L-Bead: a leak prevention system for stucco surfaces

A stop bead for mounting on a wall having a jamb formed therein, the jamb being part of a frame that frames an opening in the wall, the jamb having a first surface facing the opening in the wall and a second surface facing away from the opening in the wall, to separate the jamb from plaster or stucco material during application of plaster or stucco material to the wall, comprising

• a first side end and a second side end, the first side end of the stop bead having a leading edge for engaging the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb,
• a base panel having a front face and a bottom face,
• the bottom face of the base panel being adapted to be mounted against a wall,
• the stop bead having a highest point and a lowest point, the bottom face of the base panel defining the lowest point of the stop bead,
• a stop bead wall formed on the base panel and extending outwardly above the front face of the base panel, the stop bead wall having a first side and a second side, the first side of the stop bead wall having an engaging surface for engaging plaster or stucco material, and the second side of the stop bead wall having a jamb facing surface that faces the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, and
• a spacing member formed on the stop bead and extending outwardly away from the jamb facing surface of the stop bead wall spacing the stop bead wall a predetermined distance from the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, the spacing member forming the leading edge of the first side end of the stop bead, the leading edge of the first side end of the stop bead defining a point beyond which no other portion of the stop bead extends laterally in a direction extending from the second side of the stop bead wall toward the first side end of the stop bead, the leading edge having a jamb engaging surface engaging the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, the spacing member having an upper end portion having an outer surface, the outer surface of the upper end portion of the spacing member being substantially higher than the front face of the base panel, the spacing member forming a caulk receiving area for receiving caulk to seal between the stop bead and the jamb, the caulk receiving area being located above the outer surface of the upper end portion of the spacing member, with the outer surface of the upper end portion of the spacing member defining a bottom end of the caulk receiving area, the caulk receiving area being sized to be substantially filled by a thin application of caulk to seal between the stop bead and the jamb, and the caulk receiving area being open from above to permit access to the caulk receiving area from above to permit caulk to be applied in the caulk receiving area from above to seal between the stop bead and the jamb, and
• the spacing member comprising flexible material and being adapted to contract inwardly towards and expand outwardly from the stop bead wall responsive to weather induced movement of the jamb after the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, and
• the spacing member being resilient.

A method of uniformly spacing a stop bead wall from a second surface of a jamb formed in a wall, the jamb being part of a frame that frames an opening in the wall, the jamb having a first surface facing the opening in the wall, and the jamb having the second surface facing away from the opening in the wall, for separating the jamb from plaster or stucco material being applied to the wall, and for sealing against leaks between the stop bead and the jamb, comprising the steps of

• providing a stop bead for mounting on a wall having a jamb formed therein, the jamb being part of a frame that frames an opening in the wall, the jamb having a first surface facing the opening in the wall and a second surface facing away from the opening in the wall, to separate the jamb from plaster or stucco material during application of plaster or stucco material to the wall, comprising a first side end and a second side end, the first side end of the stop bead having a leading edge for engaging the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, a base panel having a front face and a bottom face, the bottom face of the base panel being adapted to be mounted against a wall, the stop bead having a highest point and a lowest point, the bottom face of the base panel defining the lowest point of the stop bead, a stop bead wall formed on the base panel and extending outwardly above the front face of the base panel, the stop bead wall having a first side and a second side, the first side of the stop bead wall having an engaging surface for engaging plaster or stucco material, and the second side of the stop bead wall having a jamb facing surface that faces the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, and a spacing member formed on the stop bead and extending outwardly away from the jamb facing surface of the stop bead wall spacing the stop bead wall a predetermined distance from the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, the spacing member forming the leading edge of the first side end of the stop bead, the leading edge of the first side end of the stop bead defining a point beyond which no other portion of the stop bead extends laterally in a direction extending from the second side of the stop bead wall toward the first side end of the stop bead, the leading edge having a jamb engaging surface engaging the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, the spacing member having an upper end portion having an outer surface, the outer surface of the upper end portion of the spacing member being substantially higher than the front face of the base panel, the spacing member forming a caulk receiving area for receiving caulk to seal between the stop bead and the jamb, the caulk receiving area being located above the outer surface of the upper end portion of the spacing member, with the outer surface of the upper end portion of the spacing member defining a bottom end of the caulk receiving area, the caulk receiving area being sized to be substantially filled by a thin application of caulk to seal between the stop bead and the jamb, and the caulk receiving area being open from above to permit access to the caulk receiving area from above to permit caulk to be applied in the caulk receiving area from above to seal between the stop bead and the jamb, and the spacing member comprising flexible material and being adapted to contract inwardly towards and expand outwardly from the stop bead wall responsive to weather induced movement of the jamb after the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, and the spacing member being resilient,
• mounting the stop bead adjacent to the jamb such that the spacing member abuts the second surface of the jamb to create a straight and uniform gap between the jamb facing surface of the stop bead wall and the jamb, thereby uniformly spacing the stop bead wall from the second surface of the jamb and forming the caulk receiving area for receiving caulk to seal between the stop bead and the jamb,
• sealing against leaks between the stop bead and the jamb by applying caulk to and extending between the stop bead and the jamb in the caulk receiving area to form a seal between the stop bead and the jamb, and
• applying plaster or stucco material to the wall and keeping the plaster or stucco material separated from the jamb by the stop bead wall.

