EP3741922A1

EP3741922A1 - Underlay element for roof covering or outer wall cladding elements

Info

Publication number: EP3741922A1
Application number: EP20175570.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gerardus Andreas Wilhelmus POLMAN
Original assignee: Gpo Advies
Current assignee: Gpo Advies
Priority date: 2019-05-21
Filing date: 2020-05-19
Publication date: 2020-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-19
Also published as: NL2023175B1; EP3741922B1

Abstract

The invention relates to an underlay element for sealing a seam between two adjacent roof covering or outer wall cladding elements, comprising a flat guide part which extends parallel to the seam under the roof covering or outer wall cladding elements and which is bounded on either side by side walls standing upright in the direction of the roof covering or outer wall cladding elements, and a suspension part arranged close to an upper end edge of the guide part and standing upright in the same direction as the side walls, and extending transversely of the seam.The invention also relates to an assembly of two adjacent roof covering or outer wall cladding elements and such an underlay element.The invention further relates to a roof covering or outer wall cladding which is constructed from a large number of this type of assembly.And finally, the invention relates to a roof covering or outer wall cladding element which is intended for application in such an assembly.

Description

The invention relates to an underlay element for sealing a seam between two adjacent roof covering or outer wall cladding elements, particularly roof covering or outer wall cladding elements of ceramic material.
It is known to cover roofs with elements of ceramic material, such as roof tiles. The roof covering elements or roof tiles are here placed in rows one above the other in partially overlapping manner. The side edges of roof tiles are often provided with complementary profiles which can engage in each other in order to prevent moisture, such as rainwater or melt water, from penetrating between adjacent roof tiles. This entails that roof tiles are often asymmetrical, with an upper profile on one side and a lower profile on the other side. Roof coverings are also known wherein use is made of two different types of roof tile, which are placed alternately.
In recent years outer walls of buildings are also increasingly being covered with elements overlapping each other in the manner of roof tiles. These are elements which, just as roof coverings, are suspended from an outer wall one above the other in rows partially overlapping each other. Compared to conventional masonry, outer walls clad in this manner have the advantage that joints are not necessary. The outer wall cladding is hereby more durable and requires less maintenance. In contrast to conventional roof tiles, such outer wall cladding elements however do not have profiled side edges, but adjacent cladding elements are mounted with their side edges abutting each other. Because of architectural considerations, such outer wall claddings usually continue into the roof covering, which is then of corresponding design. Because there is a risk of moisture penetrating through the seams between two adjacent, non-overlapping covering or cladding elements, additional measures must be taken in this case in order to seal the roof and the outer wall moisture-tightly. An additional moisture-tight layer must often be arranged for this purpose over the whole area of the roof covering and/or outer wall cladding, making the construction complex and expensive.
A water draining element for use under a slate roof covering has already been described in GB 2 131 060 A . This element consists of a relatively wide plate which can extend under a plurality of slates. The plate is provided with a number of parallel recessed parts and a downward protruding suspension edge running over the whole width of the plate. With this suspension edge the plate is suspended from a tile batten of a roof construction.
GB 2 454 368 A describes a sealing element for use in the transition between a frame for solar panels and a regular roof covering with roof tiles. The sealing element is roughly W-shaped in cross-section and is folded from a single plate. An upright wall on a side of the element engages under a side edge of the solar panel frame, while a side wall extending inward at an angle on the other side supports an edge of a roof tile. A central wall is formed between the side walls.
WO 97/37387 A describes a bottom lining element for use under solar panels. The bottom lining element is relatively wide and asymmetrical, with a wide channel on a side and a number of support ridges adjacently thereof. The element is provided on the underside with a number of suspension pegs. Lowered discharge channels are formed between the channel and the backs.
The invention has for its object to provide an underlay element whereby a seam between two adjacent roof covering or outer wall cladding elements can be sealed in rapid and simple manner, which underlay element can be produced in large numbers at relatively low cost and is easy to handle for a roofer or wall cladder.
