A CLADDING SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR CLADDING A WALL SURFACE

Abstract

 Disclosed is a cladding system (15) for being connect to a wall surface (16). The cladding system (15) comprises a first mounting rail (1) comprising a front flange (2), wherein a first longitudinal edge (17) of the front flange (2) is connected to a mounting flange (4) through a spacing flange (5) being inclined in relation to the front flange (2). A second longitudinal edge (18) of the front flange (2) is connected to a support flange (6) also being inclined in relation to the front flange (2) and the mounting flange (4) is suited for being connected to the wall surface (16). The cladding system (15) further comprises a second mounting rail (14) comprising a front flange (2), wherein a first longitudinal edge (17) of the front flange (2) is connected to a mounting flange (4) through a spacing flange (5) being inclined in relation to the front flange (2). A second longitudinal edge (18) of the front flange (2) is connected to a support flange (6) also being inclined in relation to the front flange (2) and wherein the mounting flange (4) is suited for being connected to the wall surface (16). The first mounting rail (1) is connected to the second mounting rail (14) at the first longitudinal edge (17) of the first mounting rail (1) and at the second longitudinal edge (18) of the second mounting rail (14) so that the mounting flange (4) of the first mounting rail (1) is substantially covered at least by the front flange (2) of the second mounting rail (14) as seen in a direction towards the wall surface (16).
A method for cladding a wall surface (16) by means of a cladding system (15) is also disclosed.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a cladding system for being connect to a wall surface. The cladding system comprises a first mounting rail and a second mounting rail.

[0002] The invention also relates to a method for cladding a wall surface by means of a cladding system.

Background of the invention

[0003] Facade cladding which is mounted on existing facades or newly constructed buildings can be mounted using several different known methods.

[0004] As regards building renovation, possibly in connection with external post-insulation of existing buildings, it is e.g. possible to mount facade claddings direcly on an existing facade by fixing the facade cladding directly to the vertical face of the facade, e.g. using screws or similar connection means.

[0005] Alternatively, horizontal battens or rails are mounted, e.g. made from metal, plastic or wood, to which the facade cladding can be fixed, e.g. using screws or similar connection means. The horizontal battens can be mounted directly on the face of the facade, or they can be mounted on vertical posts in the external wall, especially in connection with new construction. Alternatively, these posts are fixed to the existing facade, e.g. in connection with external post-insulation of existing buildings.

[0006] For instance, a first lower row of elements can be mounted in the facade cladding using connection means, e.g. screws, along the upper end edge. The next row can be placed so that the lower end of the next row of facade cladding elements covers the upper edge of the underlying row of facade cladding elements. Hereby, the new row of facade cladding elements can also cover the connection means of the previous row.

[0007] In this application, facade cladding elements should be interpreted as plate-shaped elements, e.g. tiles or slabs of e.g. ceramic materials, cement-based or concrete-based materials, sten and/or natural stones, wooden cladding, including plate-shaped wooden cladding, and other known types of facade cladding in plate form, e.g. concrete, fibre cement, plate-shaped elements etc.

[0008] Common to these known systems is that each facade cladding element is mounted individually, which is time-consuming and increases construction costs for the facade renovation or the construction of new buildings. Furthermore, the mounting is dependent on taking place in dry weather or under a covering of the building to avoid moisture behind the facade cladding.

Object of the invention

[0009] It is the object of the invention to provide a mounting rail for mounting of a facade cladding on new construction as well as on existing construction, wherein the mounting rail is simple and easy to use.

[0010] It is also the object of the invention to provide a mounting rail for mounting of facade cladding materials on a facade of a building, wherein the use of the mounting rail results in time savings and thus reduces the construction costs for the new construction or the building renovation.

[0011] It is also the object of the invention to provide a mounting rail for mounting of facade cladding on a facade of a building, wherein the facade cladding can be mounted on the mounting rail at the factory and thus under roof, and subsequently can be mounted easily and quickly on the facade of newly constructed buildings or in connection with facade renovation of existing construction.

[0012] Finally, it is the object of the invention to provide a method for mounting facade cladding on a newly constructed building or existing building, wherein the method is time-efficient, and wherein a substantial part of the mounting work can take place at the factory and under roof, so that the greatest possible independence of the weather is achieved during the construction and thus the time consumption can be minimised for the part of the work with the facade cladding carried out at the construction site.

Description of the invention

[0013] The invention relates to a cladding system for being connect to a wall surface. The cladding system comprises a first mounting rail comprising a front flange, wherein a first longitudinal edge of the front flange is connected to a mounting flange through a spacing flange being inclined in relation to the front flange. A second longitudinal edge of the front flange is connected to a support flange also being inclined in relation to the front flange and the mounting flange is suited for being connected to the wall surface.

