Stucco, plaster or other claddings are typically used for exterior surfaces of building structures defining substrates such as walls. Such claddings are applied over a wire mesh over felt paper which has been attached to underlying substrate, e.g. wall. This method of cladding installation often results in leak problems between the cladding and the substrate and often results in the collection of moisture between the cladding and substrate.
Weep screeds are often used with claddings over walls towards a bottom end of the wall or mid-wall (as for example externally between floors) to act as a stop for the cladding applied to the wall. Weep screeds generally have a panel that abuts the wall and a leg that extends transversely outward to provide a surface for the cladding to contact. The weep screed also allows moisture to be collected between the cladding and the substrate to drain. However, better drainage systems are desired that allow for venting of the moisture collected between the substrate and the cladding upwards and that can be used in with systems that allow for drainage of moisture downwards.
In an example embodiment, a ventilation member includes a base panel for mounting onto a substrate, an upper panel extending transversely from the base panel, a lower panel spaced apart from the upper panel, and an inner panel extending transversely from the lower panel. A passageway is formed having a first portion defined between the base panel and the inner panel and a second portion extending transversely from the first portion and defined between the upper and the lower panels. In another example embodiment, the ventilation member further includes a connecting panel connecting the upper and lower panels at distal ends thereof. In yet another example embodiment, a vent opening is formed through a distal portion of the lower panel for venting the passageway. With this example embodiment, the ventilation member may further include a guide extending transversely from the lower panel for providing a guide for the addition of an exterior cladding. In yet a further example embodiment, the ventilation member also includes a leg extending from the lower panel at a distal end thereof. With this example embodiment, the vent opening is located between the guide and the leg. In yet a further example embodiment, the inner panel extends upward from the lower panel. In another example embodiment, the ventilation member also includes a vent panel extending from the base panel to the inner panel and having at least one opening. In one example embodiment, the ventilation member further includes a vertical panel extending from a distal end of the upper panel toward the lower panel defining a gap between a distal end of the vertical panel and a distal end of the lower panel for venting. In another example embodiment, the ventilation member also includes a guide extending from the distal end of the lower panel. In yet a further example embodiment, the base panel includes a second wall over a first wall, such that the upper panel extends from the first wall and the lower panel extend from the second wall. In an example embodiment, the base panel is for being sandwiched between a substrate and a water resistive barrier layer. In another example embodiment, the base panel is for being mounted on a substrate covered by a water resistive barrier layer. In yet another example embodiment, the base panel, the upper panel, the lower panel and the inner panel are integrally formed from a single layer of material. In yet another example embodiment the ventilation member further includes at least one protrusion extending from at least one of the base panel and the inner panel and into the passageway first portion. In a further example embodiment, the ventilation member also includes a vent panel including at least one opening and extending from the base panel to the inner panel.
In a further example embodiment, a structure venting system includes a substrate being part of the structure as well as a first ventilation member which includes a base panel mounted to the substrate, an upper panel extending transversely from the base panel, a lower panel spaced apart from the upper panel, and an inner panel extending transversely from the lower panel. A passageway is formed having a first portion defined between the base panel and the inner panel and a second portion extending transversely from the first portion and defined between the upper and the lower panel. The system also includes a water resistive barrier layer adjacent the base panel, and a drainage mat over the substrate and water resistive barrier layer and extending into the passageway first portion. In this regard, moisture collected in the drainage mat can vent through the passageway. In yet a further example embodiment, the water resistive barrier layer is over the base panel, such that the base panel is sandwiched between the substrate and the water resistive barrier layer. In another example embodiment, the water resistive barrier layer is over the substrate, such that the water resistive barrier layer is sandwiched between the substrate and the base panel. In an example embodiment, the system also includes a lath over the drainage mat, and a cladding over the lath. In a further example embodiment, the system further includes a connecting panel connecting the upper and lower panels at distal ends thereof. In yet a further example embodiment, a vent opening is formed through a distal portion of the lower panel for venting the passageway. In another example embodiment, the system further includes a guide extending transversely from the lower panel for providing a guide for an addition of the exterior cladding. In yet another example embodiment, the system also includes a leg extending from the lower panel at a distal end thereof. With this example embodiment, the vent opening is located between the guide and the leg. In yet a further example embodiment, the inner panel extends upward from the lower panel. In another example embodiment, the first ventilation member also includes a vent panel extending from the base panel to the inner panel and having at least one opening. In one example embodiment, the first ventilation member further includes a vertical panel extending from a distal end of the upper panel toward the lower panel defining a gap between a distal end of the vertical panel and a distal end of the lower panel for venting. In another example embodiment, the first ventilation member also includes a guide extending from the distal end of the lower panel. In yet a further example embodiment, the base panel includes a second wall over a first wall, such that the upper panel extends from the first wall and the lower panel extends from the second wall. In another example embodiment, the system includes a guide extending from the distal end of the lower panel for providing a guide for an addition of the exterior cladding. In yet another example embodiment the base panel includes a second wall over a first wall, such that the upper panel extends from the first wall and the lower panel extends from the second wall. In one example embodiment, the system includes at least one protrusion extending from at least one of the base panel and the inner panel and into the passageway first portion. The at least one protrusion acting as a stop for preventing travel of the drainage mat beyond the at least one protrusion. In a further example embodiment, the system also includes a vent panel having at least one opening and extending from the base panel to the inner panel. The vent panel may act as a stop for preventing travel of the drainage mat beyond said vent panel. In one example embodiment, the system further includes a second ventilation member. The second ventilation member includes a base panel. With this example embodiment, a portion of the water resistive barrier layer extends adjacent the second ventilation member base panel and a portion of the draining mat extends over the second ventilation member base panel and the portion of the water resistive barrier layer. A first leg also extends transversely from the second ventilation member. The first leg includes a drain opening aligned with the drainage mat, such that moisture within the drainage mat can drain through the drain opening. In another example embodiment, the second ventilation member includes a second leg extending transversely and downwardly from the second ventilation member base panel, spaced apart and below the first leg, such that moisture drained through the drain opening of the first leg drains on the second leg and is guided by the second leg. In a further example embodiment, the water resistive barrier layer is over the base panel of the ventilation member and over the base panel of the second ventilation member, such that the base panels are sandwiched between the substrate and the water resistive barrier layer. In yet a further example embodiment, the water resistive barrier layer is over the substrate, such that the water resistive barrier layer is sandwiched between the substrate and the base panel of the ventilation member and between the substrate and the base panel of the second ventilation member.
