Unitary Fascia And Gutter

Abstract

A unitary single piece fascia and gutter is extruded from plastic material or a composite and is formed with a relatively flat fascia portion sized to cover the ends of rafters along an edge of a roof. A gutter portion projects upwardly and outwardly from the fascia portion and the gutter portion and fascia portion together bound and define a gutter trough for receiving rainwater and directing the rainwater to a drainage location. The fascia and gutter is installed along an edge of a roof by being positioned along the edge with the fascia portion covering the edge and the gutter portion projecting outwardly from the edge, and securing the fascia and gutter to the edge of the roof with appropriate fasteners.

1 . A roof structure comprising:
 a roof deck supported by rafters, the rafters extending to substantially vertical ends along an edge of the roof structure;   shingles covering the roof deck;   a fascia spanning the vertical ends of the rafters along the edge of the roof structure; and   a gutter projecting outwardly and upwardly from the fascia to define the front wall of a trough;   the fascia defining a rear wall of the trough such that the gutter and fascia together bound and define the trough and cooperate to collect and direct rainwater to a drainage location.   
     
     
         2 . A roof structure as claimed in  claim 1  and wherein the fascia and the gutter are formed together as a unitary structure. 
     
     
         3 . A roof structure as claimed in  claim 1  and wherein both the fascia and the gutter are formed of the same material. 
     
     
         4 . A roof structure as claimed in  claim 3  and wherein the fascia and the gutter are formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         5 . A roof structure as claimed in  claim 4  and wherein the plastic material comprises PVC. 
     
     
         6 . A roof structure as claimed in  claim 4  and wherein the plastic material comprises a composite material including plastic and a filler. 
     
     
         7 . A roof structure as claimed in  claim 4  and wherein the plastic material has a relatively less dense plastic core encased in a relatively more dense plastic skin. 
     
     
         8 . A roof structure as claimed in  claim 4  and wherein the fascia and the gutter are formed as a unitary structure. 
     
     
         9 . A unitary molded fascia and gutter comprising a fascia portion sized and shaped to span and cover the ends of rafters along an edge of a roof and a gutter portion projecting outwardly and upwardly from the fascia portion to form a trough sized to receive, contain, and direct rainwater, the trough being bounded and defined by the gutter portion of the fascia and gutter and the fascia portion of the fascia and gutter. 
     
     
         10 . The fascia and gutter of  claim 9  and wherein the fascia and gutter are molded of a plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . The fascia and gutter of  claim 10  and wherein the plastic material comprises PVC. 
     
     
         12 . The fascia and gutter of  claim 11  and wherein the fascia and gutter have a relatively less dense core encased by a relatively more dense skin. 
     
     
         13 . The fascia and gutter of  claim 9  and wherein the fascia and gutter are molded of a composite material. 
     
     
         14 . The fascia and gutter of  claim 9  and wherein the fascia and gutter are molded with an extrusion process. 
     
     
         15 . The fascia and gutter of  claim 9  and wherein the gutter portion extends at a predetermined angle relative to the fascia portion to define a grade for directing rainwater downhill when the fascia and gutter are installed. 
     
     
         16 . A method of installing a fascia and gutter along an edge of a roof structure, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) extruding a unitary fascia and gutter comprising a relatively flat fascia portion and a gutter portion projecting outwardly and upwardly from the fascia portion to define, with the fascia portion, a gutter trough;   (b) positioning the unitary fascia and gutter along the edge of the roof structure with the gutter trough at least partially underlying the edges of shingles on the roof structure; and   (c) securing the unitary fascia and gutter to the edge of the roof structure.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  and where in step (a) the fascia and gutter are extruded from a plastic material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  and wherein the plastic material comprises PVC. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  and wherein in step (a) the fascia and gutter are extruded from a composite material. 
     
     
         20 . A unitary structure formed to define a relatively flat fascia portion and a gutter portion projecting outwardly from a face of the fascia portion and wherein the fascia portion and the gutter portion together form a gutter for receiving rainwater and directing the rainwater to a drainage location.