[0014] The cladding system further comprises a second mounting rail comprising a front flange, wherein a first longitudinal edge of the front flange is connected to a mounting flange through a spacing flange being inclined in relation to the front flange. A second longitudinal edge of the front flange is connected to a support flange also being inclined in relation to the front flange and wherein the mounting flange is suited for being connected to the wall surface. The first mounting rail is connected to the second mounting rail at the first longitudinal edge of the first mounting rail and at the second longitudinal edge of the second mounting rail so that the mounting flange of the first mounting rail is substantially covered at least by the front flange of the second mounting rail as seen in a direction towards the wall surface.

[0015] Forming the mounting rails with inclined spacing flange and support flange is advantageous in that it enables that the front flange may be displaced (i.e. not abutting) from the wall surface and thereby leaving space in the gap to ensure that the an upper part of the first mounting rail can be connected to a lower part of the second mounting rail. This ensures that when the mounting rails only have to be connected to the wall surface through a mounting flange along one longitudinal edge, the succeeding mounting rail can cover the mounting flange of the first mounting rail thereby hiding all connection means to the wall surface. Hidden connection means ensures longer life and provides a cleaner look. And since the mounting rails are connected to the wall surface only along one edge this cladding system is easy and quick to mount.

[0016] It should be noted that the phrase "as seen in a direction towards the wall surface" means as seen in the general direction of the wall surface when the cladding system is connect to a wall surface as intended. In other words it means as seen in the general direction perpendicular to the mounting flange as viewed from the side of the front flange (inclined or not) i.e. towards the general direction of the wall surface.

[0017] In an aspect of the invention, the first mounting rail is identical to the second mounting rail.

[0018] Forming the first and second mounting rail substantially identical is advantageous in that it simplifies production and logistics.

[0019] In an aspect of the invention, a protrusion of the second mounting rail is arranged to engage a groove of the first mounting rail to substantially prevent mutual displacement in a direction perpendicular to the wall surface.

[0020] Forming the mounting rails so that a feature at the bottom of a mounting rail meshes with a corresponding feature at the top of a similar subjacent mounting rail is advantageous in that it ensures simple and precise mutual fixation.

[0021] In an aspect of the invention, the protrusion is a flange of the second mounting rail and wherein the groove is formed as a folding of the first mounting rail.

[0022] Forming the protrusion as a flange at one end of the rail and the groove as a folding in the other end of the rail is advantageous in that it hereby is possible to form the entire mounting rail - including protrusions and groove - from a single plate and purely by bending this plate.

[0023] In an aspect of the invention, the first mounting rail is formed by a single monolithic plate and wherein the second mounting rail is formed by a single monolithic plate.

[0024] Forming the mounting rail from a single monolithic plate is advantageous in that it reduces cost.

[0025] In an aspect of the invention, the first mounting rail is provided with facade cladding connected to the front flange of the first mounting rail and wherein the second mounting rail is provided with facade cladding connected to the front flange of the second mounting rail.

[0026] It is advantageous to provide the front flange with facade cladding in that it hereby is possible to form the mounting rail from different material that are more optimized to the specific use. I.e. the rail can be made from sheet metal enabling a complex shape and the façade cladding can be formed from cement-based or concrete-based materials, fibre cement, slate, natural stone or other more weather durable materials suited for cladding a building façade.

[0027] In an aspect of the invention, a height of the facade cladding is substantially equal to a height of the front flange of the first mounting rail and the second mounting rail.

[0028] Forming the mounting rails so that the front flange substantially covers the entire backside of the facade cladding of the given mounting rail is advantageous in that it provides more stability to the cladding system and enables a simpler mounting procedure.

[0029] In an aspect of the invention, the the front flange of the first mounting rail is substantially flush with the the front flange of the second mounting rail.

[0030] Forming the front flanges of the mounting rails flush is advantageous in that it provides a smooth, uniform and cleaning friendly cladding surface.

[0031] In an aspect of the invention, the front flange of the first mounting rail is inclined in relation to the mounting flange of the first mounting rail and wherein the front flange of the second mounting rail is inclined in relation to the mounting flange of the second mounting rail.

[0032] In an aspect of the invention, the first mounting rail is deeper at the first longitudinal edge than at the second longitudinal edge to form the front flange inclined in relation to the wall surface.

[0033] Inclining the front flanges is advantageous in that it guides water, snow and other away from the subjacent joint. Furthermore, inclined front flanges enables that façade cladding may be arranged overlapping to further protect the joints between the mounting rails.

[0034] In an aspect of the invention, the mounting flange of the first mounting rail extends beyond the area of the front flange of the first mounting rail and wherein the mounting flange of the second mounting rail extends beyond the area of the front flange of the second mounting rail as seen in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting flanges.

[0035] Forming the mounting rails so that the mounting flange of a specific mounting rail extends beyond the area of the front flange of this mounting rail is advantageous in that easy access to the mounting flange is provided during the mounting process - thus, simplifying the mounting process.

