US20070204525A1

US20070204525A1 - Eave for a building

Info

Publication number: US20070204525A1
Application number: US11/366,045
Authority: US
Inventors: Owen Bunker
Original assignee: TUFF SHED Inc
Current assignee: TUFF SHED Inc
Priority date: 2006-03-01
Filing date: 2006-03-01
Publication date: 2007-09-06
Also published as: CA2579531A1

Abstract

According to the invention, a method for making an eave for a roof on a building is disclosed. First, coupling a roof rip piece with an eave trim piece; second, coupling the coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece with the top of a building; and, in some embodiments, third, coupling a sheeting piece with the top of the building to complete the roof. In another embodiment of the invention, a kit for making a building with an eave is disclosed. The kit may have a plurality of frame members which may be assembled to frame a structure, a roof rip piece, an eave trim piece and a sheeting piece to make a roof with an eave for the structure. Another kit provided by the invention may have a pre-coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece rather than two separate pieces.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to construction of buildings and, more specifically, to construction of eaves for roofs on buildings.
Eaves are common on many types of buildings. Eaves extend the roof line some distance beyond the walls of the underlying building, ensuring that water run-off from the roof falls at least a nominal distance from the building's walls. Water that falls near the walls may, over time, damage the walls and/or base of the building. Additionally, eaves may fulfill an aesthetic function.
Eaves may be constructed of a single piece that is attached to the edge of the roof of a building. This type of construction is economical for the builder, but may lead to warping of the eave. This can lead to misalignment of building parts and consequent exposure of the interior of the building to the outside environment. To remedy this problem, eaves are often constructed of multiple pieces to reinforce the structure of the eave and thereby prevent warping.
Present methods in the art involve fastening these pieces to parts of an eave that are already attached to the building. This can be a difficult task, resulting in misalignment of the various pieces, increased construction time and reduced building quality. For instance, present methods may require attaching pieces to parts of the eave from the underside of the eave, necessitating operations such as hammering nails upward from underneath the eave.
These operations may strain the physical and technical abilities of manufacturers. In these scenarios it may not be possible to squarely insert fasteners, such as nails, into the eave pieces. Other parts of the building may obstruct the space required to properly operate fastening tools such as nail guns, hammers or power screwdrivers. The systems of the present invention provide solutions to these and other issues.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for making an eave for a roof on a building. As part of the method, a roof rip piece may be coupled with an eave trim piece prior to coupling the roof rip piece or the eave trim piece with the building. The roof rip piece and the eave trim piece each may be defined by two lengthwise edges and two sides. Furthermore, the width of the roof rip piece may be greater than the width of the eave trim piece.
When the roof rip piece and eave trim piece are coupled, the lengthwise edges of both pieces may be substantially parallel. Furthermore, after coupling, the first lengthwise edge of the eave trim piece may be either substantially planar with the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece or possibly extend beyond the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece. The coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece may then be coupled with the top of a building. At this point, one side of the roof rip piece may possibly be substantially flush with the top of the building.
When the coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece are coupled with the building, the eave for the roof of the building may be complete. In some embodiments this may complete the roof as well. In other embodiments a sheeting piece may be coupled with the top of the building to complete at least some portion of the roof. The sheeting piece may be defined by at least one edge and two sides. When coupled, one side of the sheeting may be substantially flush with the top of the building and one edge of the sheeting may be proximate to the roof rip piece.
Coupling in any of the steps and/or embodiments of the invention may, merely by way of example, include fastening with nails, fastening with screws, fastening with nuts and bolts, fastening with glue and/or fastening with staples. The roof rip piece, eave trim piece and sheeting piece may, merely by way of example, be made from oriented strand board, particle board, fibreboard, plywood, structurally insulated panels, wood, cement board, composite, plastic, polymer and/or metal.
In some embodiments, a drip edge piece may further be coupled with the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece. The drip edge piece may be configured to cover at least a portion of the interface between the roof rip piece and the eave trim piece. The drip edge piece may, merely by way of example, be a member with a square angled L-shape cross-section, an obtuse angled L-shape cross-section, a square U-shape cross-section, a parallelogram U-shape cross-section and/or a T-shape cross-section. The drip edge piece may, merely by way of example, be made from aluminum, steel, aluminum alloy, steel alloy, plastic, polymer and/or composite.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a kit for making a building with an eave. The kit may have a plurality of frame members which may be assembled to frame a structure with at least two sides and a roof frame, and a roof rip piece and eave trim piece which may be coupled with each other and further coupled with the roof frame to make an eave. The kit may include instructions instructing a user to couple the roof rip piece with the eave trim piece before coupling either piece with the building. The kit may, in some embodiments, also contain a sheeting piece which may be coupled with the roof frame to complete at least a portion of the roof. In other embodiments, the roof rip piece may complete at least a portion of the roof. The kit may further have a drip edge piece which may be coupled with the roof rip piece to cover at least a portion of the interface between the roof rip piece and the eave trim piece.