According to the invention, this is achieved with such an underlay element which comprises a substantially flat guide part which is configured to extend substantially parallel to the seam under the roof covering or outer wall cladding elements and which is bounded on either side by side walls standing upright in the direction of the roof covering or outer wall cladding elements, and at least one suspension part arranged close to an upper end edge of the guide part and standing upright in the same direction as the side walls, and configured to extend substantially transversely of the seam.
By using an underlay element with an upright suspension part close to the upper edge this element can be arranged under two adjacent roof covering or outer wall cladding elements in rapid and simple manner. Moisture which penetrates through the seam between the elements is restrained on the guide part by the upright side walls, and thus discharged to a bottom end edge of the underlay element, which will be situated above a subsequent role of roof covering or outer wall cladding elements. Because the roof covering or outer wall cladding elements in subsequent rows are arranged in mutually offset manner, a seam in a determined row will never have another seam situated directly thereunder. The moisture thus flows from the underlay element over a lower-lying roof covering or outer wall cladding element at a position where there is no seam.
For simple installation of the underlay element the at least one suspension part can extend substantially along the whole end edge of the guide part. The underlay element is thus supported uniformly.
The side walls of the underlay element can lie at a distance from the at least one suspension part. Space is thus formed between the suspension part and the side walls for a protruding upper edge or nib, to be discussed below, of the roof covering or outer wall cladding element.
In order to prevent moisture from leaking from the underlay element into the construction the side walls can extend to a position close to a lower end edge of the guide part lying opposite the upper end edge.
In order to prevent "flooding" of the underlay element in the case of large amounts of moisture, for instance in the case of heavy precipitation, the lower end edge of the guide part can be longer than the upper end edge, and the side walls can diverge from the upper end edge in the direction of the lower end edge. A channel having an increasing cross-section in the flow direction is thus formed between the side walls.
Each side wall can have a height, as seen from the guide part, and the height of each side wall can increase from the upper end edge in the direction of the lower end edge. This measure also increases the cross-section of the channel bounded by the side walls in the flow direction.
An upright partition wall can extend substantially parallel to the seam from the upper end edge. Placing this partition wall in the seam between the adjacent roof covering or outer wall cladding elements enables the underlay element to be accurately positioned.
The partition wall can here extend to a position close to the lower end edge of the guide part and can be placed in the seam over the whole length. The wall then actually separates the moisture on the guide surface into two part-flows. On the other hand it is also possible to envisage a short partition wall being formed only in the vicinity of the suspension part, exclusively for the purpose of positioning the underlay element.
The underlay element can further be provided with at least one rib extending from the guide part in a direction opposite to the side walls. Such a rib supports and strengthens the guide surface, this decreasing the risk of deformation. The at least one rib can here be configured to extend substantially parallel to the seam.
The guide part can be substantially flat between the upper and the lower end edge. An easily constructed underlay element is thus obtained.
On the other hand, the guide part can be bent or stepped between the upper and lower end edge. The underlay element can hereby be adjusted to the shape of the roof covering or outer wall cladding elements, and the discharge of moisture can be improved.
The underlay element can be substantially symmetrical relative to a central longitudinal plane which is configured to comprise the seam. Giving the underlay element a symmetrical form allows it to be manufactured and installed in simple manner.
A greatest distance between the side walls of the underlay element can be smaller than a width of a roof covering or outer wall cladding element. An underlay element is thus obtained which extends over only a small part of the width of the roof covering or outer wall cladding elements, exclusively in the vicinity of the seam therebetween. This limits the material usage and thereby also the cost of the underlay element.
The underlay element can be manufactured from plastic or metal. These are materials that are properly liquid-tight. The underlay element can be manufactured as one whole, for instance by bending or shaping. A plastic underlay element can in addition likewise be manufactured by injection moulding or 3D printing.
The invention further relates to an assembly of two adjacent roof covering or outer wall cladding elements and an underlay element as described above.
