Lath support system

Abstract

A structural reinforcement system that utilizes a lath for receiving cementitious material. Lath is affixed to support structure such as sheathing supported by studs as may commonly be found in building construction. Strip members are affixed to the lath and function as fastener guides. Fasteners penetrate the strips for affixing lath and strips to the support structure. The strips are made of a compressible material that protects the lath from damage due to impacts associated with installing the fasteners and forms a gasket-like seal around the fasteners. Strips may be used as drainage guides for directing water that may flow behind the lath. The width of the strips creates spacing between the lath and the support structure, which allows for controlling of a thickness of a base layer of cementitious material by selecting a desired width. In another embodiment, entangled filaments are used as lath material for receiving cementitious material.

1 . A structural reinforcement system comprising:
 a lath having a front surface and a rear surface, said lath for affixing to a support structure;   a plurality of strip members affixed to one of said front surface and said rear surface of said lath;   fasteners penetrating said plurality of strip members for affixing said lath and said strip members to said support structure.   
   
   
       2 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a water/vapor barrier adjacent to said support structure.   
   
   
       3 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a water/vapor barrier adjacent to said mesh for functioning as a mortor stop to prevent mortar from migrating behind said lath.   
   
   
       4 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said lath is a mesh structure.   
   
   
       5 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 4  wherein:
 said lath is comprised of fiberglass.   
   
   
       6 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said lath is comprised of entangled filaments.   
   
   
       7 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said lath is metallic.   
   
   
       8 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said strip members are flexible.   
   
   
       9 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said strip members are comprised of fastener guides and drainage strip members.   
   
   
       10 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 9  wherein:
 said fastener guides are comprised of closed cell foam.   
   
   
       11 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 9  wherein:
 said drainage strip members are comprised of open cell foam.   
   
   
       12 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said strip members provide a water tight seal around said fasteners when said fasteners penetrate said strip members.   
   
   
       13 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said strip members are comprised of a material that provides a seal around said fasteners when said fasteners penetrate said strip members wherein said seal protects said fasteners from exposure to alkaline substances.   
   
   
       14 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said strip members absorb impacts associated with installing said fasteners for preventing said lath from being damaged.   
   
   
       15 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said strip members are directly adhered to said lath after said lath is affixed to said support structure.   
   
   
       16 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said strip members are affixed to said lath prior to attachment of said lath to said support structure.   
   
   
       17 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said strip members are first adhered to said lath and then mechanically fastened to said lath.   
   
   
       18 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said strip members may be affixed to said lath at a desired spacing to meet construction requirements.   
   
   
       19 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said drainage strip members are strip members oriented non-horizontally and non-vertically for directing water that passes behind said lath.   
   
   
       20 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 2  wherein:
 said strip members are affixed to said water/vapor barrier.   
   
   
       21 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 4  wherein:
 said mesh structure is comprised of a first group of strands and a second group of strands;   wherein said first group of strands and said second group of strands are woven together in a leno weave.   
   
   
       22 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 21  wherein:
 said first group of strands and second group of strands have cupping between adjacent transverse strands.   
   
   
       23 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 4  wherein:
 strands of said mesh structure have an anticorrosion coating.   
   
   
       24 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 cementitious material applied to said front surface of said lath.   
   
   
       25 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 24  wherein:
 said cementitious material encapsulates said lath by passing through to said rear side of said lath to form a base layer.   
   
   
       26 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 25  wherein:
 a thickness of said base layer is regulated by a thickness of said strip member.   
   
   
       27 . A method of installing a structural reinforcement system comprising the steps of:
 affixing a plurality of strip members to a lath;   locating said lath with attached strip members on a support structure;   fastening said lath to said support structure with fasteners;   wherein said fasteners pass through said strip members before engaging said support structure.   
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 27  further comprising the step of:
 applying a cementitious material to said lath.   
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein:
 said strip member absorb an impact of said step of fastening, thereby protecting said lath.   
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 27  further comprising the step of:
 selecting a thickness of said strip member to regulate a thickness of a base layer of cementitious material that migrates in between said lath and said support structure.   
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein:
 said fasteners also pass through a water/vapor barrier before engaging said support structure.   
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 27  further comprising the step of:
 sealing said fasteners with said strip member to prevent moisture from passing around said fastener.   
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 27  further comprising the step of:
 sealing said fasteners with said strip member to protect said fastener from exposure to alkaline substances.   
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein:
 said step of affixing said plurality of strip members to a lath includes orienting at least a portion of said strip members so that after said step of fastening said lath to said support structure with fasteners, said at least a portion of said strip members are non-horizontal and non-vertical for directing water that passes behind said lath.   
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein:
 said step of applying a cementitious material to said lath comprises encapsulating said lath by forming a base layer of cementitious behind said lath.   
   
   
       36 . The method according to  claim 34  further comprises the step of:
 regulating a thickness of said base layer by selecting a desired thickness of said strip member.   
   
   
       37 . The method according to  claim 34  wherein:
 said step of affixing a plurality of strip members to a lath comprises the step of selecting a desired spacing for said strip members so that said fasteners will have a desired spacing to satisfy spacing requirements.   
   
   
       38 . The method according to  claim 27  further comprising a step of:
 affixing a water/vapor barrier to said support structure.   
   
   
       39 . The method according to  claim 27  further comprising a step of:
 affixing a water/vapor barrier between said strip members and said lath; wherein   said step of affixing a plurality of strip members to said lath includes affixing said strip members to said water/vapor barrier affixed to said lath; and wherein   said step of fastening said lath to said support structure includes fastening said lath, said water/vapor barrier and said strip members to said support structure as a unit.   
   
   
       40 . A structural reinforcement system comprising:
 a lath of entangled fibers for affixing to a support structure;   cementitious material applied to a front side of said entangled fibers.   
   
   
       41 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 40  wherein:
 said entangled fibers are affixed to backing sheet.   
   
   
       42 . The structural reinforcement system according to  claim 41  further comprising:
 a plurality of strip members affixed to said backing sheet.