In another embodiment, the invention provides an alternative kit for making a building with an eave. The kit may have a plurality of frame members which may be assembled to frame a structure with at least two sides and a roof frame, and a roof rip piece coupled with an eave trim piece which may be coupled with the roof frame to make a roof with an eave. The kit may, in some embodiments, also contain a sheeting piece which may be coupled with the roof frame to complete at least a portion of the roof. In other embodiments, the roof rip piece may complete at least a portion of the roof. The kit may further have a drip edge piece which may be coupled with the roof rip piece to cover at least a portion of the interface between the roof rip piece and the eave trim piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in conjunction with the appended figures:
FIG. 1A is an isometric drawing of an assembled structure, a roof rip piece, an eave trim piece and a sheeting piece.
FIG. 1B is an isometric drawing of an assembled structure, a roof rip piece and an eave trim piece.
FIG. 2A is an isometric drawing of a first possible configuration of the coupled roof rip piece and the eave trim piece from FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2B is an isometric drawing of a first possible configuration of the coupled roof rip piece and the eave trim piece from FIG. 1B.
FIG. 3A is an isometric drawing of a second possible configuration of the coupled roof rip piece and the eave trim piece from FIG. 1A.
FIG. 3B is an isometric drawing of a second possible configuration of the coupled roof rip piece and the eave trim piece from FIG. 1B.
FIG. 4A is an isometric drawing of the coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece of FIG. 2A coupled with the structure.
FIG. 4B is an isometric drawing of the coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece of FIG. 2B coupled with the structure.
FIG. 5 is an isometric drawing of the sheeting piece coupled with the structure of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 6A is an isometric drawing of a square angled L-shape drip edge piece.
FIG. 6B is an isometric drawing of an obtuse angled L-shape drip edge piece.
FIG. 6C is an isometric drawing of a square U-shape drip edge piece.
FIG. 6D is an isometric drawing of a parallelogram U-shape drip edge piece.
FIG. 6E is an isometric drawing of a T-shape drip edge piece.
FIG. 7A is an isometric drawing of a square U-shape drip edge piece coupled with the structure of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7B is an isometric drawing of a square U-shape drip edge piece coupled with the structure of FIG. 4B.
FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of one method of the invention for making an eave for a roof on a building.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of this description, an “eave” is defined as the part of a roof that extends outward from the walls of a structure. The “top of a building,” “top of a structure,” or similar terms, are defined as the part of a building or structure on which a roof is constructed.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for making an eave for a roof on a building. As part of the method, a roof rip piece may be coupled with an eave trim piece before either is coupled with the building. Coupling may, merely by way of example, include fastening with nails, fastening with screws, fastening with nuts and bolts, fastening with glue and/or fastening with staples. The roof rip piece and the eave trim piece each may be defined by two lengthwise edges and two sides. Furthermore, the width of the roof rip piece may be greater than the width of the eave trim piece. The roof rip piece and eave trim piece may, merely by way of example, be made from oriented strand board, particle board, fibreboard, plywood, structurally insulated panels, wood, cement board, composite, plastic, polymer and/or metal. The thickness of the roof rip piece may be between about ⅜ inch (0.010 meters) and about ¾ inch (0.019 meters). The thickness of the eave trim piece may be between about ⅜ inch (0.010 meters) and about 1-¼ inch (0.032 meters).
When the roof rip piece and eave trim piece are coupled, the lengthwise edges of both pieces may be substantially parallel. Coupling the pieces so that they are substantially parallel may ensure proper alignment with other building parts. Furthermore, after coupling, the first lengthwise edge of the eave trim piece may be either substantially planar with the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece or possibly extend beyond the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece. The first lengthwise edge of the eave trim piece may possibly extend, in some embodiments, beyond the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece up to about ½ inch (about 0.013 meters). This combined edge, in some embodiments, may become the outer edge of the eave of the building. Design constraints, manufacturing constraints, material availability and/or aesthetic preferences may determine whether the two pieces should be coupled so that their first lengthwise edges are substantially planar or offset as described above.
Once coupled together, the roof rip piece may be coupled with the top of a building. Coupling may, merely by way of example, include any of the methods discussed above. Once coupled, one side of the roof rip piece may be substantially flush with the top of the building and form part of the edge of the roof of the building.