A stop bead for mounting on a wall having a jamb formed therein, the jamb being part of a frame that frames an opening in the wall, the jamb having a first surface facing the opening in the wall and a second surface facing away from the opening in the wall, to separate the jamb from plaster or stucco material during application of plaster or stucco material to the wall, comprising

• a first side end and a second side end, the first side end of the stop bead having a leading edge for engaging the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb,
• a base panel having a front face and a bottom face,
• the bottom face of the base panel being adapted to be mounted against a wall,
• the stop bead having a highest point and a lowest point, the bottom face of the base panel defining the lowest point of the stop bead,
• a stop bead wall formed on the base panel and extending outwardly above the front face of the base panel, the stop bead wall having a first side and a second side, the first side of the stop bead wall having an engaging surface for engaging plaster or stucco material, and the second side of the stop bead wall having a jamb facing surface that faces the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, and
• a spacing member formed on the stop bead and extending outwardly away from the jamb facing surface of the stop bead wall spacing the stop bead wall a predetermined distance from the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, the spacing member forming the leading edge of the first side end of the stop bead, the leading edge of the first side end of the stop bead defining a point beyond which no other portion of the stop bead extends laterally in a direction extending from the second side of the stop bead wall toward the first side end of the stop bead, the leading edge having a jamb engaging surface engaging the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, the spacing member having an upper end portion having an outer surface, the outer surface of the upper end portion of the spacing member being higher than the front face of the base panel, the spacing member forming a caulk receiving area for receiving caulk to seal between the stop bead and the jamb, the caulk receiving area being located above the outer surface of the upper end portion of the spacing member, with the outer surface of the upper end portion of the spacing member defining a bottom end of the caulk receiving area, the caulk receiving area being open from above to permit access to the caulk receiving area from above to permit caulk to be applied in the caulk receiving area from above to seal between the stop bead and the jamb, and
• the spacing member being adapted to contract inwardly towards and expand outwardly from the stop bead wall responsive to weather induced movement of the jamb after the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb,
• the spacing member having an upper end portion having an outer surface, and further including
• bond-breaking tape mounted on the outer surface of the upper end portion of the spacing member for hindering formation of a bond between the caulk and the bond-breaking tape.