[0036] In an aspect of the invention, the spacing flange and the support flange are inclined in the same general direction in relation to the front flange to displace the front flange from a base.

[0037] Displacing the front flange from the wall surface by inclining the the spacing flange and the support flange backwards towards the wall surface - thereby forming a gap between the wall surface and the front flange - is advantageous in that this enables simple longitudinal connection between the rails. Furthermore, this gap can increase the insulating effect of the cladding system, it can reduce moisture build-up behind the rails and it can enable hidden piping and wiring.

[0038] The invention further relates to a method for cladding a wall surface by means of a cladding system. The method comprises the steps of:

• connecting a first mounting rail to the wall surface at least by means of connection means extending through an mounting flange of the first mounting rail and into the wall surface,
• placing the second mounting rail above the first mounting rail so that the second mounting rail covers the mounting flange of the first mounting rail,
• connecting a lower part of the second mounting rail to an upper part of the first mounting rail, and
• connecting the second mounting rail to the wall surface by means of connection means extending through a mounting flange of the second mounting rail and into the wall surface.

[0039] Covering the mounting flanges of the mounting flange of a rail with a superjacent mounting rail entails hidden connection means which in turn entail longer life of the cladding system since the connection means is not exposed to the fury of the elements.

[0040] In an aspect of the invention, the cladding system is a cladding system according to any of the previously mentioned cladding systems.

[0041] As mentioned above, the invention also relates to a mounting rail for mounting of facade cladding on a building, such as for new construction or building renovation, including external post-insulation of external walls on an existing building.

[0042] The mounting rail is special in that the mounting rail comprises an upper mounting flange which is connected along the lower edge to a spacing flange which is substantially perpendicular to the mounting flange, and wherein the spacing flange in its opposite side is connected to a front flange, on which the facade cladding is mountable, and in that the front flange is connected along its lower end edge to a lower support flange which extends in a plan that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the mounting flange.

[0043] The invention also relates to a method for mounting facade cladding on a building. The method comprises providing a mounting rail, wherein facade cladding is fixed to the front flange. The mounting rail is mounted on a substructure in the wall or facade by fixing the upper mounting flange of the mounting rail to the substructure. A further mounting rail is then placed above the previous mounting rail, so that the lower support flange on the further mounting rail abuts the upper spacing flange on the previous mounting rail. The upper mounting flange of the further mounting rail is then fixed to the substructure.

[0044] When using a mounting rail according to the invention, a row of facade cladding elements, which is described in detail below, can be fixed to the front flange of the mounting rail at the factory, where there is no dependence on the weather at the construction site. The mounting rails can then be transported to the construction site and fixed to the external wall or vertical battens mounted on or in the external wall. The mounting rail is fixed to a wall using traditional connection means used in construction, e.g. screws, nails, rivets or similar generally occurring connection means, through the upper mounting flange of the mounting rail, e.g. through prefabricated holes placed in the mounting flange, so that the distance corresponds to the distance between vertical battens in the wall, which distance is approx. 60 cm.

[0045] In connection with new construction and energy renovation and/or facade renovation of existing construction, it is desirable that the building envelope, i.e. the outer cladding on the facade, appears aesthetically pleasing. At the same time, there is an express desire for the completion of the construction or renovation to take place in the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible costs.

[0046] This can be achieved in a simple and easy way using the present invention. A first row of mounting rails having facade cladding on the front flange is mounted on an external wall, e.g. using screws, nails, rivets or similar connection means. The mounting rail can be fixed to the wall directly in the surface of the wall if this has sufficient strength to carry the facade cladding as well as the mounting rails. Alternatively, the mounting rails are fixed to vertical battens in the wall or on battens mounted on the surface of the wall.

[0047] The mounting rail is manufactured by folding a plate-shaped blank, preferably made from steel, to produce an upper mounting flange, spacing flange, front flange and lower support flange as described above and below, or by alternative generally known methods for manufacturing such profiles.

[0048] The mounting rail is possibly provided with through-holes in the areas at the fold between the front flange and the upper spacing flange, at the fold between the mounting flange and the upper spacing flange and/or at the fold between the front flange and the lower support flange to ensure that any encroaching water can be drained away from the structure.

[0049] When the first row of mounting rails, running horizontally along the lower edge on the wall, has been placed correctly and level, it is then very quick and simple to mount the other mounting rails with facade cladding. This can be simply done by placing the mounting rail so that the support flange in the next row(s) rests on the upper spacing flange on the mounting rail in the row mounted below, followed by fixing the mounting rail in the next row to the wall and/or the vertical battens etc. This way you can avoid measuring whether each row of facade cladding is placed correctly, e.g. level, on the wall.

[0050] When the mounting rail according to the invention is used, and one or more, e.g. a full row of individual elements of the facade cladding, e.g. stones, tiles etc. as indicated above, are mounted on the front flange, it is achieved that several facade cladding units can thus quickly be fixed on a wall without having to handle and fix each facade cladding element individually to the facade.

