Lath Furring Strip With Elastic Backing For Waterproofing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current lath furring strips fail to adequately address issues of water resistance, thermal bridging, and secure lath attachment while maintaining a low profile and minimizing penetrations through moisture barriers, which can lead to water intrusion and structural damage.
Innovation Solution
A lath furring strip with a flexible elastic water-resistant backing, such as a rubber sheet, is integrated to enhance waterproofing, and a bent mounting leg design is used to maintain strength and keep the profile low, allowing for secure attachment of lath without increasing the plaster thickness beyond ⅞ of an inch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flexible elastic water-resistant backing is integrated to enhance waterproofing, then water resistance is improved, but the profile height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible elastic water-resistant backing is positioned within the recess of the furring strip, nesting the waterproofing layer inside the structural profile rather than adding it externally. This allows the waterproofing function to be integrated without increasing the overall profile height, resolving the contradiction between water resistance and compact dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The waterproofing function is achieved by utilizing the recess dimension of the furring strip profile rather than adding height in the vertical dimension. The backing material is placed within the existing dimensional envelope of the strip, transferring the solution from a height-additive approach to a spatial reconfiguration approach.
2Strength
If the mounting leg is bent to maintain strength and keep profile low, then attachment strength is improved, but the profile height is constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting leg is bent into a curved configuration rather than remaining straight. This curvature provides structural strength for attachment while simultaneously reducing the vertical profile height. The bent shape maintains mechanical integrity through geometric reinforcement while fitting within constrained dimensional boundaries.
3Strength
If fasteners are driven into the sheathing to secure the lath, then attachment is improved, but water intrusion increases due to moisture barrier penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The furring strip acts as an intermediary component between the lath and the sheathing. Instead of fasteners penetrating the moisture barrier directly to attach lath to sheathing, the fasteners attach the lath to the furring strip, which then attaches to the sheathing. This intermediate element reduces the number of penetrations through the moisture barrier, thereby reducing water intrusion pathways while maintaining attachment strength.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces water seepage, enhances thermal insulation by minimizing penetrations, and ensures secure lath attachment, thereby protecting more expensive building components from water damage and thermal bridging.
Implementation Method 1
flexible elastic water-resistant backing, such as a rubber sheet
Implementation Method 2
water-resistant backing
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a lath furring strip having improved water-resistant and insulation features. The lath furring strip has portions of the mounting leg height not exceeding 0.365 inches for proper plastering of a wall. The lath furring strip is integrated into other architectural structures such as reveals, expansion joints and window flange coverings. By integrating these structures with a lath furring strip having water proofing features, there is increased water proofing of the entire architectural structure. One or more moisture barriers can easily be applied to the wall or furring strips that prevents seepage of moisture from the stucco on the lath to a wall or framing. By using an improved lath furring strip, fewer penetrations are needed to secure the furring strip to a wall compared to securing a lath directly to a wall.