It will now become apparent to those skilled in the art how coupling the roof rip piece with the eave trim piece prior to coupling the combined piece with the building ensures proper alignment of the roof rip piece and eave trim piece. When the roof rip piece and eave trim piece are coupled prior to coupling with the building, they may be coupled at a more typical working level such as on a work bench or other suitable apparatus, rather than an upside down and angled position as is common on most eaves. This makes achieving proper alignment less demanding for those practicing the method. Additionally, any tools possibly used to couple the two pieces may be more properly employed, free from obstruction of other, proximate building construction. Furthermore, coupling the two pieces can occur in a downward direction (i.e. driving of nails, screws, staples or other coupling devices), which those skilled in the art will recognize as an advantageous orientation. Finally, the eave trim piece can be painted more easily before it is attached for all of the same reasons discussed above.
The method discussed above may also be advantageous because it makes construction more economical. For instance, when coupling devices such as nails, screws and staples are more properly driven into the roof rip piece and eave trim piece, fewer coupling devices will be necessary to achieve the same level of strength in the coupling. Additionally, less work time will be consumed during such operations.
Paint may also be more evenly applied to such eaves, providing an incremental cost savings per eave constructed in this manner. Furthermore, because the two pieces are coupled prior to coupling with the top of the building, no touchup paint will have to be applied to the eave trim piece or other parts of the building after coupling with the building. The coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece may only be coupled with the building from the top of the building, an area usually covered by other roofing materials, such as tar-paper and shingles, negating the need to apply touch up paint to any of the areas where these coupling operations occur.
In some embodiments a sheeting piece may be coupled with the top of the building to complete at least a portion of the roof. The sheeting piece may be defined by at least one edge and two sides. Multiple sheeting pieces may be necessary to complete the roof in some embodiments. The sheeting pieces may, merely by way of example, be made from any of the materials discussed above in regard to the roof rip piece and eave trim piece. When coupled, one side of the sheeting pieces may be substantially flush with the top of the building and one edge of the sheeting pieces may be proximate to the roof rip piece. The edge of the sheeting pieces may possibly abut the roof rip piece.
Those skilled in the art will now recognize that coupling the coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece with the top of the building first will make it less troublesome to couple the sheeting piece with the top of the building. If the sheeting piece were to be coupled with the top of the building first, then on most roof frames, which are angled, the sheeting piece could slide off after it is laid on the top of the building, but before it is firmly coupled. The coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece, once coupled with the top of the building, provide a “stop” at the bottom part of the roof for the sheeting piece to abut against until it is firmly coupled with the building. Additionally, it is more efficient to use the coupled roof rip piece and eave trip piece to hold the sheeting piece in place prior to coupling than it is a human laborer.
In other embodiments, the roof rip piece may complete the roof. In these embodiments the roof rip piece will be larger than those discussed in previous embodiments. The coupled larger-roof rip piece and eave trim piece, once coupled with the top of the building, will complete both the eave and the roof of the building.
A drip edge piece may further be coupled with the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece. The drip edge piece may be configured to cover at least a portion of the interface between the roof rip piece and the eave trim piece. This may assist in diverting water from the roof away from the interface between the roof rip piece and the eave trim piece where degradation and erosion of the pieces may be more likely. The drip edge piece may, merely by way of example, be a member with a square angled L-shape cross-section, an obtuse angled L-shape cross-section, a square U-shape cross-section, a parallelogram U-shape cross-section and/or a T-shape cross-section. The drip edge piece may also, merely by way of example, be made from aluminum, steel, aluminum alloy, steel alloy, plastic, polymer and/or composite. The drip edge pieces may be made through numerous methods, including extrusion, form-casting, fabrication techniques and/or machining methods. Some exemplary drip edge pieces might be made from formed sheet-metal. The thickness of the drip edge piece at any point in its cross-section may, merely by way of example, be between about 0.010 inch (0.0003 meters) and about 0.100 inch (0.0025 meters).
In another embodiment, the invention provides a kit for making a building with an eave. The kit may, merely by way of example, be used by consumers and/or professional builders to assemble a building with a roof with an eave. The kit may have a plurality of frame members which may be assembled to frame a structure with at least two sides and a roof frame, and a roof rip piece and an eave trim piece which may be coupled with each other and further coupled with the roof frame to make a roof with an eave. The kit may include instructions instructing a user to couple the roof rip piece with the eave trim piece before coupling either piece with the building. In some embodiments the kit may also contain a sheeting piece which may be coupled with the roof frame to complete at least a portion of the roof. In several embodiments, the roof rip piece may complete at least a portion or an entirety of the roof. The kit may further have a drip edge piece which may be coupled with the roof rip piece to cover at least a portion of the interface between the roof rip piece and the eave trim piece.
