House wrap with integral furring strips

Abstract

There is disclosed a furring strip system wherein furring strips are pre-attached to at least one side of a water resistive barrier (WRB—sometimes referred to as “Housewrap”) to promote drainage and drying between the exterior siding or cladding and the underlying wall construction. The furring strips themselves may be ventilated vertically through a series of abutting internal cavities extending across its width or vertical ridges. The furring strip system is installed on a structure simultaneously with the WRB, and before the exterior cladding or siding is installed to enhance drainage and drying of that area thus helping to eliminate the problems associated with water accumulation, such as deterioration of the underlying components, microbial growth, mold and related problems to the structure and its inhabitants.

1 : An improved water resistive barrier (WRB) for use in frame construction wherein said WRB includes means for ensuring drainage and drying of unwanted water between the underlying structure and exterior siding of a building; said WRB comprising: 
 flexible water resistive barrier sheet material;    said flexible water resistive barrier sheet material having a plurality of previously attached spaced furring strips on at least one side thereof;    said flexible water resistive barrier sheet material providing drainage and drying in the gap formed between the exterior facing surface of said underlying structure and said inward facing surface of said siding when said flexible water resistive barrier sheet material and said plurality of furring strips thereon is installed therebetween.    
   
   
       2 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction as defined in  claim 1  wherein said WRB and attached furring strips are presented in continuous roll form.  
   
   
       3 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction as defined in  claim 1  wherein said furring strips are provided on both sides of said flexible water resistive barrier sheet material.  
   
   
       4 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction as defined in  claim 2  wherein said furring strips are provided on both sides of said continuous roll.  
   
   
       5 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction as defined in  claim 1  wherein said furring strips include ventilation means formed by longitudinal passageways within the strip and extending along the length thereof.  
   
   
       6 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction as defined in  claim 5  wherein said ventilation means are formed as grooves in said furring strips.  
   
   
       7 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction as defined in  claim 6  wherein said furring strips abutting said sheathing of said house are narrower than the furring strips on the opposite side.  
   
   
       8 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction as defined in  claim 7  wherein said furring strips are disposed in opposition to each other with their vertical centerlines directly opposite each other.  
   
   
       9 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction as defined in  claim 3  wherein said furring strips are attached by ultrasonic welding.  
   
   
       10 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction as defined in  claim 3  wherein said furring strips are adhesively attached to said WRB.  
   
   
       11 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction as defined in  claim 3  wherein said furring strips are mechanically to attached to said WRB.  
   
   
       12 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction as defined in  claim 4  wherein said furring strips are attached by ultrasonic welding.  
   
   
       13 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction as defined in  claim 4  wherein said furring strips are adhesively attached to said WRB.  
   
   
       14 : An improved WRB for use in flame construction as defined in  claim 4  wherein said furring strips are mechanically attached to said WRB.  
   
   
       15 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction as defined in  claim 1  wherein said plurality of spaced furring strips are free of ventilating passageways.  
   
   
       16 : An improved water resistive barrier (WRB) for use in frame construction wherein said WRB includes means for ensuring drainage and drying of unwanted water between the underlying structure and exterior siding of a building; said WRB comprising: 
 flexible water resistive barrier sheet material;    said flexible water resistive barrier sheet material having a plurality of previously attached spaced furring strips on at least one side thereof;    said flexible water resistive sheet material having a first flap portion at the beginning of said sheet with additional flap portions located oppositely at the top and bottom portions of said WRB sheet;    said flexible water resistive barrier sheet material providing drainage and drying in the gap formed between the exterior facing surface of said underlying structure and said inward facing surface of said siding when said flexible water resistive barrier sheet material and said plurality of furring strips thereon is installed therebetween.    
   
   
       17 : A method of draining and drying the underlying structure between the sheathing and exterior siding of a frame construction building said method comprising the following steps: 
 a. providing a roll of flexible water resistive barrier sheet material with furring strips attached to both sides thereof with a flap portion on opposite sides of said water resistive barrier sheet material due to staggered placement of said furring strips;    b. applying a first row of said roll of flexible water resistive barrier sheet material with attached furring strips by starting at a corner of said building with the bottom of said furring strips aligned with the frame structure of said building leaving a top flap portion of said flexible water resistive barrier sheet material exposed;    c. after installing said first row of flexible water resistive barrier sheet material, begin installing a second row of said roll of flexible water resistive barrier sheet material by overlapping said top flap portion in step (b);    d. after installing said roll of flexible water resistive barrier sheet material, repeat the procedure followed in step(c) followed by successive repeats until one face of said building is completed followed by successive repeats of steps (a) through (d) on each of the remaining sides of the building until completed.    
   
   
       18 : An improved water resistive barrier for use in frame construction wherein said WRB includes means for ensuring drainage and drying of unwanted water between the underlying structure and exterior siding of said building; said WRB comprising: 
 a roll of flexible water resistive barrier sheet material having a first and second side and a top and bottom portion;    said roll of flexible water resistive sheet material having a plurality of spaced furring strips attached to opposite sides of said flexible water resistive sheet material;    said furring strips on said first side of said water resistive barrier sheet material having a first end aligned with said bottom of said water resistive barrier sheet material and a second opposite end of said furring strip terminating short of said top of said water resistive barrier sheet material leaving a top flap portion unsupported by said furring strip; and    said furring strips on said second side of said water resistive barrier sheet material having a first aligned with said top of said water resistive barrier sheet material and terminating short of said bottom of said water resistive barrier sheet material leaving a bottom flap portion unsupported by said second furring strip;    said first and second furring strips arranged in overlapping, staggered fashion and each successive row allows said offset furring strips to become aligned and continuous.    
   
   
       19 : An improved water resistive barrier for use in frame construction wherein said WRB includes means for ensuring drainage and drying of unwanted water between the underlying structure and exterior siding of said building; said WRB comprising: 
 a flexible water resistive barrier sheet material having a first and second side and a top and bottom portion;    said flexible water resistive sheet material having a plurality of spaced furring strips attached to opposite sides of said flexible water resistive sheet material;    said furring strips on said first side of said water resistive barrier sheet material having a first end aligned with said bottom of said water resistive barrier sheet material and a second opposite end of said furring strip terminating short of said top of said water resistive barrier sheet material leaving a top flap portion unsupported by said furring strip; and    said furring strips on said second side of said water resistive barrier sheet material having a first end aligned with said top of said water resistive barrier sheet material and terminating short of said bottom of said water resistive barrier sheet material leaving a bottom flap portion unsupported by said second furring strip;    said first and second furring strips arranged in overlapping, staggered fashion and each row allows said offset furring strips to become aligned and continuous.    
   
   
       20 : An improved WRB for use in frame construction wherein said WRB includes means for ensuring drainage and drying of unwanted water between the underlying structure and exterior siding of a building; said WRB comprising: 
 flexible water resistive barrier sheet material;    said flexible water resistive barrier sheet material having a plurality of previously attached spaced furring strips on at least one side thereof;    said flexible resistive barrier sheet material providing drainage and drying in the gap formed between the exterior facing surface of said underlying structure and said inward facing surface of said siding when said flexible water resistive barrier sheet material and said plurality of furring strips there on is installed therebetween; and    said furring strips including ventilation means formed within the strips and continuing along the length thereof.