Article and method for controlling moisture

Abstract

An attic tray made from a breathable membrane for use in controlling moisture in a building attic and improving the energy efficiency of the building achieved by installing the tray above the roof rafters thereby providing the presence of an air gap between the breathable membrane and the roof deck such that energy that normally passes from the living space into the attic and out the top of the building is conserved.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The invention relates to an improved building construction material for controlling attic moisture and improving the energy efficiency of a building.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]Some types of buildings have a space known as an attic located directly underneath the roof structure and above the useful living space. It is common in this type of building to use rafters and decking in the attic space. It is typical to use airflow to control the moisture level in the attic by ventilating air from the eaves of the building to the ridge vent at the highest point of the roof. Air is allowed to flow by means of convection from open spaces along the eaves (between the walls of the building and the bottom of the roofline) to an open space along the ridge(s) at the top of the roof, e.g., a ridge vent. This flow of air purges the attic of moisture before it can build up in the attic. Moisture commonly enters the attic f...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a tray made of a breathable membrane that has edges and a top and bottom overlap. The membrane is coated with adhesive on at least one edge and has a lower overlap at the bottom edge. The technical effect of this design is that it allows for better air circulation and drainage in the attic, which can help prevent mold and improve energy efficiency.

Problems solved by technology

While this allows for good moisture control in the attic, it is not energy-efficient since the living space is not sealed and energy from the climate-controlled living space leaks to the exterior of the building through the ridge vent along with the airflow.

While this can effectively seal the attic, this method does not prevent moisture from building up in the attic since the typical foams are not breathable and do not permit air to flow through the attic, therefore this is not acceptable for many climates.

The design of these products does not allow for any variation of space between the rafters, and they are formed from rigid materials such as plastic and cardboard which are not vapor permeable.

This has been found to be cumbersome.

It is difficult to attach the membrane to the underside of the rafters as large pieces of membrane are difficult to maneuver in an attic space, especially when trusses are used along with their accompanying cross braces.

Images