In another embodiment, the invention provides an alternative kit for making a building with an eave. The kit may have a plurality of frame members which may be assembled to frame a structure with at least two sides and a roof frame, and a roof rip piece coupled with an eave trim piece which may be coupled with the roof frame to make a roof with an eave. In some embodiments the kit may also contain a sheeting piece which may be coupled with the roof frame to complete at least a portion of the roof. In several embodiments, the roof rip piece may complete at least a portion or an entirety of the roof. The kit may further have a drip edge piece which may be coupled with the roof rip piece to cover at least a portion of the interface between the roof rip piece and the eave trim piece. In some embodiments, the kit may have the drip edge piece pre-coupled with the roof rip piece.
Turning to FIG. 1A, various pieces 100 used in practicing one possible method of the invention are shown. In FIG. 1A various frame members are shown in an assembled state to form a structure 110. Siding 120 on the structure is also shown, but is shown in a see-through manner for clarity. The top of the building or top of the roof frame 130 is shown, and is where a roof may be constructed. Other possible pieces may be a roof rip piece 140, an eave trim piece 150 and a sheeting piece 160. The roof rip piece may have a first lengthwise edge 143 and a second lengthwise edge 146. The eave trim piece may have a first lengthwise edge 153 and a second lengthwise edge 156. The sheeting piece may have an edge 163.
The aforementioned pieces may be used to practice a method of the invention, or may partially or completely form a kit provided by the invention. The various frame members assembled to form a structure 110, when supplied in a kit, may be supplied wholly unassembled or partially unassembled. The frame members may possibly include horizontal members, vertical members, roof members, and/or siding. These frame members may, merely by way of example, be made from oriented strand board, particle board, fibreboard, plywood, structurally insulated panels, wood, cement board, composite, plastic, polymer and/or metal. Additionally, the kit may have other building supplies necessary to assemble the structure, and other parts of the kit, such as fastening pieces (i.e. nails, screws, nuts and bolts, glue and staples) and joint pieces (i.e. sheet metal joint-forms with fastener apertures).
FIG. 1B shows a different set of various pieces 101 that could be used in practicing another possible method of the invention. The pieces shown in FIG. 1B are substantially similar to those shown in FIG. 1A, except the roof rip piece 170 is larger. The roof rip piece 170 still has a first lengthwise edge 173 and a second lengthwise edge 176, but is larger for embodiments of the invention where the roof rip piece 170 completes the roof in lieu of one or more sheeting pieces 160.
In FIG. 2A, the roof rip piece 140 and the eave trim piece 150 are shown coupled with each other in one possible configuration 200 within the methods and kits of the invention. In this configuration 200, the roof rip piece 140 and the eave trim piece 150 are coupled so that the first lengthwise edge 143 of the roof rip piece 140 and the first lengthwise edge 153 of the eave trim piece 150 are substantially planar. FIG. 2B shows substantially the same configuration 201, except employing the larger roof rip piece 170, rather than the smaller roof rip piece 140.
In FIG. 3A, another possible configuration 300 is shown. In this configuration 300, the roof rip piece 140 and the eave trim piece 150 are coupled so that the first lengthwise edge 153 of the eave trim piece 150 extends beyond the first lengthwise edge 143 of the roof rip piece 140. The distance the first lengthwise edge 153 of the eave trim piece 150 extends beyond the first lengthwise edge 143 of the roof rip piece 140 may, in some embodiments, be up to about ½ inch (about 0.013 meters). FIG. 3B shows substantially the same configuration 301, except employing the larger roof rip piece 170, rather than the smaller roof rip piece 140.
The roof rip pieces 140, 170 and the eave trim piece 150 may be coupled using a variety of methods known in the art such as using nails, screws, nuts and bolts, glue and staples. In some kit embodiments, the roof rip pieces 140, 170 and the eave trim piece 150 may be pre-coupled in numerous ways, including the two configurations 200, 201, 300, 301. As discussed above, the advantages of coupling the roof rip piece 140, 170 and eave trim piece 150 prior to attachment with the top of the building 110 are numerous, and include ease of construction, quality of construction, and cost savings.
In some kit embodiments of the invention, the roof rip piece 140, 170 and the eave trim piece 150 may be pre-coupled. In these embodiments, the roof rip piece 140, 170 and eave trim piece 150 may, merely by way of example, be pre-coupled in a configuration such as shown in either FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B. In other kit embodiments of the invention, the roof rip piece 140, 170 and eave trim piece 150 may not be pre-coupled, but the kit may possibly contain instructions instructing a user to couple the roof rip piece 140, 170 with the eave trim piece 150 before coupling either piece with the building 110.
In FIG. 4A, one configuration 200 of the coupled roof rip piece 140 and eave trim piece 150 is shown coupled with the roof frame 130 of the structure 110 before the top sheeting piece 160 is coupled with the building. The bottom side of the roof rip piece 140 may be substantially flush with the top surface of the members of the roof frame 130. The second lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece 146 may be located on top of the building 110 as seen in FIG. 4A.