In an embodiment of the assembly each of the roof covering or outer wall cladding elements can have close to its side directed toward the other roof covering or outer wall cladding element at least one recess for receiving a part of the underlay element. This prevents the roof covering or outer wall cladding element from coming loose from the underlying construction locally due to the presence of the underlay element.
When each roof covering or outer wall cladding element has a visible side, the at least one recess can be formed in an underside of the roof covering or outer wall cladding element remote from the visible side. The underlay element is thus not visible on the visible side of the roof covering or outer wall cladding.
Each roof covering or outer wall cladding element can have at least close to an upper side thereof a suspension edge extending in a direction remote from the visible side, and the at least one recess can be formed in this suspension edge. The underlay element is thus received fittingly on in any case the upper side of the roof covering or outer wall cladding element.
Each roof covering or outer wall cladding element can further have at least close to an underside thereof a support edge extending in a direction remote from the visible side, in which edge a recess can optionally also be formed. The underlay element could thus be received wholly in both of the edges of the roof covering or outer wall cladding element.
The invention also relates to a roof covering or outer wall cladding constructed from a large number of assemblies of roof covering or outer wall cladding elements and underlay elements of the above described type.
Finally, the invention also relates to a roof covering or outer wall cladding element which is evidently intended for application in an assembly as described above.
The invention will now be further elucidated on the basis of a number of embodiments, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which corresponding components are designated with the same reference numerals, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a part of an outer wall cladding constructed from rows of outer wall cladding elements partially overlapping each other, with an underlay element according to the invention under each seam;
Fig. 2 is a perspective bottom view of an outer wall cladding element from the outer wall cladding of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an underlay element for application in the outer wall cladding of Fig. 1, showing with broken lines two adjacent outer wall cladding elements which define a seam therebetween;
Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the underlay element of Fig. 3, which is provided with a rib protruding from its guide surface;
Fig. 5 shows a variant of the underlay element of Fig. 4, which is provided with a partition wall protruding from the guide surface opposite the rib;
Fig. 6 shows yet another embodiment of the underlay element for use in outer wall cladding elements with a greater height, which has a longer guide surface, longer side walls and a longer partition wall;
Fig. 7 shows a variant of the underlay element of Fig. 6, which is provided with three ribs on the rear side of the guide surface;
Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of the underlay element, wherein the guide part between the upper edge and lower edge is not flat but bent twice;
Fig. 9 shows a variant of the underlay element of Fig. 8 with a partition wall;
Fig. 10 shows a variant of the underlay element of Fig. 9 with a rib on the rear side;
Fig. 11 shows a variant of the underlay element of Fig. 9 with a number of flow guides on the inner side of the side walls;
Fig. 12 shows a variant of the underlay element of Fig. 10 with three ribs on the rear side;
Fig. 13 shows an embodiment of the underlay element wherein the guide part between the upper edge and lower edge is stepped once and bent once;
Fig. 14 shows a variant of the underlay element of Fig. 9 with only a short partition wall at the position of the free space between the side walls and the suspension part;
Fig. 15 shows a variant of the underlay element of Fig. 14 with a rib on the rear side;
Fig. 16 shows a variant of the underlay element of Fig. 8 with rib on the rear side;
Fig. 17 shows a short variant of the underlay element of Fig. 9 for use in outer wall cladding elements with a smaller height;
Fig. 18 shows an embodiment of the underlay element suitable for use in a bottom row of roof covering or outer wall cladding elements, which connect to a gutter;
Fig. 19 shows a shorter variant of the underlay element of Fig. 18 for use in roof covering or outer wall cladding elements with a smaller height;
Fig. 20 is a cross-section through the outer wall cladding along the line XX-XX in Fig. 1, wherein an underlay element according to Fig. 9 has been used;
Fig. 21 shows a perspective front view of a part of an outer wall cladding wherein the cladding elements are arranged in half-brick bond;
Fig. 22 is a perspective rear view of the outer wall cladding of Fig. 21; and
Fig. 23 is a cross-section corresponding with Fig. 20 which shows a different method of mounting on the outer wall.

