Drainage plane flashing material

Abstract

A flashing material and method provides a moisture drainage passage to prevent water damage to buildings. The flashing material includes: (a) a planar portion for providing a drainage plane for the passage of moisture along a plane defined by said planar portion, wherein said planar portion includes a porous sheet capable of permitting the passage of water therethrough along the drain plain, and/or a water impervious sheet having a surface defining said drainage plane; (b) a water-impervious layer which is bonded on a first side to the planar portion; and, preferably (c) a layer of adhesive applied to a second side of the water-impervious layer. The flashing material is particularly useful for installing a portal such as a window or door in an opening in a wall, or for sealing joints in roofs, for installing skylights and similar such uses.

1 . A flashing material which comprises:
 (a) a planar portion for providing a drainage plane for the passage of moisture along a plane defined by said planar portion, wherein said planar portion includes
 i. a porous sheet capable of permitting the passage of water therethrough along the drain plain, and/or 
 ii. a water resistant sheet having a surface defining said drainage plane; 
   (b) a water-impervious layer which is bonded on a first side to the planar portion; and,   (c) a layer of adhesive applied to a second side of the water-impervious layer.   
   
   
       2 . The flashing material of  claim 1  wherein the porous first sheet comprises an open cell polymeric foam material. 
   
   
       3 . The flashing material of  claim 2  wherein the second sheet comprises a closed cell polymeric foam. 
   
   
       4 . The flashing material of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive. 
   
   
       5 . The flashing material of  claim 4  further including a removable release liner disposed over the adhesive layer. 
   
   
       6 . The flashing material of  claim 1  further including a second layer of adhesive applied to a surface of the first sheet opposite to the side to which second layer of polymeric sheet is bonded. 
   
   
       7 . The flashing material of  claim 6  further including a release liner removably disposed over the second layer of adhesive. 
   
   
       8 . The flashing material of  claim 3  wherein the second sheet of closed cell polymeric foam is bonded to the first sheet of open cell polymeric foam by flame bonding. 
   
   
       9 . The flashing material of  claim 3  wherein the second sheet of closed cell polymeric foam is bonded to the first sheet of open cell polymeric foam by adhesive bonding. 
   
   
       10 . The flashing material of  claim 1  wherein at least the porous first sheet further includes at least one biocide. 
   
   
       11 . The flashing material of  claim 1  wherein the surface of the water resistant sheet is textured with embossed nondirectional channels to permit the drainage of moisture along said surface. 
   
   
       12 . The flashing material of  claim 11  wherein the planar portion (a) comprises both the porous sheet and the water resistant sheet. 
   
   
       13 . The flashing material of  claim 11  wherein the planar portion (a) comprises only the water resistant sheet, which is bonded directly to the water impervious layer (b). 
   
   
       14 . A flashing material which comprises:
 (a) a first layer of open cell polymeric foam;   (b) a second layer of closed cell polymeric foam bonded on a first side to the first layer of open cell polymeric foam;   (c) a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a second side of the second layer;   (d) a removable release liner disposed on the layer of pressure sensitive adhesive.   
   
   
       15 . The flashing material of  claim 11  further including a water resistant sheet bonded to a side of the open cell polymeric foam and having a surface with embossed nondirectional channels. 
   
   
       16 . A method for sealing a joint in a wall of a building comprising:
 attaching to a surface of the wall over or in the vicinity of the joint a flashing tape which includes,
 (a) a planar portion for providing a drainage plane for the passage of moisture along a plane defined by said planar portion, wherein said planar portion includes
 a porous sheet capable of permitting the passage of water therethrough along the drain plain, and/or 
 a water resistant sheet having a surface defining said drainage plane; and, 
 
 (b) a water-impervious layer which is bonded on a first side to the planar portion. 
   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the porous sheet comprises an open cell polymeric foam. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the water impervious layer comprises a closed cell polymeric foam. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said attaching comprises adhesively bonding the flashing tape by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the surface of the water resistant sheet is textured with embossed nondirectional channels to permit the drainage of moisture along said surface. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the planar portion (a) comprises both the porous sheet and the water resistant sheet. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the planar portion (a) comprises only the water resistant sheet, which is bonded directly to the water impervious layer (b). 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the joint is between a portal and an edge of the wall defining an opening configured and dimensioned to receive the portal. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the portal is a window.