FIG. 4A demonstrates, at least partially, why coupling the roof rip piece 140 and the eave trim piece 150 prior to coupling either piece with the structure 110 may be advantageous. Once the roof rip piece 140 is coupled with the structure 110, coupling the eave trim piece 150 to the roof rip piece 140 would have to occur at an unusual working height or angle. Furthermore, the proximity of the side of the structure 110 may possibly interfere with tools used to conduct coupling operations. Additionally, coupling operations may have to occur in an upward direction from underneath the eave, which those skilled in the art will recognize as a disadvantageous orientation. Painting the two coupled pieces also becomes more difficult when it must be done after coupling with the structure 110.
In other embodiments, different configurations of the coupled roof rip piece 140 and eave trim piece 150 may be coupled with the roof frame 130 of the structure 110. For example, the configuration 300 shown on FIG. 3A could be coupled with the roof frame 130 of the structure 110 in a similar fashion to that shown on FIG. 4A. In other embodiments, the configurations 201, 301 shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 3B could be coupled with the roof frame 130 of the structure 110 in a similar fashion to that shown in FIG. 4B. In embodiments employing larger roof rip pieces 170, no sheeting pieces 160 are required to complete the roof of the structure 110. In various embodiments, the coupled roof rip piece 140, 170 and eave trim piece 150 may be coupled with the roof frame 130 of the structure 110 through a variety of methods, including, but not limited to, the methods described above for coupling the roof rip piece 140, 170 and the eave trim piece 150.
In FIG. 5, the sheeting piece 160 is shown coupled with the structure 110 that has the configuration 200 of the coupled roof rip piece 140 and eave trim piece 150 coupled with it as was discussed in regard to FIG. 4A. The sheeting piece 160, in this embodiment, has been coupled so that it is substantially flush with the roof frame 130 of the structure 110. Also in this embodiment, the sheeting piece 160 has been coupled so that the edge 146 of the sheeting piece 160 is abutting the roof rip piece 140. In FIG. 5 it may be seen how coupling the coupled roof rip piece 140 and eave trim piece 150 with the top of the structure 110 provides a “stop” for the sheeting piece to lay against before it is firmly coupled with the building. As discussed above, this method of construction may be a more efficient means of attaching the sheeting piece 160 with the roof of a building.
In other embodiments the sheeting piece 160 may be coupled with the roof frame 130 of the structure 110 so that it is merely proximate to the roof rip piece 140. In some embodiments there may be a plurality of sheeting pieces 160 employed to complete the roof of the structure 110. In a kit embodiment, the sheeting pieces 160 may be sized so that when they are coupled with the roof frame 130 of the structure 110, they complete the roof of the building 110 without excess sheeting pieces 160 protruding from the peak of the roof. As described above, other embodiments may not require sheeting pieces 160 to complete the roof. In these embodiments, larger roof rip pieces 170 may obviate the need for sheeting pieces 160.
In FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E, multiple examples of drip edge pieces are shown. These drip edge pieces are merely exemplary, and others are possible within the scope of the invention. FIG. 6A shows a member with a square angled L-shape cross-section 600. FIG. 6B shows a member with an obtuse angled L-shape cross-section 610. FIG. 6C shows a member with a square U-shape cross-section 620. FIG. 6D shows a member with a parallelogram U-shape cross-section 630. FIG. 6E shows a member with a T-shape cross-section 640. These drip edge pieces may be coupled with the coupled roof rip piece 140, 170 and eave trim piece 150 as shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, where drip edge piece 640 is shown employed in the two embodiments 100, 101 from FIG. 4B and FIG. 5. Other possible types of drip edge pieces, including those not shown, could also be employed in a similar fashion within the scope of the invention. Once coupled, the drip edge pieces assist in diverting water from the roof away from the interface between the roof rip piece and the eave trim piece. In some kit embodiments, a drip edge piece may come pre-coupled with the pre-coupled roof rip piece 140,170 and eave trim piece 150.
FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram of one method 800 of the invention for making an eave for a building with a roof. At block 810, a roof rip piece 140, 170 is coupled with an eave trim piece 150. At block 820, the coupled roof rip piece 140, 170 and eave trim piece 150 is coupled with the top of a building to create an eave. In some embodiments, the method may further include, at block 830, coupling one or more sheeting pieces 160 with the top of the building to complete a roof. In other embodiments, the roof may be complete when the coupled larger-roof rip piece 170 and eave trim piece 150 are coupled with the building. At block 840, some embodiments will further couple a drip edge piece 600, 610, 620, 630, 640 with the roof rip piece 140, 170.
In other embodiments of the invention, kits are provided which contain components that may be used to carry out various methods of the invention. In some of these kit embodiments, the roof rip piece 140, 170 may be pre-coupled with the eave trim piece 150. In other kit embodiments, the roof rip piece 140, 170 and eave trim piece 150 may not be pre-coupled, but the kit may contain instructions directing the user of the kit to couple the roof rip piece 140, 170 with the eave trim piece 150 prior to coupling either piece with the building.
The invention has now been described in detail for purposes of clarity and understanding. However, it will be appreciated that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for making an eave for a roof on a building comprising:

