Flexible weather resistant building wrap

Abstract

A method of enveloping a building in a weather resistant wrap is disclosed. A weather resistant building or house wrap is disclosed. The wrap is of a thin flexible web or sheet of material having multiple layers. The layers include a metallized polymeric layer (e.g. polyester metallized with aluminum) adhered to a closed cell foam layer. The metallized portion preferably faces the adhesive layer. The polymeric layer is an outside surface layer as is the closed cell foam layer.

1 . A flexible wrapping material for at least partially enveloping a framed building, comprising: 
 a) a sheet of flexible material that is thin enough to be wound upon a roll and that is a multi layered material having a base layer of polyester that is metalized and that has a closed all foam layer adhered to it with a layer of adhesive; and    b) a matrix of small openings spaced over the sheet of material, the openings being between about 0.2 mm and 1.5 mm in diameter and spaced apart a distance of between about 0.25″ and 1.5″ (0.64 and 3.8 cm).    
     
     
         2 . The flexible wrapping material of  claim 1  wherein the polyester layer is metalized on a surface area of the polyester layer that is next to the adhesive layer.  
     
     
         3 . The flexible wrapping material of  claim 1  wherein the layer of adhesive is a thermoplastic adhesive layer.  
     
     
         4 . The flexible wrapping material of  claim 1  wherein the foam layer is a closed cell foam layer.  
     
     
         5 . The flexible wrapping material of  claim 4  wherein the foam layer is a polyethylene foam layer.  
     
     
         6 . The flexible wrapping material of  claim 1  wherein the openings are between about 0.3 and 0.7 millimeters in diameter.  
     
     
         7 . The flexible wrapping material of  claim 1  wherein the openings are about 0.5 millimeters in diameter.  
     
     
         8 . The flexible wrapping material of  claim 1  wherein the metalized layer is aluminum.  
     
     
         9 . The flexible wrapping material of  claim 1  wherein the metalized layer is aluminum having an optical density of at least 2.7.  
     
     
         10 . The flexible wrapping material of  claim 8  wherein the metal has an emissivity of no more than 0.03.  
     
     
         11 . The flexible wrapping material of  claim 1  wherein the foam layer is a carbon foam layer.  
     
     
         12 . The flexible wrapping material of  claim 1  wherein the foam layer is a carbonized foam layer.  
     
     
         13 . A method of wrapping a framed building, comprising the steps of: 
 a) at least partially enveloping the studs of a framed building with a flexible sheet of material, each sheet being a multi-layered sheet that includes: 
 i) an inner layer of foam;  
 ii) an outer layer of polyester having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface being a metalized surface;  
 iii) an adhesive layer in between the foam layer and the outer layer of polyester wherein the adhesive layer contacts the metalized surface.  
   b) perforating the sheet of step “a”;    c) securing the sheet to the studs of the framed building.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein step “a” includes facing the metalized surface away from the studs.  
     
     
         15 - 24 . (canceled)  
     
     
         25 . A method of wrapping and at least partially enveloping a framed building, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a sheet of flexible material that is thin enough to be wound upon a roll and that is a multi layered material having a base layer of polyester that is metalized and that has a closed all foam layer adhered to it with a layer of adhesive;    b) perforating the sheet of material with a matrix of small openings spaced over the sheet of material, the openings being between about 0.1 and 1.5 millimeters in diameter and spaced apart a distance of between 0.25″ and 1.5″ (0.64 and 3.8 cm); and    c) at least partially enveloping the framed building with the sheet of flexible material of steps “a” and “b” and before any exterior veneer is applied.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the polyester layer is metalized on a surface area of the polyester layer that is next to the adhesive layer.  
     
     
         27 - 34 . (canceled)  
     
     
         35 . A method of wrapping a framed building that has a framed skeleton of building studs, comprising the steps of: 
 a) at least partially enveloping the framed skeleton with a flexible sheet of material, each sheet being a multi-layered sheet that includes: 
 i) an inner layer of foam;  
 ii) an outer layer of polyester having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface being a metalized surface;  
 iii) an adhesive layer in between the foam layer and outer layer of polyester wherein the adhesive layer contacts the metalized surface.  
   b) perforating the sheet of step “a”; and    c) securing the sheet to the studs of the framed skeleton.    
     
     
         36 . (canceled)  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein in step “a” the sheet has a thickness of between about 0.1 and 1.5 millimeters.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35  wherein in step “a” the sheet has a thickness of between about 0.3 and 0.7 millimeters.  
     
     
         39 - 49 . (canceled)