[0051] In connection with new construction and energy renovation and/or facade renovation of existing construction, it is desirable that the building envelope, i.e. the outer cladding on the facade, appears aesthetically pleasing. At the same time, there is an express desire for the completion of the construction or renovation to take place in the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible costs.

[0052] The facade cladding material comprises plates, tiles or slabs of e.g. ceramic materials, cement-based or concrete-based materials, fibre cement, stone and/or natural stone, wooden cladding, including plate-shaped wooden cladding, and/or combinations hereof.

[0053] The size of the facade cladding material plates depends on the expression you desire to achieve on the facade of the building, as the height of the front flange of the mounting rails is merely adapted to the desired size of the facade cladding material. For instance, it is possible to mount a row of tiles, slabs or other of the above-mentioned materials of a size (height * width) of 30 cm * 60 cm, or smaller slabs, tiles or similar plate-shaped items of e.g. 25 cm * 10-15 cm.

[0054] Depending on the material and the desired expression of the facade, the facade cladding material can have en thickness of between 3-4 mm and up to approx. 40 mm.

[0055] The facade cladding material is mounted on the front flange using connection means, such as an adhesive or screws, rivets or similar mechanical connection means.

[0056] When fixing the facade cladding to the front flange using mechanical connection means, it is preferred that the connection means are placed along the upper end of the facade cladding and thus also along the upper edge of the front flange.

[0057] It is preferred that the facade cladding elements are adhered to the front flange on the mounting rail, particularly when the facade cladding is made from natural materials, tiles, cement-based or concrete-based materials. This way, drilling holes in the facade cladding material for mechanical connection means may be avoided, and it is thus avoided that the plates break during drilling of the holes and therefore have to be discarded. When the facade cladding is adhered to the front flange of the mounting rail, it is preferred that the adhesive is applied in lines running vertically or obliquely when the mounting rails are fixed to the wall. This ensures good drainage of any encroaching water so that it cannot accumulate between the facade cladding material and the mounting rail and possibly cause frost bursts in the facade cladding during periods of frost.

[0058] The adhesive is preferably flexible when it has cured, as the adhesive must be able to adapt to the mounting rail and facade cladding material having different thermal expansion in the temperature ranges usually experienced in the surroundings of the buildings where the mounting rails are used, such as between -30 and +50 °C. Suitable adhesives complying herewith are e.g. modified acrylic adhesives, preferably having a adhesive strength (according to AFERA 5001) of minimum 35 N/25 mm at a contact time of 1 hour. The adhesive may possibly be applied as a double adhesive strip applied to the front flange of the mounting rail and/or the facade cladding material before the facade cladding material is pressed against the front flange on the mounting rail.

[0059] It is preferred that the facade cladding extends beyond the lower edge of the front flange. In this way, the bottom edge on the next row of the facade cladding on the subsequently mounted mounting rail will cover the upper edge and flange of the mounting rail, so that the connection means are not visible on the facade. In addition, any mechanical connection means on a facade cladding element in a lower row will be concealed behind the overlap of the facade cladding from the next row mounted on the wall. Furthermore, this overlap on the facade cladding ensures against water encroachment in the gaps between the facade cladding and/or the mounting rails. Finally, this overlap on the facade cladding provides an aesthetic distinctiveness on the surface of the facade. The overlap is typically 15-60 mm and preferably 25-50 mm, as this on the one hand ensures adequately against water encroachment while at the same time not inducing significantly increased material consumption of facade cladding materials.

[0060] The front flange is preferably slightly inclined when the mounting rail is fixed to a vertical wall. This can be achieved by the width of the lower support flange substantially corresponding to the sum of the width of the upper spacing flange and the thickness of the facade cladding material, ensuring, however, that there is a distance of 1-2 mm between the end edge of the support flange on an upper mounting rail and the mounting flange on the mounting rail mounted below the den upper mounting rail to avoid that the end of the support flange touches the mounting flange and over time may cause wear on the mounting flange due to displacements between the two mounting rails, e.g. due to thermal expansion, wind conditions and/or similar external influences.

[0061] For instance, the mounting flange may have a height of 25-60 mm, as heavier facade cladding materials will normally result in an increased height on the mounting flange in order to be able to support against the facade and to have space to use more connection means to fix the mounting flange to the wall face or to vertical posts and/or horizontal battens in the wall structure.

[0062] The upper spacing flange typically has a width of 15-50 mm, preferably 20-30 mm. For instance, if the facade cladding is made up from e.g. approx. 4-5 mm thick shale plates, the lower support flange will thus have a width of 27-28 mm if the upper spacing flange is 25 mm.

