Method and apparatus for integral modular masonry flashing

Abstract

A masonry wall includes a masonry foundation, a flashing unit disposed on the masonry foundation, a masonry weep structure, a mortar bed and at least one layer of masonry units disposed upon the mortar bed. A gap defined between the back surface of the masonry unit and the back edge is sufficient to allow water that has seeped through a plurality of masonry units to downwardly toward the platform. A mesh masonry weep structure is disposed on the platform of the flashing unit to allow drainage of water that has seeped behind the wall. A modular flashing unit and template system facilitates building a masonry foundation and quick application of flashing.

1 . A masonry wall, comprising: 
 a. a foundation;    b. a flashing unit disposed on the foundation, the masonry flashing unit comprising: 
 i. a platform having a front edge and an opposite back edge and having a width between the front edge and the back edge so that when a masonry unit is disposed on the platform with a front surface substantially flush with the front edge, a gap is defined between the back surface of the masonry unit and the back edge;  
 ii. a back vertical wall, having a top edge, extending upwardly from the back edge of the platform, the back vertical wall having a height so that the top edge extends by a predetermined amount beyond the top surface of a masonry unit of a plurality of masonry units placed on the platform; and  
 iii. a front vertical wall depending downwardly from the front edge of the platform;  
   c. a masonry weep structure placed on the platform of the flashing unit, the masonry weep structure including: 
 i. a first elongated mesh strip; and  
 ii. a first plurality of spaced-apart mesh fingers extending from the elongated mesh strip, each finger extending from the elongated mesh strip at a distance at least equal to a width of a masonry unit, the mesh strip and the mesh fingers made of a mesh material that allows water to pass therethrough and that is stable in the presence of mortar, the mesh fingers terminating in a front surface that is in alignment with the front edge of the platform;  
   d. a mortar bed disposed on the platform of the flashing unit so as to fill in a space between the spaced-apart mesh fingers; and 
 at least one layer of masonry units disposed upon the mortar bed and the spaced-apart mesh fingers, the layer having a back surface that is spaced-apart from the back vertical wall of the flashing unit by a predetermined distance sufficient to allow water that has seeped through the masonry units to flow down to first elongated mesh strip and through the spaced-apart mesh fingers.  
   
   
   
       2 . A masonry flashing unit for use with a plurality masonry units, each masonry unit having a front surface, an opposite back surface, a bottom surface and an opposite top surface, the masonry flashing unit comprising: 
 a. a platform having a front edge and an opposite back edge;    b. a back vertical wall, having a top edge, extending upwardly from the back edge of the platform, the back vertical wall having a height so that the top edge extends by a predetermined amount beyond the top surface of a masonry unit of the plurality of masonry units placed on the platform; and    c. a front vertical wall depending downwardly from the front edge of the platform, 
 the platform having a width between the front edge and the back edge so that when a masonry unit of the plurality of masonry units is disposed on the platform with the front surface substantially flush with the front edge, a gap of predetermined width is defined between the back surface of the masonry unit and the back vertical wall, the predetermined width being sufficient to allow water that has seeped through the plurality of masonry units to flow downwardly to the platform.  
   
   
   
       3 . The masonry flashing unit of  claim 2 , wherein the platform, the front vertical wall and the back vertical wall are formed from a single piece of a material.  
   
   
       4 . The masonry flashing unit of  claim 3 , wherein the material is selected from a group consisting essentially of: a metal and a plastic.  
   
   
       5 . The masonry flashing unit of  claim 2 , wherein the front vertical wall defines a bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge is at an angle that is transverse to the platform.  
   
   
       6 . The masonry flashing unit of  claim 5 , wherein the platform has a side edge, the masonry flashing unit further comprising a vertical side wall, having a top edge, extending upwardly from the side edge.  
   
   
       7 . The masonry flashing unit of  claim 6 , further comprising a lip extending outwardly from the top edge of the vertical side wall.  
   
