Zinc flashing for roof penetrations

Abstract

An improved zinc flashing system for use with metal and non-metal roof systems. The improved zinc flashing system includes a base plate that includes an aperture and vertical tube that is attached to the base plate. The vertical tube form extends upwardly from the upper surface of the base plate or downwardly from the bottom surface of the base plate. The zinc flashing system is designed to form a water-tight seal about a roof penetration and / or a roof drain. A protective layer can be used to inhibit or prevent contact of the zinc material of the zinc flashing with a roofing structure. The protective layer can be connected and / or coated to the zinc flashing.

Description

[0001]The present invention claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 109,641 filed Oct. 30, 2008 entitled “Zinc Flashing for Roof Penetrations,” which is incorporated fully herein by reference.[0002]The present invention is generally directed to flashing for roofing systems, more particularly to flashing that is used about roof penetrations, and even more particularly to zinc flashing that is used about roof penetrations.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Currently, soft lead flashing is the common choice for flashing materials. Lead flashing is used because it is malleable, thus is easy to form the lead flashing to the surface of a roofing system and about various structures on the surface of the roofing system. As such, lead flashing is relatively easy to integrate between layers of roofing material and the lead flashing also easily conforms to irregular shapes on the surface of the roofing system. Roof flashing can also be formed by other materials such as stainl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]It has been found that relatively pure zinc and certain zinc alloys form a durable and malleable material that can be easily formed into various shapes. As such, when these types of metals are formed into flashing, the zinc flashing does not require special attachment arrangements as is require for stainless and galvanized flashing materials. The average thickness of the metal material that forms the zinc flashing of the present invention is generally less than 0.25 inches, typically less than about 0.125 inches, more typically less than about 0.1 inches, even more typically about 0.005-0.05 inches, and still even more typically about 0.01-0.03 inches. The zinc flashing in accordance with the present invention provides a flash system that is compatible in utility to the current standard roof flashing products, such as lead flashing products. The zinc flashing of the present invention can be used to waterproof roof penetrations through a roof system that cannot be sealed using the primary roofing material. For instance, primary roofing materials may be too rigid (e.g., concrete, tile, sheet metal, etc.) and / or experience significant shrinkage (e.g., asphalt built up roofing, etc.) during the useful life of the roofing materials, thus cannot be used in-of-themselves to waterproof the region about a roof penetration (e.g., round cast iron plumbing vent pipe, round PVC plumbing vent pipe, etc.). In such instances, flashing is typically used to form the waterproof seal about the roof penetration. Lead flashing is typically used since such material is soft and easily conforms to the shape of the roof penetration and has a life that is generally longer than the life of the primary roofing materials. The zinc flashing of the present invention can be used to replace standard lead flashing without requiring increased costs or labor. The malleability properties of the zinc material of the present invention are similar to lead materials and the life of the zinc material is generally the same as or longer than the life of the primary roofing materials. Flashing that is made of soft and / or malleable materials is important as a waterproofing component of roofing systems. The flexibility of the of the zinc material of the present invention enables the flashing made from such zinc material to facilitate in waterproofing roofing systems, especially around penetrations in a roofing system. As such, the zinc flashing of the present invention can be used on standard roofing systems, can be conformed to roof penetrations, and can be conformed to the shape of the roofing system layers.

[0023]In still another and / or alternative non-limiting object of the present invention, there is provided a zinc flashing material that is coated with a protective layer to inhibit or prevent reaction of the zinc flashing with other components of a roofing system.

[0024]In yet another and / or alternative non-limiting object of the present invention, there is provided a zinc flashing material that is used with a protective barrier to inhibit or prevent reaction of the zinc flashing with other components of a roofing system.

[0025]In still yet another and / or alternative non-limiting object of the present invention, there is provided a zinc flashing material that includes an adhesive layer to facilitate in securing the zinc flashing to a roofing system.

[0026]In another and / or alternative non-limiting object of the present invention, there is provided a zinc flashing material that is coated with a material that inhibits or prevents corrosion of the zinc flashing material.

Problems solved by technology

Titanium zinc alloys are not suitable for the zinc flashing of the present invention since such zinc alloys are too rigid.

Indeed, flashing formed of titanium zinc alloy exhibits the same malleability problems as flashing formed of stainless steel and galvanized steel.

For instance, primary roofing materials may be too rigid (e.g., concrete, tile, sheet metal, etc.) and / or experience significant shrinkage (e.g., asphalt built up roofing, etc.) during the useful life of the roofing materials, thus cannot be used in-of-themselves to waterproof the region about a roof penetration (e.g., round cast iron plumbing vent pipe, round PVC plumbing vent pipe, etc.).

The solidified asphalt does not have the flexibility over time that is required to maintain a seal about a roof penetration (e.g, a cast iron plumbing vent pipe, etc.) for more than a few years.

Over time, this expansion and contraction will cause the seal between the asphalt and the roof penetration to break, thereby compromising the water-proofing of the roofing system.

Indeed, the zinc flashing will far outlast the useful life of a built-up roofing system and many other types of roofing systems.

Images