[0063] The angle between the spacing flange and the front flange of the mounting rail is therefore preferably slightly obtuse, such as 90-95 degrees, preferably 90.5-93 degrees and more preferably 92-94 degrees. The angle depends partly on the material thickness of the facade cladding material and the height of the plates to be mounted on the front flange and thus the height of the front flange on the mounting rail itself.

[0064] It is also possible to manufacture the mounting rail so that the upper spacing flange and the lower support flange have the same height, so that the outer surface of the plates of facade cladding material are in the same plane. This makes it possible for the building to present itself with a plastered facade when the joints between the plates are plastered and a mineral plaster layer is applied to the entire surface of the facade.

[0065] It is preferred that the lower face of the lower support flange or the upper face of the spacing flange are glued together using an adhesive to avoid displacements between the mounting rails, e.g. during gusts of wind. Preferably, an adhesive in the form of a double adhesive sealing strip or a packing strip in the form of a foam band is used, e.g. made from polyethersulfone (PES) having adhesive on both sides. Alternatively, rubber-based sealing strip is used, e.g. made from butyl rubber, which can be compressed under the weight of the mounting rail supporting on the spacing flange without flowing out. As an alternative hereto, an expanding adhesive type or sealant may be used, which can fill a gap between the lower face of the lower support flange and the upper face of the spacing flange.

Description of the drawings

[0066] In the following, the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where

Fig. 1 shows two mounting rails seen from an end as mounted on a facade,

Fig. 2 shows the joint between two mounting rails mounted next to each other,

Fig. 3 shows a first mounting rail mounted on a wall surface, as seen from the side,

Fig. 4 shows a cladding system with façade cladding, as seen from the side, and

Fig. 5 shows a cladding system without façade cladding, as seen from the side.

Detailed description of the invention

[0067] As mentioned above, the invention relates to a mounting rail 1 for mounting of facade cladding 3 on a building, such as for new construction or building renovation, including external post-insulation of external walls on an existing building.

[0068] The mounting rail is special in that the mounting rail comprises an upper mounting flange 4, 4' which, along the lower edge, is connected to a spacing flange 5, 5' which is substantially perpendicular to the mounting flange 4, 4', and wherein the spacing flange 5, 5' in its opposite side is connected to a front flange 2, on which the facade cladding 3 is mounted using mechanical connection means (not shown) along the upper folding edge 11. Along the lower end edge 12, the front flange 2 is connected to a lower support flange 6 which extends in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the mounting flange 4.

[0069] However in another embodiment spacing flange 5, 5' and the support flange 6 would not be perpendicular to the plane of the mounting flange 4. I.e. in another embodiment the spacing flange 5, 5' and the support flange would merely be inclined in relation to the mounting flange 4 - e.g. in an angle of 30°, 45° or 60° - e.g. to prevent moisture build-up in the joint by angling the joint surfaces to increase drainage.

[0070] The mounting rail 1 is fixed to a wall using traditional connection means 21 used in construction, e.g. screws, nails, rivets or similar generally occurring connection means, through the upper mounting flange 4 of the mounting rail 1, e.g. through prefabricated holes 8 placed in the mounting flange, so that the distance corresponds to the distance between vertical posts in the wall, which distance is typically approx. 60 cm.

[0071] However, in another embodiment the mounting flange 4 would not be provided with preformed holes and the connection means 21 will then form the holes through the mounting flange 4 during the mounting process - i.e. a nail can be shot or hammered directly through the mounting flange 4 and into the underlying wall.

[0072] The mounting rail 1 is possibly provided with through-holes 13 in the areas at the fold between the front flange and the upper spacing flange and/or at the fold between the mounting flange and the upper spacing flange and/or at the fold between the front flange and the lower support flange to ensure that any encroaching water can be drained away from the structure.

[0073] When the first row of mounting rails 1, running horizontally along the lower edge on the wall of a building (not shown), has been placed correctly and level, it is then very quick and simple to mount the other mounting rails 1 with facade cladding 3. This can be simply done by placing the support flange 6 of the mounting rail 1 in the next row(s), so that it rests on the upper spacing flange on the mounting rail in the row mounted below, followed by fixing the mounting rail in the next row to the wall and/or the vertical battens etc.

[0074] The facade cladding material 3 can comprises plates, tiles or slabs of e.g. ceramic materials, cement-based or concrete-based materials, fibre cement, stone and/or natural stone, wooden cladding, including plate-shaped wooden cladding, and/or combinations hereof. However in another embodiment the mounting rails 1, 14 would not comprise facade cladding material 3 and the front face of the front flange 2 would be arranged to act as the visible cladding material.

[0075] When the rails 1, 14 are provided with facade cladding material 3 on the front flange 2, the front flange 2 would be equal to a mounting face - i.e. a face on which cladding material 3 can be mounted.

[0076] Depending on the material and the desired expression of the facade, the facade cladding material can have en thickness of between 1-4 mm, 3-4mm and up to approx. 40 mm.