   
       8 . The masonry flashing unit of  claim 6 , wherein the vertical side wall has a height so that when a first masonry flashing unit is placed on top of a second masonry flashing unit so that the platform of the second masonry flashing unit rests on the top edge of the vertical side wall of the first masonry flashing unit and so that the platform of the second modular flashing unit overlaps the vertical sidewall of the first modular flashing unit, the bottom edge of the front vertical wall of the first modular flashing unit is in substantial alignment with the bottom edge of the front vertical wall of the second modular flashing unit.  
   
   
       9 . A modular flashing unit for use with a plurality masonry units, each masonry unit having a front surface, an opposite back surface, a bottom surface and an opposite top surface, the modular flashing unit comprising 
 a. a stepped member including at least a first latitudinal platform and a second latitudinal platform, the second latitudinal platform being not coplanar with the first latitudinal platform, each of the first latitudinal platform and the second latitudinal platform having a front edge, an opposite back edge, a first side edge and an opposite second side edge, the stepped member also including at least one longitudinal wall connecting the first side edge of the first latitudinal platform to the second side edge of the second latitudinal platform, the longitudinal wall including a front edge and an opposite back edge, the stepped member having a width between the first latitudinal platform and the second latitudinal platform that is wider than a masonry unit of the plurality of masonry units by a predetermined amount;    b. a front vertical wall having a stepped edge connected to the front edge of the first latitudinal platform, the front edge of the second latitudinal platform and the front edge of the longitudinal wall; and    c. a back vertical wall having a stepped edge connected to the back edge of the first latitudinal platform, the back edge of the second latitudinal platform and the back edge of the longitudinal wall.    
   
   
       10 . The modular flashing unit of  claim 9 , further comprising a planar template that has dimensions corresponding to a masonry foundation upon which the modular flashing unit is to be installed, so that when the masonry foundation is made according to the template, the modular flashing unit will fit on the masonry foundation.  
   
   
       11 . The modular flashing unit of  claim 9 , wherein the stepped member, the front vertical wall, and the back vertical wall are all made from a unitary sheet of a material.  
   
   
       12 . The modular flashing unit of  claim 11 , wherein the material comprises a plastic.  
   
   
       13 . The modular flashing unit of  claim 12 , wherein the plastic has been vacuum-formed.  
   
   
       14 . A masonry weep system, comprising: 
 a. a mesh finger, having a first side, an opposite second side, a front end and an opposite back end, the mesh finger made of a mesh material that allows water to pass therethrough and that is stable in the presence of mortar, the mesh finger placed on a masonry foundation; and    b. mortar placed on the masonry foundation and disposed about the first side and the second side of the mesh finger and not covering the back end or the front end.    
   
   
       15 . A masonry weep structure, comprising: 
 a. a first elongated mesh strip; and    b. a first plurality of spaced-apart mesh fingers extending from the elongated mesh strip, each finger extending from the elongated mesh strip at a distance at least equal to a width of a masonry unit,    the mesh strip and the mesh fingers made of a mesh material that allows water to pass therethrough and that is stable in the presence of mortar.    
   
   
       16 . The masonry weep structure of  claim 15 , wherein the mesh strip and the mesh fingers comprise a non-woven plastic mesh.  
   
   
       17 . The masonry weep structure of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a. a second elongated mesh strip; and    b. a second plurality of spaced-apart mesh fingers extending from the elongated mesh strip, each finger extending from the elongated mesh strip at a distance at least equal to a width of a masonry unit, 
 the second elongated strip and the second plurality of spaced-apart mesh fingers in opposed engagement with the first elongated mesh strip and the first plurality of spaced-apart mesh fingers, so as to form a single belt of mesh with division to facilitate separation of the first elongated mesh strip and the first plurality of spaced apart mesh fingers from the second elongated mesh strip and the second plurality of spaced-apart mesh fingers.  
   
   
   
       18 . A method of making a modular flashing system for a user to employ with a masonry foundation, comprising the steps of: 
 a. receiving dimensions corresponding to the masonry foundation;    b. making a modular flashing system that is sized to fit the masonry foundation, based on the dimensions;    c. making a template that has an edge that corresponds to an edge of the masonry foundation; and    d. delivering the template to the user so that when the user builds the masonry foundation according to the template, the modular flashing system will fit the masonry foundation.