Balcony drainage apparatus and method of using the same

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for preventing the damage by the rotting of concrete floor decks wooden components commonly used in multi-story buildings and the like and for preventing accumulation of the water and moisture over and beneath the concrete surface. The apparatus includes an anchoring flange; a cavity portion perpendicularly connected to the anchoring flange including in the base thereof at least one perforation suitable for water drainage and a leg portion, extending downwardly from the intersection of the cavity portion and the anchoring flange, for placement against the external side of the building structure that protects the building structure. The method of using the same includes the steps of applying the anchoring flange extending longitudinally over a portion of a deck subfloor, applying a waterproofing material over the subfloor and anchoring flange, fitting filter media over the edge's perforation(s), placing a filter media in the lower cavity of the edging assembly, and pouring substrate over the waterproofing membrane covering the subfloor to a level approximately to the top edge of the edge assembly so that a concrete deck is provided with water runoff over the edge assembly and water under the substrate floor drains through the edge assembly holes over the drip edge to prevent collection of water in the concrete flooring.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An edge assembly for balconies and like outwardly extending external aspects of a building structure, said assembly comprising: 
 an anchoring flange portion adapted to cap the top edge of the outwardly extending subfloor;    a cavity portion perpendicularly connected to the anchoring flange and having a major portion thereof extending above the top surface of the subfloor and a minor portion thereof, including a base, extending below the top surface of the subfloor, said cavity portion including in the base thereof at least one perforation suitable for water drainage; and    a leg portion, extending downwardly from the intersection of the cavity portion and the anchoring flange, for placement against the external side of the building structure.    
     
     
         2 . The edge assembly set forth in  claim 1  wherein said edge assembly is formed from a single strip by extrusion.  
     
     
         3 . The edge assembly set forth in  claim 1  wherein said edge assembly is formed from a single strip by bending.  
     
     
         4 . The edge assembly set forth in  claim 1  wherein said edge assembly is formed of a metal material.  
     
     
         5 . An edge assembly for balconies and like outwardly extending external aspects of a building structure, said assembly comprising: 
 an anchoring flange portion adapted to cap the top edge of the outwardly extending subfloor;    a generally L-shaped cavity portion, connected to the outside of the leg portion at a point below the top surface of the anchoring flange such that a small portion of the leg portion forms one wall of the lower channel of the L, the base of the lower channel of the cavity portion having at least one perforation so as to form a drainage area for moisture to pass through said base, and a third wall extending substantially vertically and perpendicularly from the second wall;    a strip of filter media overlapping at least a portion of said drainage area in the base of the cavity portion;    a leg portion, extending downwardly from the intersection of the cavity portion and the anchoring flange, for placement against the external side of the building structure; and    a foot portion connected to the leg portion along the lower edge thereof and extending downwardly.    
     
     
         6 . The edge assembly set forth in  claim 5  wherein said edge assembly is formed from a single strip by extrusion.  
     
     
         7 . The edge assembly set forth in  claim 5  wherein said edge assembly is formed from a single strip by bending.  
     
     
         8 . The edge assembly set forth in  claim 5  wherein said edge assembly is formed of a metal material.  
     
     
         9 . The edge assembly set forth in  claim 5  wherein the obtuse angle between the leg portion and the foot portion is about 135 degrees.  
     
     
         10 . The edge assembly set forth in  claim 5  wherein the obtuse angle between the leg portion and the foot portion is about 135 degrees plus or minus two degrees.  
     
     
         11 . A method for preventing accumulation of moisture over and beneath the concrete surface of a balcony or like external aspect of a building structure comprising using the edge assembly of  claim 5  in the following sequence of steps: 
 applying the anchoring flange extending longitudinally over a portion of a deck subfloor;  
 applying a waterproofing material over the subfloor and anchoring flange;  
 fitting filter media over the edge's perforation(s);  
 placing a drainage mat over the waterproofing material and filter media; and  
 pouring substrate over the drainage mat to a level approximately to the top edge of the edge assembly so that a concrete deck is provided with water runoff over the edge assembly and water under the substrate floor drains through the edge assembly holes over the drip edge to prevent collection of water in the concrete flooring.  
 
     
     
         12 . A method for preventing accumulation of moisture over and beneath the concrete surface of a balcony or like in accordance with  claim 11  in which the step of attaching the anchoring flange of the edge assembly longitudinally to a portion of a deck subfloor includes nailing said anchoring flange to said subfloor.