Eave trimming element

Abstract

A method for trimming the eaves of a building consists of enclosing the eaves with a plurality of prefabricated eave trimming elements, each of which can be made from a lightweight thermoplastic material formed in an extrusion process. Each eave trimming element is a panel having a generally trapezoid shape, typically a rectangular shape. The upper portion of the rearward side of the panel can have a notch with a generally vertical surface and a generally horizontal surface. The bottom portion of the rearward side of the panel is typically flat and is disposed substantially parallel to the notch vertical surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of finishing the eaves of a building having sidewalls and a roof, the roof having eaves which extend outwardly from the sidewalls, the eaves comprising an outer edge defining an eave outer edge angle, the method comprising: 
 (a) selecting a plurality of prefabricated eave trimming elements, each of the eave trimming elements comprising a generally trapezoid shaped panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of opposed side edges, the panel also having a forward side and a rearward side, the rearward side having an upper portion proximate to the top edge, a central portion and a bottom portion proximate to the bottom edge; and    (b) attaching the plurality of eave trimming elements end to end around the outer edge of the eave with the upper portion of the rearward side of the panel disposed over the eave outer edge angle and with the bottom portion of the rearward side of each panel disposed against a sidewall of the building.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the panel is made from a closed cell foam.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the panel is made from an extruded material.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the panel is made from an expanded polystyrene.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the panel is coated with a coating material.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the coating material comprises a polymer modified cement.  
     
     
         7 . An eave trimming element comprising a generally trapezoid shaped panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and a pair of opposed side edges, the panel also having a forward side and a rearward side, the rearward side having an upper portion proximate to the top edge, a central portion and a bottom portion proximate to the bottom edge, 
 wherein the upper portion of the rearward side of the panel comprises a notch having a generally vertical surface disposed in a notch vertical surface plane and a generally horizontal surface disposed in a notch horizontal surface plane, and    wherein the bottom portion of the rearward side is disposed in a bottom portion vertical plane which is substantially parallel to the notch vertical surface plane.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the panel is generally rectangle shaped.  
     
     
         9 . The eave trimming element of  claim 7  wherein the panel has a length, a width and a thickness, and wherein the width of the panel is between about 6″ and about 48″.  
     
     
         10 . The eave trimming element of  claim 7  wherein the panel is made from an extruded material.  
     
     
         11 . The eave trimming element of  claim 7  wherein the panel is made from an expanded polystyrene.  
     
     
         12 . The eave trimming element of  claim 7  wherein the panel is coated with a coating material.  
     
     
         13 . The eave trimming element of  claim 12  wherein the coating material comprises a polymer modified cement.  
     
     
         14 . The eave trimming element of  claim 7  wherein the generally vertical surface of the notch and the generally horizontal surface of the notch are both between about 3″ and about 6″ in length.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the eave trimming elements comprises a gutter trough.  
     
     
         16 . A method of finishing the eaves of a building having sidewalls and a roof, the roof having eaves which extend outwardly from the sidewalls, the eaves comprising an outer edge defining an eave outer edge angle, the method comprising: 
 (a) selecting a plurality of eave trimming elements, each of the eave trimming elements comprising a generally rectangle shaped panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of opposed side edges, the panel also having a forward side and a rearward side, the rearward side having an upper portion proximate to the top edge, a central portion and a bottom portion proximate to the bottom edge,    wherein the upper portion of the rearward side of the panel comprises a notch having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being disposed with respect to the second surface at a notch angle, the notch angle being substantially the same as the eave outer edge angle, and    wherein the bottom portion of the rearward side is disposed in a bottom portion vertical plane; and    (b) attaching the plurality of eave trimming elements end to end around the outer edge of the eave with the notch on the upper portion of the rearward side of the panel disposed over the eave outer edge angle and with the bottom portion of the rearward side of each panel disposed against a sidewall of the building.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the eave outer edge angle is about 270° and the notch angle is about 90°.  
     
     
         18 . The eave trimming element of  claim 16  wherein the panel is coated with a coating material.  
     
     
         19 . An eave trimming element comprising a generally trapezoid shaped panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and a pair of opposed side edges, the panel also having a forward side and a rearward side, the rearward side having an upper portion proximate to the top edge, a central portion and a bottom portion proximate to the bottom edge, 
 wherein the top edge of the panel comprises a gutter trough.    
     
     
         20 . A building having vertical walls and a roof, the roof overhanging the vertical walls to define eaves, wherein the eaves are enclosed by a plurality of eave trimming elements disposed end-to-end, each eave trimming element comprising a generally trapezoid shaped panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and a pair of opposed side edges, the panel also having a forward side and a rearward side, the rearward side having an upper portion proximate to the top edge, a central portion and a bottom portion proximate to the bottom edge.