A stop bead for mounting on a wall having a jamb formed therein, the jamb being part of a frame that frames an opening in a wall, the jamb having a first surface facing the opening in the wall and a second surface facing away from the opening in the wall, to separate the jamb from plaster or stucco material during application of the plaster or stucco material to the wall, comprising:

• a first side end and a second side end, the first side end of the stop bead having a leading edge for engaging the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb,
• a base panel having a front face and a bottom face,
• the bottom face being adapted to be mounted against a wall,
• the stop bead having a highest point and a lowest point, the bottom face of the base panel defining the lowest point of the stop bead,
• a stop bead wall formed on the base panel and extending outwardly above the front face of the base panel, and
• first means formed on the stop bead for contacting the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, for spacing the stop bead wall a predetermined distance from the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, and for receiving caulk to seal between the stop bead and the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb,
• said first means forming the leading edge of the first side end of the stop bead, the leading edge of the first side end of the stop bead defining a point beyond which no portion of the stop bead extends laterally in a direction extending from the stop bead wall toward the first side end of the stop bead,
• said first means having an upper end portion having an outer surface,
• the outer surface of the upper end portion of said first means being higher than the front face of the base panel,
• said first means including a caulk receiving area for receiving caulk to seal between the stop bead and the jamb,
• the caulk receiving area being located above the outer surface of the upper end portion of said first means, with the outer surface of the upper end portion of said first means defining a bottom end of the caulk receiving area,
• the caulk receiving area being open from above to permit access to the caulk receiving area from above to permit caulk to be applied in the caulk receiving area from above to seal between the stop bead and the jamb, and
• said first means having expansion/contraction means for permitting said first means to expand outwardly from and to contract inwardly towards the stop bead wall responsive to weather induced movement of the jamb after the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, and
• said first means being resilient.

A stop bead for mounting on a wall having a jamb formed therein, the jamb being part of a frame that frames an opening in the wall, the jamb having a first surface facing the opening in the wall and a second surface facing away from the opening in the wall, to separate the jamb from plaster or stucco material during application of plaster or stucco material to the wall, comprising

• a first side end and a second side end, the first side end of the stop bead having a leading edge for engaging the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb,
• a base panel having a front face and a bottom face,
• the bottom face of the base panel being adapted to be mounted against a wall,
• the stop bead having a highest point and a lowest point, the bottom face of the base panel defining the lowest point of the stop bead,
• a stop bead wall formed on the base panel and extending outwardly above the front face of the base panel, the stop bead wall having a first side and a second side, the first side of the stop bead wall having an engaging surface for engaging plaster or stucco material, and the second side of the stop bead wall having a jamb facing surface that faces the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, and
• a spacing member formed on the stop bead and extending outwardly away from the jamb facing surface of the stop bead wall spacing the stop bead wall a predetermined distance from the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, the spacing member forming the leading edge of the first side end of the stop bead, the leading edge of the first side end of the stop bead defining a point beyond which no other portion of the stop bead extends laterally in a direction extending from the second side of the stop bead wall toward the first side end of the stop bead, the leading edge having a jamb engaging surface engaging the second surface of the jamb when the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb, the spacing member having an upper end portion having an outer surface, the outer surface of the upper end portion of the spacing member being substantially higher than the front face of the base panel, the spacing member forming a caulk receiving area for receiving caulk to seal between the stop bead and the jamb, the caulk receiving area being located above the outer surface of the upper end portion of the spacing member, with the outer surface of the upper end portion of the spacing member defining a bottom end of the caulk receiving area, the caulk receiving area being sized to be substantially filled by a thin application of caulk to seal between the stop bead and the jamb, and the caulk receiving area being open from above to permit access to the caulk receiving area from above to permit caulk to be applied in the caulk receiving area from above to seal between the stop bead and the jamb, and
• the spacing member comprising flexible material and being adapted to contract inwardly towards and expand outwardly from the stop bead wall responsive to weather induced movement of the jamb after the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb,
• the spacing member being resilient, and
• the spacing member having an upper wall having a distal end, a lower wall having a distal end, an outer side wall extending between the distal ends of the upper wall and the lower wall of the spacing member, and the upper wall, the lower wall, and the outer side wall of the spacing member forming in conjunction with the stop bead wall a flexible hollow tube which flexes to accommodate expansion and contraction of the jamb due to changes in weather after the stop bead is mounted adjacent to the jamb.