Flashing for foundation/exterior treatment interface

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a flashing configured to reduce moisture intrusion in a building structure at a foundation and exterior treatment interface. The flashing includes an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes a back surface and a front surface and is formed and configured to be positioned against a wall positioned on the foundation. The middle portion includes a bottom surface and a top surface extending from the upper portion and is formed and configured to be positioned against a top surface of the foundation. The lower portion includes a back surface and a front surface extending downward from the middle portion, wherein the lower portion is formed and configured to be positioned against a face surface of the foundation a distance to reduce moisture intrusion from entering behind the lower portion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A flashing configured to reduce moisture intrusion in a building structure at a foundation and exterior treatment interface, the flashing comprising: 
 an upper portion having a back surface and a front surface, said back surface configured to be positioned against a wall positioned on the foundation;    a middle portion having a bottom surface and a top surface, said middle portion extending from said upper portion and configured to be positioned against a top surface of the foundation; and    a lower portion having a back surface and a front surface, said lower portion configured to extend downward from said middle portion, wherein said lower portion is configured to be positioned against a face surface of the foundation a distance to reduce moisture intrusion from entering behind said lower portion.    
     
     
         2 . The flashing of  claim 1 , further comprising a drip flange extending downwardly outward from an end of said lower portion of said flashing configured to direct moisture away from the foundation.  
     
     
         3 . The flashing of  claim 2 , wherein said drip flange comprises a folded-back portion wrapped around an under-side portion of said drip flange.  
     
     
         4 . The flashing of  claim 3 , wherein said drip flange includes a downward extension extending from said folded-back portion, said downward extension extending substantially vertically downward a distance configured to be positioned against the face surface of the foundation.  
     
     
         5 . The flashing of  claim 4 , wherein said distance of said downward extension is at least one-quarter inch.  
     
     
         6 . The flashing of  claim 1 , wherein said distance of said lower portion extends downward from said middle portion at least one-quarter inch.  
     
     
         7 . The flashing of  claim 1 , wherein said middle portion is configured to be downwardly sloped toward said lower portion when said upper portion is positioned against the wall on the foundation.  
     
     
         8 . The flashing of  claim 1 , wherein said middle portion of said flashing is configured to be positioned intermediate an upper portion of the foundation and the exterior treatment of the building structure.  
     
     
         9 . The flashing of  claim 6 , wherein said middle portion is configured to be downwardly sloped to provide a gap between the upper portion of the foundation and the exterior treatment of the building structure when positioned thereto, wherein said bottom surface of said middle portion is configured to abut with filler material positioned on the upper portion of the foundation to provide support for the exterior treatment.  
     
     
         10 . The flashing of  claim 1 , wherein said flashing comprises a metallic material.  
     
     
         11 . The flashing of  claim 1 , wherein said flashing comprises a polymeric material.  
     
     
         12 . The flashing of  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion comprises a j-channel flashing extending therefrom, said j-channel flashing configured to receive the exterior treatment so that said upper portion is positioned between the exterior treatment and the wall of the building structure.  
     
     
         13 . A flashing configured to reduce moisture intrusion in a building structure at a foundation and exterior treatment interface, the flashing comprising: 
 an upper portion having a back surface and a front surface, said upper portion configured to be positioned against a wall sitting on the foundation with the exterior treatment extending over said front surface of said upper portion;    a middle portion having a bottom surface and a top surface, said middle portion extending from said upper portion and configured to be positioned between a top surface of the foundation and an end portion of the exterior treatment; and    a lower portion having a back surface and a front surface, said lower portion configured to extend downward from said middle portion, wherein said lower portion is configured to be positioned against a face surface of the foundation a distance to reduce moisture intrusion from entering behind said lower portion.    
     
     
         14 . A flashing configured to reduce moisture intrusion in a building structure at a foundation and exterior treatment interface, the flashing comprising: 
 an upper portion having a back surface and a front surface, said upper portion configured to be positioned against a wall sitting on the foundation with the exterior treatment extending over said front surface of said upper portion;    a middle portion having a bottom surface and a top surface, said middle portion extending from said upper portion and configured to be positioned between a top surface of the foundation and an end portion of the exterior treatment;    a lower portion having a back surface and a front surface, said lower portion configured to extend downward from said middle portion, said lower portion configured to be positioned against a face surface of the foundation a distance to reduce moisture intrusion from entering behind said lower portion; and    a drip flange extending downwardly outward from an end of said lower portion of said flashing configured to direct moisture away from the foundation.    
     