An outer wall cladding 1 is here formed by a number of rows of outer wall cladding elements 2 placed one above the other (Fig. 1). Each outer wall cladding element 2 has an upper edge 4, a lower edge 5 and two side edges 7.
The adjacent outer wall cladding elements 2 in a row are placed with their side edges 7 abutting each other, so do not overlap each other in a horizontal direction but define in each case a seam 3 therebetween. In the shown example the outer wall cladding elements are arranged in three rows I, II, III, wherein the lower edges 5 of the outer wall cladding elements 2 in each row I, II overlap in vertical direction the upper edges 4 of the outer wall cladding elements 2 in a row II, III lying directly therebelow. The outer wall cladding elements 2 are thus arranged in the manner of roof tiles so that no moisture can penetrate between two successive rows.
In order to prevent moisture from being able to reach through a seam 3 between two adjacent outer wall cladding elements 2 an outer wall 8 lying therebehind an underlay element 6, which will be further elucidated below, is arranged behind each seam 3.
Each outer wall cladding element 2 has here close to its upper side 4 a suspension edge or nib 11 which protrudes on the rear side 9 of element 2, opposite the front side or visible side 10 (Fig. 2). Using this suspension edge or nib 11 the outer wall cladding element 2 is suspended from a horizontal batten 12 (Fig. 20-22), which in turn is mounted by means of screws 13 on a frame 14 mounted on outer wall 8. Because the outer wall cladding element 2 hangs substantially vertically here, it is not only suspended but also mounted on the horizontal batten 12. Formed for this purpose in outer wall cladding element 2 is a number of holes 15 through which are placed screws 16 which are screwed into the horizontal batten 12.
In addition, in the shown example each outer wall cladding element 2 has close to its lower side 5 a support edge 17 which likewise protrudes on rear side 9. This support edge 17 supports on the visible side 10 of an outer wall cladding element 2 in a row lying therebelow, which element is further mounted on outer wall 8 in similar manner. Outer wall cladding element 2 is thus bridge-shaped in cross-section.
Support edges 17 of elements 2 in the bottom row of the outer wall cladding 1 no longer support on elements in a row lying therebelow. The bottom horizontal batten 19 (Fig. 21, 22) therefore takes a thicker form than the other battens 12. The rear sides 9 of outer wall cladding elements 2 in the bottom row can thus support directly on the bottom batten 19, whereby the visible sides 10 of these elements 2 still run parallel to those of the elements 2 arranged thereabove. Where an underlay element 7 according to Fig. 9 is in each case arranged between the adjacent outer wall cladding elements 2 in the higher rows, an underlay element 6 according to Fig. 18, which can guide the moisture to a gutter (not shown here) arranged below that row, is applied between each pair of elements 2 in the bottom row of the outer wall cladding 1.
In another variant the outer wall cladding elements 2 can be suspended from and mounted on horizontal profiles 12 which are mounted by means of screws 13 on vertical profiles 14 (Fig. 23).
As stated, an underlay element 6 extends under (and in this example at an angle behind) a seam 3 between two adjacent outer wall cladding elements 2. As is visible in Fig. 22, in the shown example this underlay element 6 is received in recesses 18 in suspension edge 11, so that outer wall cladding element 2 does not come away at the position of underlay element 6 from the construction lying therebehind. These recesses 18 are shown schematically in the rear view of an outer wall cladding element 2 in Fig. 2, which shows that they extend from side edge 7 over only a small part of the suspension edge 11.
Underlay element 6 comprises a flat guide part 20 extending in the mounted state substantially parallel to the rear side 9 of outer wall cladding element 2 (and so also to the seam 3). This guide part 20 has side edges 21 and is bounded on both sides by side walls 22 standing upright from side edges 21 (Fig. 3) and extending toward outer wall cladding element 2. Guide part 20 further has an upper edge 23 and a lower edge 24. An upright suspension part 25, which runs substantially transversely of side walls 22 and transversely of seam 3, extends from the upper edge 23. Suspension part 25 is upright and, just as the side walls 22, extends toward outer wall cladding element 2. Suspension part 25 is therefore not intended for co-action with the batten 12 mounted on outer wall 8, but is suspended on an outer side 26 of the suspension edge 11 of outer wall cladding element 2. Suspension part 25 is situated some distance from the side walls 22 so that a receiving space 27 for the suspension edge 11 of outer wall cladding element 2 is formed therebetween.
In order to impart more stiffness and strength to guide part 20 and thereby the whole underlay element 6 a rib 28 can protrude on the underside or rear side of guide part 20 (Fig. 4). This rib 28 thus protrudes in opposite direction relative to side walls 22 and suspension part 25.
An upright partition wall 29, which is directed transversely of suspension part 25, can be formed opposite rib 28, in the centre of guide part 20 (Fig. 5). Partition wall 29 thereby runs parallel to seam 3 and can protrude into this seam when underlay element 6 is arranged under two adjacent outer wall cladding elements 2. Partition wall 29 can extend to a position close to lower edge 24 of guide part 20, but when guide part 20 is longer, partition wall 29 can also end at a distance from lower edge 24 (Fig. 6).
The number of ribs 28 can be varied depending on the requirements made of underlay element 6. Fig. 7 shows a reinforced embodiment with three ribs 28.
When underlay element 6 is used in combination with an outer wall cladding element 2 with a suspension edge and support edge with different heights, guide part 20 can be embodied with two bends (Fig. 8). In addition to a flat part which defines free space 27, element 6 has here an inclining part 30, followed by another flat part 31 which is parallel to part 27. Side walls 22 here also take an inclining form, with a height which increases uniformly from the upper edge 23 to the lower edge 24.
A partition wall 29 can be provided in this embodiment of underlay element 6 as well (Fig. 9), optionally in combination with a single rib 28 (Fig. 10) or even three ribs 28 (Fig. 12). For an optimal guiding of moisture which is discharged by underlay element 6 oblique flow guides 32 can also protrude inward from side walls 22 close to lower edge 24.
Instead of being bent twice, guide part 20 can also be stepped, and bent once (Fig. 13). Situated here between free space 27 and the part 30 bounded by side walls 22 is a wall 33 which is parallel to suspension part 25.
And instead of a long partition wall, it is also possible to suffice with a short, in this case triangular partition wall 29 at the position of suspension part 25 and free space 27 (Fig. 14, 15).
When underlay element 6 is used in a bottom row of outer wall cladding elements 2, which connects to a gutter, a downward directed part 34 can be formed on the lower edge 24 (Fig. 18, 19).
Although the invention has been elucidated above on the basis of a number of embodiments, it will be apparent that it is not limited thereto. The invention can thus be applied not only with an outer wall cladding, but likewise with a roof covering. In that case the word "under" should mostly be read where "behind" has been used above. In addition, the invention can be used with roof covering or outer wall cladding elements of greatly varying form, with only a nib or suspension edge, or with protruding edges on the upper and lower side. The scope of the invention is defined solely by the following claims.