[0077] The facade cladding material 3 is mounted on the front flange 2 using connection means, such as an adhesive, as indicated by the broken vertical lines 9 or oblique lines 9', and/or screws, rivets or similar mechanical connection means (not shown).

[0078] In this embodiment the facade cladding 3 extends beyond the lower edge 12 of the front flange 2. In this way, the bottom edge on the next row of the facade cladding on the subsequently mounted mounting rail 1 will cover the upper edge 11 and mounting flange 4 of the mounting rail 1', so that the connection means are not visible on the facade. In addition, any mechanical connection means (not shown) on a facade cladding element in a lower row will be concealed behind the overlap of the facade cladding 3 from the next row mounted on the wall.

[0079] The front flange 2 is in this embodiment slightly inclined when the mounting rail 1 is fixed to a vertical wall by the width B of the lower support flange 6 substantially corresponding to the sum of the width of the upper spacing flange 5 and the thickness of the facade cladding material 3, ensuring, however, that there is a distance of 1-2 mm between the end edge of the support flange 6 on an upper mounting rail 1 and the mounting flange 4' on the mounting rail 1 mounted below the upper mounting rail. For instance, the mounting flange 4, 4' may have a height of 25-60 mm, as heavier facade cladding materials 3 will normally incur an increased height of the mounting flange 4, 4.

[0080] The upper spacing flange 5, 5' typically has a width of 15-50 mm, preferably 20-30 mm.

[0081] For instance, if the facade cladding 3 is constituted by e.g. approx. 4-5 mm thick shale plates, the lower support flange 6 will thus have a width of 27-28 mm if the upper spacing flange 5 is 25 mm.

[0082] The angle between the spacing flange 5, 5' and the front flange 2 of the mounting rail 1 is therefore in this embodiment slightly obtuse, such as 90-95 degrees, preferably 90.5-93 degrees and more preferably 92-94 degrees. The angle depends partly on the material thickness d_f of the facade cladding material 2 and the height of the plates 3 to be mounted on the front flange 2 and thus the height of the front flange 2 on the mounting rail 1 itself.

[0083] The lower face of the lower support flange 6 and the upper face of the spacing flange 5' are preferably connected e.g. by being glued together using an adhesive 7 to avoid displacements between the mounting rails, e.g. during gusts of wind. Preferably, an adhesive in the form of a double adhesive sealing strip 7 or a packing strip in the form of a foam band is used, e.g. from polyethersulfone (PES) having adhesive on both sides.

[0084] The mounting rail may for instance be manufactured in fixed lengths, e.g. 600 mm, 1,200 mm, 1,800 mm, 2,400 mm etc. or similar, or the length of the mounting rails may be adapted to the building on which they are to be mounted.

[0085] The facade cladding 3 is mounted on a building (not shown) using a mounting rail 1, wherein the facade cladding is fixed on the front flange 2. The mounting rail 1 is mounted on a substructure in the wall or facade (not shown) by fixing the upper mounting flange 4, 4' of the mounting rail 1 to the substructure. A further mounting rail 1 is placed above the previous mounting rail 1, so that the lower support flange 6 on the further mounting rail 1 abuts the upper spacing flange 5' on the lower mounting rail 1. The upper mounting flange 4 of the further mounting rail 1 is then fixed to the substructure. The adhesive strip 7 is e.g. mounted on the underside of the lower support flange or on the upper side of the spacing flange 5, 5'.

[0086] Fig. 3 shows a first mounting rail 1 mounted on a wall surface 16, as seen from the side.

[0087] In this embodiment the first mounting rail 1 is the first rail to be mounted on a wall 16. I.e. the first rail 1 is typically mounted at the bottom of the wall 16 as the lowest rail. This fist rail 1 is connected to the wall 16 by means of nails 21 through the mounting flange 4 but since this rail design also comprises a protrusion 19 - in the form of a fixation flange 24 arranged at the lower part of the first rail 1 i.e. at the first longitudinal edge 17 of the first mounting rail 1 - the first rail 1 could also be connected to the underlying wall 16 by means of connection means extending through the fixation flange 24.

[0088] Fig. 4 shows a cladding system 15 with façade cladding 3, as seen from the side and Fig. 5 shows a cladding system 15 without façade cladding 3, as seen from the side.

[0089] In this embodiment the first mounting rail 1 comprises a front flange 2. At the upper edge - i.e. the first longitudinal edge 17 of the front flange 2 - the front flange 2 is connected to the mounting flange 4 through a spacing flange 5 being inclined in relation to the front flange 2. In this embodiment the mounting flange 4 is connected to the spacing flange 5 through a folding flange 25 enabling that a groove 20 is formed between the mounting flange 4 and the folding flange 25. The protrusion 19 of a superjacent rail 14 can then mesh with this groove 20 to secure the rails 1, 14 against mutual displacement to or from the wall surface 16.