coupling a roof rip piece with an eave trim piece, prior to coupling the roof rip piece or the eave trim piece with a building, wherein:

the roof rip piece and the eave trim piece are each defined by two lengthwise edges and two sides;

the width of the roof rip piece is greater than the width of the eave trim piece;

when coupled, the lengthwise edges of both pieces are substantially parallel; and

when coupled, the first lengthwise edge of the eave trim piece is either substantially planar with the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece or extends beyond the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece; and

coupling the coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece with the top of the building.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling comprises at least one of:

fastening with nails;

fastening with screws;

fastening with nuts and bolts;

fastening with glue; and

fastening with staples.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the roof rip piece is comprised of at least one of the following materials:

oriented strand board;

particle board;

fibreboard;

plywood;

structurally insulated panels,

wood;

cement board;

composite;

plastic;

polymer; and

metal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the eave trim piece is comprised of at least one of the following materials:

oriented strand board;

particle board;

fibreboard;

plywood;

structurally insulated panels;

wood;

cement board;

composite;

plastic;

polymer; and

metal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling a drip edge piece with the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece, wherein the drip edge piece is configured to cover at least a portion of the interface between the roof rip piece and the eave trim piece.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cross-section of the drip edge piece is comprised of at least one of the following:

a square angled L-shape;

an obtuse angled L-shape;

a square U-shape;

a parallelogram U-shape; and

a T-shape

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the drip edge piece is comprised of at least one of the following materials:

aluminum;

steel;

aluminum alloy;

steel alloy;

plastic;

polymer; and

composite.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling a sheeting piece with the top of the building, wherein the sheeting piece is defined by at least one edge and two sides, and wherein when coupled, one side of the sheeting is substantially flush with the top of the building and one edge of the sheeting is proximate to the roof rip piece.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sheeting piece is comprised of at least one of the following materials:

oriented strand board;

particle board;

fibreboard;

plywood;

structurally insulated panels;

wood;

cement board;

composite;

plastic;

polymer; and

metal.

