Door and window sill gasket

Abstract

A door and window sill gasket is adapted to seal the frame of doors and windows against moisture, air and insects. The gasket includes a water resistant compressible material having an upper surface, a lower surface and at least one edge. The lower surface of the compressible material is attached to an adhesively-coated top face of a rubberized asphalt sealing membrane providing an air / water infiltration barrier and having an adhesively-coated lower face covered by a removable release liner. The membrane includes a flexible, covered flange extending outwardly from the at least one edge of the compressible material.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention generally relates to building products and, more particularly, pertains to a sealing gasket for doors and windows. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] One of the most common failure points for unwanted air and / or moisture in a building envelope is around doors and windows. Controlling air and / or moisture is a serious concern which may result in exterior and interior damage if not prevented or corrected in a timely manner. Recent studies have shown that the extent of such damage has run into millions of dollars annually. In addition, heat losses caused by air leakage around building openings have taken on new significance due to today's high energy costs. Sealing to date has been imperfectly accomplished by caulking or using a putty-like compound around openings between door and window frames to seal the gaps and prevent inward seepage of air and / or water into the building. There is often a further problem with bugs entering through ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a door and window sealing gasket which stops unwanted air and / or, moisture and bug infiltration and protects sills from rotting.

[0021] Still another aspect of the invention contemplates a method of providing a sill gasket to create positive flow of water leaked into a window away therefrom and to prevent moisture infiltration between a window frame and a framework having a top member, a bottom member and side members, each with a front surface defining a window opening. The method includes the steps of providing a water resistant compressible material having an upper surface, a lower surface and at least one edge, the upper surface of the compressible material sloping downwardly towards the at least one edge, the lower surface of the compressible material being attached to an adhesively-coated top face of a rubberized asphalt sealing membrane providing an air / water infiltration barrier and having an adhesively coated lower face covered by a removable release liner, the membrane including a flexible, covered flange extending outwardly from the at least one edge of the compressible material and having a drain material attached to the top face of the membrane; removing the release liner from the lower face of the membrane and adhesively securing the membrane with the attached compressible material and one portion of the membrane with the drain material along inner surfaces of the bottom and side members of the window opening framework with a remaining portion of the flange of the membrane projecting forwardly from the bottom member of the window opening framework; folding and adhesively applying the remaining portion of flange of the membrane with the drain material to the front surface of the bottom member; setting the window frame in the window opening on top of the drain material and fastening the window frame to the respective front surfaces of the top, bottom and side members of the framework; and applying a sealing tape over peripheral edges of the window frame along the top and side members of the framework.

Problems solved by technology

One of the most common failure points for unwanted air and / or moisture in a building envelope is around doors and windows.

Controlling air and / or moisture is a serious concern which may result in exterior and interior damage if not prevented or corrected in a timely manner.

Recent studies have shown that the extent of such damage has run into millions of dollars annually.

In addition, heat losses caused by air leakage around building openings have taken on new significance due to today's high energy costs.

There is often a further problem with bugs entering through the same gaps.

In the case of a door, the caulking is typically placed between a threshold and the subfloor, but this does not stop moisture getting into the subfloor face.

After a period of time, moisture from melting snow or driving rain leads not only to swelling, rotting and warpage of the subfloor and structural framing, but also racks the door frame out of square and ruins the finish flooring above the subfloor.

The moisture and humidity along with the drying and shrinking of lumber also crack the caulk so that air, water, mold and insects may infiltrate under the threshold into the building.

However, this has proven to be a failed system because over long term, the caulking cannot withstand the constant expansion and contraction of the window itself or the substrate.

This water leakage along with water intrusion caused by precipitation leads to structural damage such as rotting of the window sills and mold.

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