Best known as a phrase in film making to signify that a particular scene or film has finished, ‘it’s a wrap’ can also be used on the construction site. It’s a term that’s well worth remembering as it will prevent a problem that can otherwise support wet ingress.
A direct water ingress route is created where a gable abuts another wall and the gable slope finishes at or beyond the external corner of that wall. The masonry forming the corner return provides a direct entry route for wind-driven rain to permeate the structure.
This is best demonstrated in the photograph where preformed Type X Cavitrays are protecting the roof/wall intersection. The individual trays within the cavity wall create a DPC staircase with connecting treads and risers. The cavity upstand of each tray is hinged, so it takes up the cavity width encountered.
Externally, the flashings are already shaped and attached to the trays, so not only is the join between the two assured, but once bedded and flush pointed, the masons job is complete. There is no need to return later in order to point-in flashings.
The bottom tray is an external angled tray, what’s called a Wrap Tray. Supplied with flashings attached to both external sides, it wraps and covers masonry that is below the abutment corner – an often overlooked consideration. The external-to-internal masonry connection is externally wrapped.
Specifiers can benefit from technical advice, a free scheduling service, and performance warranty from the longest-established cavity tray company: Cavity Trays.
