Ventilated siding system

Abstract

A lap siding system for use on an exterior of a building that includes a plank having a length and a complementary member, such as corner trim, door trim, etc. The lap siding system further includes a flashing disposed between the plank and the complementary member. The plank, the complementary member, and the flashing are adapted to be coupled to an exterior of a substructure of a building. At least one of the plank, the complementary member, and the flashing is adapted to create at least one ventilation channel between the substructure of the building and at least one of the plank, the complementary member, and the flashing.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]This disclosure relates generally to lap siding systems and apparatus for use on the exteriors of residential and commercial buildings. Lap siding systems generally provide aesthetically pleasing, low maintenance exteriors to a variety of buildings by attaching overlapping horizontal or vertical boards or planks to the exterior of a building. For simplicity, the term “plank” includes boards, slats, and panels. Planks may be made of wood, cementitious material, plastic, metal, glass, various types of fiber and filler material, composites of these materials and other materials known in the art.[0002]A common problem in construction is that of weatherproofing structural junctures in lap siding systems, such as between planks, at corners, at junctions between planks and other structural features such as windows and doors, and at junctions between planks and other decorative features such as trim, appliqués, and similar features. Weatherproofing serves the goal of protect...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a lap siding system and apparatus that can provide an aesthetically pleasing, low maintenance exterior to a variety of buildings. The system includes planks that can be installed on a building with a space between them and the underlying structure of the building, which can also be referred to as the substructure. The planks can be installed in a way that they create complementary ventilation channels between them and the structures of the building. These channels allow air to flow through the building and can help to keep it cool. The invention solves the problems and needs in the art that have not been fully solved by currently available lap siding systems and apparatus."

Problems solved by technology

A common problem in construction is that of weatherproofing structural junctures in lap siding systems, such as between planks, at corners, at junctions between planks and other structural features such as windows and doors, and at junctions between planks and other decorative features such as trim, appliqués, and similar features.

Damage resulting from water seepage may also result in rotting, swelling, and warping of the planks of the lap siding system, the trim, appliqués, and other features, and / or the underlying structure.

Water seepage may also result in a reduction of the effectiveness of insulation, cracks in the masonry, loosening of the siding system from the underlying structure of the building, and the like.

However, caulk tends to shrink over time.

Additionally, the weathering and dissimilar thermal expansion and contraction of the flashing, siding, and caulk often leads to failure of the seal so that water seeps behind the siding and may result in water damage to the lap siding system and underlying structure.

Furthermore, the exposed junctions, caulk, and flashing may be unsightly.

Water often collects and sits in this juncture causing water damage to the bottommost planks and starter strips.

Furthermore, the bottommost planks and starter strips are often disposed so close to the underlying structure of the building that water wicks up between the bottommost planks, starter strips, and the underlying structure of the building, which increases the likelihood that significant water damage will occur.

Another problem in the installation of a lap siding system on a building is the difficulty in evenly attaching each plank to the underlying structure.

The conventional method of installation requires constant measuring of plank position and adjustment, which is time-consuming.

However, this gap may be unsightly and, like the junctions discussed above, the caulk and flashing may fail so that water is able to seep behind the flashing.

However, with the only fastening mechanism being applied at the tops of the planks, the lower portion of the planks is unsecured.

In the event of moderate or high winds, it is common for wind to get under the lower edge of the plank and apply upward and / or outward pressure on the plank, causing it to loosen, bend, warp, or even separate from the building.

While the face nails can provide additional strength to the coupling of the plank to the structure, the face nails are known to cause several concerns.

As one example, the face nails are often considered to be unsightly and attempts to paint over them are often unsuccessful for a number of reasons.

The exposed siding fibers are then open to the elements and, if the face nail is countersunk too far, the structural integrity of the siding plank may be impaired.

Additionally, the face nails, whether driven too far or not, create another opening in the exterior siding and a possible channel for water to be wicked, or otherwise passed, from the exterior of the siding to the interior of the siding where it can cause one or more of the problems identified above.

Other than being incredibly time-consuming to caulk each face nail, the caulking also presents long term problems due to differences in materials between the caulk and the planks, different expansion and contraction rates, and different weathering patterns between the materials.

Accordingly, even if the caulking and painting can be done initially to avoid the aesthetic problems and to prevent moisture from penetrating the siding at the face nail, the adequacy of the seal generally deteriorates over time and the aesthetic issues generally arise as the color of the paint over caulk changes tone differently than the paint over the siding plank.

However, time has shown that a perfect and complete seal of a structure against the elements is difficult and can have negative consequences for the structure and its occupants.

Additionally, when one of these caulked seals fails and allows a little bit of moisture to penetrate the exterior shell of the structure, the moisture is effectively trapped between the exterior shell and the underlying structure.

Once the moisture is trapped between the exterior shell and the underlying structure, the moisture can lead to several problems including rotting of the structure and / or siding planks, allowing mold to grow between the siding planks and the structure, and attracting a variety of pests.

In many circumstances, the moisture may not sufficiently dry out in time to prevent the negative consequences of the moisture.

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