An example embodiment ventilation member 10, as shown in the
As shown in
A drainage mat 30 is positioned over the water resistive barrier layer and the base panel. Drainage mats are well known in the art and are used to absorb and drain moisture. Moisture may be in the form of vapor. “Drainage mat” as used herein refers to any type of structure can cover a surface area and is capable of absorbing and draining moisture. In an example embodiment, the drainage mat extends from below the base panel and within the passageway first portion 20a. In an example embodiment, the drainage mat extends so as to be adjacent to the second passageway portion 20b as for example shown in
In an example embodiment, to assist with proper placement of the drainage mat so that it will not extend within the second portion 20b of the passageway, one or more protrusions 35 may extend for either or both the base panel and the inner panel and within the first portion 20a of the passageway, as shown in
A lath 32 may be placed over the drainage mat and over the inner panel. Stucco or another cladding 33 is then placed over the lath and may extend up to the lower panel 18 having a thickness up to the guide 22. Besides stucco, the cladding may be plaster, wood, aluminum or any other material that may be used to cover a wall, especially an exterior wall. In an example embodiment, the inner panel 16 is formed to have an obliquely extending distal end portion 34 which penetrates and locks into the stucco or other cladding. In addition, the distal end portion also guides any moisture trapped between the inner panel and the cladding outward away from the substrate and toward the cladding. Furthermore, the obliquely extending end portion 34 of the inner panel serves to guide the insertion of the drainage mat 30 in the portion of the passage way between the inner panel and the water resistive layer. With these example embodiments, moisture collected in the drainage mat is vented, as shown by arrow 38, up through the drainage mat, through the passageway first portion 20a, the passageway second portion 20b, and out through the at least one vent opening 26 thereby venting into the atmosphere.
In another example embodiment, the lower panel 18 extends from a lower end 17 of the inner panel 16 as shown in
A vertical panel 43 may be provided extending from a distal end 49 of the upper panel 14 in a direction toward the lower panel 18 to a distance spaced apart from a distal end 51 the lower panel 18 such that a vent gap 47 is defined between a distal end 53 of the vertical panel 43 and the lower panel 18 distal end 51. In this regard moisture venting through the second portion 20b of the passageway will vent through the vent gap 47. With this example embodiment, vent openings are not formed through the distal end portion of the lower panel. In another example embodiment, the vertical panel is not provided such that the vent gap is defined between the distal ends 49, 51 of the upper and lower panels 14, 18, respectively. A guide 22 may be provided extending downward from the lower panel distal end. The vent panel 37 extends from the inner panel to the base panel. The vent panel serves as a stop when receiving the drainage mat and allows for venting of the drainage mat through the at least one opening 39 formed through the vent panel. In an example embodiment, the ventilation member 10 may be formed from a single sheet of material such as galvanized steel, as for example shown in
With this embodiment, the upper panel extends from the second wall while the lower panel extends from the first wall. In a further example embodiment, the first wall 12a, the vent panel 37, the inner panel 16, the lower panel 18, and the guide 22, are formed from one piece of material, while the second wall 12b, the upper panel 14 and the vertical panel 43 are formed from a second piece of material. In another example embodiment, instead of the vent panel 37, at least one protrusion is provided on the inner panel, or the base panel or both and extending within the passageway first portion 20a serving as a stop for the drainage mat. In another example embodiment, the vent panel 37 may extend from a level below the upper and end and above the lower end of the inner panel.
In an example embodiment, as shown in
When the lower ventilation member is used, it is mounted on the wall such that the lower leg 44 extends from, or proximate, the lower end of the wall. The water resistive barrier layer 28 that is attached over the base panel 12 of the ventilation member 10 extends over the base panel 42 of the lower ventilation member so as to cover the entire, or substantially the entire, lower ventilation member base panel up to the upper leg 46 as shown in
The first and second ventilation members also allow external air to ventilate the system through the drainage mat. In addition, by the drain opening 54 and the passageway first portion 20a being aligned with the drainage mat, clogging of the drain opening 54 and the first passageway 20a by the cladding (e.g., stucco) is prevented.
While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to exemplary embodiments thereof, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention to the exact forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of assembly and operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principles, spirit, and scope of this invention, as set forth in the following claims. For example, the first or upper ventilation member shown in
This application is based upon and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/256,506 filed Oct. 15, 2021, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63256506 | Oct 2021 | US |