stop 14. A lower lip 34 locates the element 26 on a downwardly extending flange 35 on the drip strip 16. Similar lips are provided on the element 28. The flap 30 is curved where it is connected to a main part 37 of the element 26 to form a vertical or transverse recess 36 for receiving an end of an adjacent section corresponding to the end 38 of the section 10.

Reference is next made to FIGS. 1 and 2 with particular reference to FIG. 2 to describe the element 26 which includes an outer rectangular vertical panel 40 having its longest sides connected to respective inwardly diverging rectangular panels

42, 44. The panels 40, 42 and 44 are attached at their upper edges to an upper panel 46 and at their lower edges to a lower panel 48. Panels 46 and 48 are generally horizontal and terminate at their respective inner ends in the lips 32, 34 which can be bent inwardly about the water stop 14 and drip strip 16 to locate the element 26 slidably on the support 12. A Ushaped portion 52 defines the recess 36 and extends from the panel 42 terminating in flap 30, and the panel 44 has an inwardly extending second flap 54 which lies generally in the plane offlap 30. Second flap 54 is adapted to interlock with a second element such as element 28 as will be described.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 to describe element 28 which is generally flat and terminates at its upper and lower longitudinal sides in respective upper and lower lips 56,58 for attaching the element 28 to the water stop 14 and drip strip 16. A third flap 60 is attached to a vertical or transverse edge of the element 28 and extends in generally parallel relationship with the front face 62 of the element 28. The flap 60 is spaced from the face 62 sufficiently to permit the flap 54 (FIG. 2) of the element 26 to enter between the front face 62 and the flap 60 to interlock the elements 26, 28. Both elements 26, 28 are however free to expand and contract as will be explained. A tab or tabs 64 also extends from the transverse edge of the element 28 adjacent an upper side of the flap 60 so that when the element 28 is in position on the water stop 14, a nail or screw can be passed through a hole 66 in the tab 64, and into the board 18 to locate the element 28.

Reference is next made to FIG. 4 in which parts similar to those previously described are given primed and double primed numerals. Elements 26, 26' and 26 are interfitted with elements 28, 28' and 28 to form a fascia 68 about a comer of a building. The fascia 68 is assembled on the supports by placing element 28 on the support and passing a fastener through the tab hole 66 (FIG. 3) into the board 18. The element 28 must be positioned relative to the comer of the building such that there is just a little more than sufficient space for the next element 26 to be attached to the building. Element 26 is then positioned on the support 12 (FIG. 1) with second flap 54 behind the flap 60 on third element 28. The lips 32 and 34 (FIG. 2) are then bent about the water stop and drip strip respectively. Next the flap 30 is bent around the corner of the building and fastened to the board 18 (FIG. 1), and second flap 54' on the element 26' is bent to fit into recess 36 of the element 26 with element 26' adjacent element 26 but at 90° to it. Because the element 26' is fitted relatively loosely on the support it is possible to interfit elements 26,26' even if the comers of the building are not square and if the respective supports do not meet accurately at the comer. Element 26' is then attached by fasteners and by bending lips corresponding to lips 32,34 (FIG. 1) over the respective water stop and drip strip. Element 28' is then slipped onto the support and slid along the support until its end 38' engages in the recess 36'. Because of inaccuracies in the support caused by irregularities in the building structure, it is often necessary to adjust the position of the element 28' to level it. The present structure permits such levelling because the elements are a relatively loose fit on the support. Once the element 28' is level, a fastener is driven through the tab corresponding to tab 64 (FIG. 3) and into the board 18 to locate the element 28'. The element 26 can then be added followed by other elements such as 28 . If the length of fascia required is not divisible by a whole number of sections, the elements 28 can be shortened by cutting a little off their length at the vertical end opposite to the flap 60 to change the length of a section. It is important when assembling the elements to leave a small allowance between them for expansion. If the elements are butted together tightly there will be a tendency for the fascia sections to buckle with changes in temperature.

The element which completes the fascia can not be fastened to the support in the same way as the other elements. Consequently the last element is preferably a contoured element 26 which is relatively short and more rigid than the larger flat element 28. The last element 26 is positioned and the Ups 32, 34 are bent into place.

3,673,748

To facilitate assembly, notches or cut-outs can be made in the drip strip 16. Such a notch is indicated at 67 in FIG. 1. The notch permits the element 28 to be preformed with the lips 56, 58 in place and the element 28 is attached by hooking the lip 56 over the water stop 14 and sliding the element 28 along the support 12 and at the same time entering the lip 58 through the notch 68.

The fascia can be removed by reversing the assembly procedure described above with reference to FIG. 4. However it may be necessary to remove the fascia in an area remote from the element which completed the fascia. In this case a contoured element 26 is loosened by bending the lips 32, 34 (FIG. 2) preferably at a comer to expose a fastener in an adjacent element 28. Some force may be necessary to remove the fastener but if the elements 26, 28 are damaged they can either be repaired or replaced inexpensively. The other elements can then be removed by removing the fasteners and reversing the assembly procedure. However if there is a possibility of recurrent damage it would be advantageous to use screws for fastening the elements to facilitate removal.

If preferred, each section 10 can be manufactured as a single piece. Such a structure would however be less desirable because if the section is made up from two elements it will be possible to use different lengths for elements 28 while using one type of element 26. The sections can be made from any suitable material but are preferably made from metal sheeting coated with a plastic finish. The contoured element 26 can take many forms depending upon the desired external appearance and may be manufactured from several pieces glued together using epoxy type glues. Each element can also be formed from a single piece of material.

For smaller fascia depths, the water stop 14 may be made integrally with the drip strip 16 to further facilitate assembly of the support 12 on the building. Also in some cases the water stop 14 and the drip strip 16 may be attached directly to the wall or to the strapping members 20, 22. In general any structure which includes the flanges 31 and 35 will be suitable for receiving the fascia section 10.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show alternative support structures. As seen in FIG. 5, the roof has a small peripheral wall 69, and support 70 consisting of a water stop 72 and drip strip 74 which are attached to a board 76. The board may be any depth depending upon the depth of fascia required. Preferably the board is of plywood supported at about 16 inch centers by strapping members 78. The top of the wall 69 is covered by a horizontal portion 84 of the water stop 72 and a downwardly extending lip 86 extends from the portion 84 to locate on the inner side of the wall 69 and to limit the possibility of water entering below the portion 84.

As seen in FIG. 6 a further alternative support structure is provided for a roof 88 having a cant strip 90 at its periphery for elevating the edge of the roof waterproofing material 92. In this case a water stop 93 is provided which has a rearward and downwardly extending lip 94 covering part of the waterproofing material 92.