[0090] In another embodiment the protrusion 19 could be formed as depression, dents, lumps or other arranged to mesh with corresponding holes, dimples, indentations or other arranged at the upper edge 23 of a subjacent rail 1, or the mutual fixation could be formed by matching shapes, geometric, bends or other.

[0091] The mounting flange 4 is suited for being connected to the wall surface 16, in that the mounting flange extends beyond the area of the front flange 2 and in that the mounting flange is arranged to fully abut the underlying wall 16.

[0092] Along the second longitudinal edge 18 of the front flange 2 is arranged a support flange 6 also being inclined in relation to the front flange 2.

[0093] In this embodiment the support flange 6 and the spacing flange 5 has approximately the same depth so that the upper end and the lower end of each rail 1, 14 protrudes substantially the same distance from the wall surface 16. This enables that the front flanges 4 of the rails 1, 14 are flush and that façade cladding 3 mounted on the front flanges will butt instead of overlap.

[0094] However in another embodiment the mounting rail 1, 14 could be deeper at the first longitudinal edge 17 than at the second longitudinal edge 18 so that the front flange 2 would be inclined in relation to the wall surface 16 as disclosed in figs 1 and 2.

[0095] In another embodiment adhesive strip 7 of similar mouldings could be arranged in the joint between adjacent rails 1, 14 e.g. to prevent the rails from clattering, grinding, squeaking or other and when the façade cladding 3 butts the adhesive strip 7 could also extend into the joint between adjacent adhesive façade cladding 3.

[0096] The cladding system also comprises a second mounting rail 14 which in this case is substantially identical with the first mounting rail 1. However in another embodiment the rails could be different i.e. the cladding system could comprise a particular start and finish rail while the rails in between would be different from these.

[0097] The first mounting rail 1 is connected to the second mounting rail 14 at the first longitudinal edge 17 of the first mounting rail 1 and at the second longitudinal edge 18 of said second mounting rail 14 by the protrusion 19 arranged in the groove 20 so that the mounting flange 4 of the first mounting rail 1 is substantially covered by the front flange 2 of the second mounting rail 14 as seen in a direction towards said wall surface 16.

[0098] The invention has been exemplified above with reference to specific examples of mounting rails 1, 14, façade cladding 3, connection means 21 and other. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular examples described above but may be designed and altered in a multitude of varieties within the scope of the invention as specified in the claims.

Reference designations:

[0099] 

1. First mounting rail

2. front flange

3. facade cladding

4. mounting flange

5. spacing flange

6. support flange

7. adhesive strip

8. through-going mounting holes in mounting flange

9. indication of adhesive lines between front flange and facade cladding

10. folding line between mounting flange and spacing flange

11. folding line between front flange and spacing flange

12. folding line between front flange and lower support flange

13. drainage openings

14. Second mounting rail

15. Cladding system

16. Wall surface

17. first longitudinal edge

18. second longitudinal edge

19. protrusion

20. groove

21. connection means

22. lower part of second mounting rail

23. upper part of first mounting rail

24. Fixation flange

25. Folding flange

HC. Height of facade cladding

HF. Height of front flange

Claims

1. A cladding system (15) for being connect to a wall surface (16), said cladding system (15) comprising

a first mounting rail (1) comprising a front flange (2), wherein a first longitudinal edge (17) of said front flange (2) is connected to a mounting flange (4) through a spacing flange (5) being inclined in relation to said front flange (2), wherein a second longitudinal edge (18) of said front flange (2) is connected to a support flange (6) also being inclined in relation to said front flange (2) and wherein said mounting flange (4) is suited for being connected to said wall surface (16),

a second mounting rail (14) comprising a front flange (2), wherein a first longitudinal edge (17) of said front flange (2) is connected to a mounting flange (4) through a spacing flange (5) being inclined in relation to said front flange (2), wherein a second longitudinal edge (18) of said front flange (2) is connected to a support flange (6) also being inclined in relation to said front flange (2) and wherein said mounting flange (4) is suited for being connected to said wall surface (16),

wherein said first mounting rail (1) is connected to said second mounting rail (14) at said first longitudinal edge (17) of said first mounting rail (1) and at said second longitudinal edge (18) of said second mounting rail (14) so that said mounting flange (4) of said first mounting rail (1) is substantially covered at least by said front flange (2) of said second mounting rail (14) as seen in a direction towards said wall surface (16).

2. A cladding system (15) according to claim 1, wherein said first mounting rail (1) is identical to said second mounting rail (14).

3. A cladding system (15) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a protrusion (19) of said second mounting rail (14) is arranged to engage a groove (20) of said first mounting rail (1) to substantially prevent mutual displacement in a direction perpendicular to said wall surface (16).

4. A cladding system (15) according to claim 3, wherein said protrusion (19) is a flange of said second mounting rail (14) and wherein said groove (20) is formed as a folding of said first mounting rail (1).

