Overhang and Drip

Architectural Detailing - Edward Allen, Patrick Rand

Architectural Detailing

Preventing the presence of water on a vertical surface can be effectively managed by overhanging the sloped surface above the vertical surface, allowing water the chance to drip to the ground. The most common and visually apparent example of this is a roof overhang. The width of the overhang beyond the wall surface is determined by the height of the wall we are trying to keep dry and any wind forces that might push the water onto the vertical surface. The taller the wall, the longer the overhang should be.

Overlap

Architectural Detailing - Edward Allen, Patrick Rand

Architectural Detailing

We defined in leakage that three conditions are necessary for water leakage to occur. Water must be present, there must be a hole in the assembly and there must be a force to push the water through. One force that is always present is gravity, fortunately it can be used to our advantage. Sloping and vertical surfaces can be clad material pieces where the upper surface extends over the lower surface. This organization of materials is called an overlap and is a very effective means of keeping water out, gravity wants to pull water downward. The lower the slope of a surface the greater the materials must overlap.

Tile Shower - The details

The tiled shower. It is hard to beat the sophistication, of a site built, tiled shower.

The 2015 Michigan Residential Code has a fairly long list of requirements for site built showers. They call them Shower Receptors and can be found in P2709.1 MRC.

“Where a shower receptor has a finished curb threshold, it shall be not less than 1” below the sides and back of the receptor. The curb shall be not less than 2” and not more than 9” deep when measured from the top of the curb to the top of the drain. The finished floor shall slope uniformly toward the drain not less than 1/4” vertical in 12” horizontal nor more than 1/2” per 12” horizontal and floor drains shall be flanged to provide a water-tight joint in the floor.”