     
         15 . A means for flashing a foundation and exterior treatment interface in a building structure for reducing moisture intrusion at the foundation and exterior treatment interface, comprising: 
 flashing means extending between the foundation and the exterior treatment interface for directing moisture away from the exterior treatment and over a face surface of the foundation, said flashing means including a portion for positioning against the face surface of the foundation for reducing moisture intrusion from entering behind said portion of said flashing means.    
     
     
         16 . A method of forming a flashing configured to position between a foundation and exterior treatment interface of a building structure, the method comprising: 
 forming a flashing member having an upper portion, a lower portion and a middle portion, said middle portion intermediately interconnected to said upper portion and said lower portion;    configuring said upper portion so that a back surface thereof is formed to be positioned against a wall sitting on the upper portion of the foundation;    configuring said middle portion with a bottom surface and a top surface to be positionable between a top surface of the foundation and the exterior treatment of the building structure; and    configuring said lower portion with a back surface configured to be positioned against a face surface of the foundation and extend a distance downward to reduce moisture intrusion from entering behind said lower portion.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising forming a drip flange extending downwardly outward from an end of said lower portion of said flashing member configured to direct moisture away from the building structure.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said forming said drip flange comprises forming said drip flange with a folded-back portion wrapped around an under-side portion of said drip flange.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said forming said drip flange with said fold-back portion comprises forming a downward extension extending substantially vertically downward a distance from an end of said folded-back portion and configured to abut the face surface of the foundation.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said forming said downward extension comprises sizing said downward extension said distance of at least one-quarter inch.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said configuring said lower portion comprises sizing said distance of said lower portion to extend at least one-quarter inch.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said configuring said middle portion comprises configuring said middle portion to be downwardly sloped toward said lower portion when said upper portion is positioned against the wall.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said configuring said middle portion comprises configuring said middle portion to be downwardly sloped to provide a gap between the upper portion of the foundation and the exterior treatment of the building structure when positioned thereto so that said bottom surface of said middle portion is configured to abut with filler material positioned on the upper portion of the foundation to provide support for the exterior treatment.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising forming said flashing member from a metallic material.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising forming said flashing member from a polymeric material.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising forming a j-channel flashing extending from said upper portion of said flashing member.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said forming said j-channel flashing comprises configuring said j-channel flashing to receive the exterior treatment so that said upper portion is positioned between the exterior treatment and the wall of the building structure.  
     
     
         28 . A method of installing a flashing configured to position between a foundation and exterior treatment interface of a building structure, the method comprising: 
 providing a flashing member including an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion, said middle portion intermediate said lower portion and said upper portion; and    disposing said flashing member at least partially over the foundation so that said upper portion is positioned against a wall of the building structure, said middle portion is positioned over a top surface of the foundation, and a back surface of said lower portion is positioned against a face surface of the foundation to reduce moisture intrusion from entering behind said lower portion.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said providing comprises providing said flashing member with a drip flange extending downwardly outward from an end of said lower portion of said flashing member.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said disposing further comprises disposing said flashing member in preparation to receive the exterior treatment over said middle portion of said flashing member so that a back surface of the exterior treatment faces said upper portion of said flashing member.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said disposing further comprises disposing said flashing member in preparation to receive a coating at least partially over the face surface of the foundation so that said coating extends proximately to said drip flange of said flashing member.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said providing said flashing member comprises providing said drip flange with a folded-back portion folding around said underside portion of said drip flange.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said providing said drip flange comprises providing said drip flange with a downward extension extending substantially vertically downward a distance configured to abut the face surface of said foundation.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said disposing further comprises disposing said downward extension to abut the face surface of the foundation in preparation to receive a coating at least partially over the face surface of the foundation so that said coating extends partially over said downward extension.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising providing a j-channel flashing interconnected to said upper portion of said flashing member, said j-channel flashing positioned to receive a portion of the exterior treatment so that said upper portion is positioned between the wall of the building structure and the exterior treatment.