Claims

Underlay element for sealing a seam between two adjacent roof covering or outer wall cladding elements, comprising a substantially flat guide part which is configured to extend substantially parallel to the seam under the roof covering or outer wall cladding elements and which is bounded on either side by side walls standing upright in the direction of the roof covering or outer wall cladding elements, and at least one suspension part arranged close to an upper end edge of the guide part and standing upright in the same direction as the side walls, and configured to extend substantially transversely of the seam.
Underlay element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one suspension part extends substantially along the whole end edge of the guide part.
Underlay element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side walls lie at a distance from the at least one suspension part.
Underlay element according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the side walls extend to a position close to a lower end edge of the guide part lying opposite the upper end edge; and optionally
wherein the lower end edge of the guide part is longer than the upper end edge, and the side walls diverge from the upper end edge in the direction of the lower end edge.
Underlay element according to claim 4, wherein each side wall has a height, as seen from the guide part, and the height of each side wall increases from the upper end edge in the direction of the lower end edge.
Underlay element according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein an upright partition wall extends substantially parallel to the seam from the upper end edge; and optionally
wherein the partition wall extends to a position close to the lower end edge of the guide part.
Underlay element according to any one of the foregoing claims, further provided with at least one rib extending from the guide part in a direction opposite to the side walls; and optionally
wherein the at least one rib is configured to extend substantially parallel to the seam.
Underlay element according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein between the upper and the lower end edge the guide part:
is substantially flat; or

is bent or stepped.
Underlay element according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein:
the underlay element is substantially symmetrical relative to a central longitudinal plane which is configured to comprise the seam; and/or

a greatest distance between the side walls is smaller than a width of a roof covering or outer wall cladding element.
Underlay element according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein:
the underlay element is manufactured from plastic or metal; and/or

the underlay element is manufactured as one whole.
Assembly of two adjacent roof covering or outer wall cladding elements and an underlay element according to any one of the foregoing claims.
Assembly according to claim 11, wherein each of the roof covering or outer wall cladding elements has close to its side directed toward the other roof covering or outer wall cladding element at least one recess for receiving a part of the underlay element; and optionally
wherein each roof covering or outer wall cladding element has a visible side and the at least one recess is formed in an underside of the roof covering or outer wall cladding element remote from the visible side.
Assembly according to claim 12, wherein each roof covering or outer wall cladding element has at least close to an upper side thereof a suspension edge extending in a direction remote from the visible side, and the at least one recess is formed in the suspension edge; and optionally
wherein each roof covering or outer wall cladding element can further have at least close to an underside thereof a support edge extending in a direction remote from the visible side.
Roof covering or outer wall cladding which is constructed from a large number of assemblies according to any one of the claims 11-13.
Roof covering or outer wall cladding element which is evidently intended for application in an assembly according to any one of the claims 11-13.