5. A cladding system (15) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said first mounting rail (1) is formed by a single monolithic plate and wherein said second mounting rail (14) is formed by a single monolithic plate.

6. A cladding system (15) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said first mounting rail (1) is provided with facade cladding (3) connected to said front flange (2) of said first mounting rail (1) and wherein said second mounting rail (14) is provided with facade cladding (3) connected to said front flange (2) of said second mounting rail (14).

7. A cladding system (15) according to claim 6, wherein a height (HC) of said facade cladding (3) is substantially equal to a height (HR) of said front flange (2) of said first mounting rail (1) and said second mounting rail (14).

8. A cladding system (15) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said said front flange (2) of said first mounting rail (1) is substantially flush with said said front flange (2) of said second mounting rail (14).

9. A cladding system (15) according to any of claims 1-7, wherein said front flange (2) of said first mounting rail (1) is inclined in relation to said mounting flange (4) of said first mounting rail (1) and wherein said front flange (2) of said second mounting rail (14) is inclined in relation to said mounting flange (4) of said second mounting rail (14).

10. A cladding system (15) according to any of claims 1-7, wherein said first mounting rail (1) is deeper at said first longitudinal edge (17) than at said second longitudinal edge (18) to form said front flange (2) inclined in relation to said wall surface (16).

11. A cladding system (15) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said mounting flange (4) of said first mounting rail (1) extends beyond the area of said front flange (2) of said first mounting rail (1) and wherein said mounting flange (4) of said second mounting rail (14) extends beyond the area of said front flange (2) of said second mounting rail (14) as seen in a direction substantially perpendicular to said mounting flanges (4).

12. A cladding system (15) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said spacing flange (5) and said support flange (6) are inclined in the same general direction in relation to said front flange (2) to displace said front flange (2) from a base.

13. A method for cladding a wall surface (16) by means of a cladding system (15), wherein said method comprises the steps of:

• connecting a first mounting rail (1) to said wall surface (16) at least by means of connection means (21) extending through an mounting flange (4) of said first mounting rail (1) and into said wall surface (16),

• placing said second mounting rail (14) above said first mounting rail (1) so that said second mounting rail (14) covers said mounting flange (4) of said first mounting rail (1),

• connecting a lower part (22) of said second mounting rail (14) to an upper part (23) of said first mounting rail (1), and

• connecting said second mounting rail (14) to said wall surface (16) by means of connection means (21) extending through a mounting flange (4) of said second mounting rail (14) and into said wall surface (16).

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said cladding system (15) is a cladding system (15) according to any of claims 1-12.

15. A mounting rail (1, 14) for mounting of facade cladding (3) on a building, such as for new construction or building renovation, including external post-insulation of external walls on an existing building, characterised in that the mounting rail (1, 14) comprises an upper mounting flange (4) which is connected along the lower edge to a spacing flange (5) which is substantially perpendicular to the mounting flange (4), and wherein the spacing flange (5) in its opposite side is connected to a front flange (2), on which facade cladding (3) is mountable, and in that the front flange (2) is connected along its lower end edge (22) to a lower support flange (6) which extends in a plan that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the mounting flange (4).

16. A mounting rail according to claim 15, characterised in that a facade cladding (3) material is mounted on the front flange (2) using connection means, such as an an adhesive or screws, rivets or similar mechanical connection means.

17. A mounting rail according to claim 16, characterised in that the facade cladding (3) extends beyond the lower edge of the front flange (2).

18. A mounting rail according to claims 16 or 17, characterised in that the width of the lower support flange (6) substantially corresponds to the sum of the width of the upper spacing flange and the thickness of the facade cladding (3) material.

19. A mounting rail according to any of claims 15-18, characterised in that an adhesive strip is adhered to the lower face of the lower support flange (6) or the upper face of the spacing flange.

20. A mounting rail according to any of claims 15-19, characterised in that the facade cladding (3) material comprises plates, tiles or slabs of e.g. ceramic materials, cement-based or concrete-based materials, fibre cement, stone and/or natural stone, wooden cladding, including plate-shaped wooden cladding, and/or combinations hereof.

21. A method for mounting of facade cladding (3) on a building, wherein the method comprises a mounting rail, wherein facade cladding (3) is fixed on the front flange (2), and wherein the mounting rail is mounted on a substructure in the wall or facade by fixing the upper mounting flange (4) of the mounting rail to the substructure, and that a further mounting rail is placed above the previous mounting rail, so that the lower support flange (6) on the further mounting rail abuts the upper spacing flange on the previous mounting rail, whereafter the upper mounting flange (4) of the further mounting rail is also fixed to the substructure.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterised in that an adhesive is applied between the upper spacing flange (5) on the lower mounting rail and the support flange (6) on the further mounting rail.

Drawing