10. A kit for making a building with an eave comprising:

a plurality of frame members which may be assembled to frame a structure with at least two sides and a roof frame;

a roof rip piece and an eave trim piece, wherein:

the roof rip piece and the eave trim piece are each defined by two lengthwise edges and two sides, and the width of the roof rip piece is greater than the width of the eave trim piece; and

the roof rip piece may be coupled with the eave trim piece so that the lengthwise edges of both pieces are substantially parallel, and the first lengthwise edge of the eave trim piece is either substantially planar with the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece or extends beyond the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece, wherein the coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece may be coupled with the roof frame to make an eave; and

instructions instructing a user to couple the roof rip piece with the eave trim piece before coupling either piece with the building.

11. The kit of claim 10, wherein coupling comprises at least one of:

fastening with nails;

fastening with screws;

fastening with nuts and bolts;

fastening with glue; and

fastening with staples.

12. The kit of claim 10, wherein the roof rip piece is comprised of at least one of the following materials:

oriented strand board;

particle board;

fibreboard;

plywood;

structurally insulated panels;

wood;

cement board;

composite;

plastic;

polymer; and

metal.

13. The kit of claim 10, wherein the eave trim piece is comprised of at least one of the following materials:

oriented strand board;

particle board;

fibreboard;

plywood;

structurally insulated panels;

wood;

cement board;

composite;

plastic;

polymer; and

metal.

14. The kit of claim 10, further comprising a drip edge piece which may be coupled with the roof rip piece to cover at least a portion of the interface between the roof rip piece and the eave trim piece.

15. The kit of claim 14, wherein the cross-section of the drip edge piece is comprised of at least one of the following:

a square angled L-shape;

an obtuse angled L-shape;

a square U-shape;

a parallelogram U-shape; and

a T-shape.

16. The kit of claim 14, wherein the drip edge piece is comprised of at least one of the following materials:

aluminum;

steel;

aluminum alloy;

steel alloy;

plastic;

polymer; and

composite.

17. The kit of claim 10, further comprising a sheeting piece, which may be coupled with the roof frame and proximate to the coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece.

18. The kit of claim 17, wherein the sheeting piece is comprised of at least one of the following materials:

oriented strand board;

particle board;

fibreboard;

plywood;

structurally insulated panels;

wood;

cement board;

composite;

plastic;

polymer; and

metal.

19. A kit for making a building with an eave comprising:

a plurality of frame members which may be assembled to frame a structure with at least two sides and a roof frame; and

a roof rip piece coupled with an eave trim piece, wherein:

the roof rip piece is coupled with the eave trim piece so that the lengthwise edges of both pieces are substantially parallel, and the first lengthwise edge of the eave trim piece is either substantially planar with the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece or extends beyond the first lengthwise edge of the roof rip piece such that the coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece may be coupled with the roof frame to make an eave.

20. The kit of claim 19, wherein coupling comprises at least one of:

fastening with nails;

fastening with screws;

fastening with nuts and bolts;

fastening with glue; and

fastening with staples.

21. The kit of claim 19, wherein the roof rip piece is comprised of at least one of the following materials:

oriented strand board;

particle board;

fibreboard;

plywood;

structurally insulated panels;

wood;

cement board;

composite;

plastic;

polymer; and

metal.

22. The kit of claim 19, wherein the eave trim piece is comprised of at least one of the following materials:

oriented strand board;

particle board;

fibreboard;

plywood;

structurally insulated panels;

wood;

cement board;

composite;

plastic;

polymer; and

metal.

23. The kit of claim 19, further comprising a drip edge piece which may be coupled with the roof rip piece to cover at least a portion of the interface between the roof rip piece and the eave trim piece.

24. The kit of claim 23, wherein the cross-section of the drip edge piece is comprised of at least one of the following:

a square angled L-shape;

an obtuse angled L-shape;

a square U-shape;

a parallelogram U-shape; and

a T-shape.

25. The kit of claim 23, wherein the drip edge piece is comprised of at least one of the following materials:

aluminum;

steel;

aluminum alloy;

steel alloy;

plastic;

polymer; and

composite.

26. The kit of claim 19, further comprising a sheeting piece, which may be coupled with the roof frame and proximate to the coupled roof rip piece and eave trim piece.

27. The kit of claim 26, wherein the sheeting piece is comprised of at least one of the following materials:

oriented strand board;

particle board;

fibreboard;

plywood;

structurally insulated panels;

wood;

cement board;

composite;

plastic;

polymer; and

metal.