Building Sealing Systems and Methods of Installing the Same

Abstract

Methods of assembling wall structure include coupling first and second sealing members to a wall structural member along a first side and second side, respectively, of the wall structural member. The first sealing member and the second sealing member each include a compliant seal having a thickness and an adhesive along at least one side. The methods also include coupling a first wall sheathing element to the first side of the wall structural member so that the first sealing member contacts the first wall sheathing element and coupling a second wall sheathing element to the second side of the wall structural member so that the second sealing member contacts the second wall sheathing element. The first sealing member and the second sealing member form a restrictive fluid path between the first wall sheathing element, the wall structural member, and the second wall sheathing element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of assembling a wall structure comprising:
 coupling a first sealing member to a wall structural member along a first side of the wall structural member;   coupling a second sealing member to the wall structural member along a second side of the wall structural member opposite the first side, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member each comprise a compliant seal having a thickness and an adhesive along at least one side;   coupling a first wall sheathing element to the first side of the wall structural member so that the first sealing member contacts the first wall sheathing element; and   coupling a second wall sheathing element to the second side of the wall structural member so that the second sealing member contacts the second wall sheathing element, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member form a restrictive fluid path between the first wall sheathing element, the wall structural member, and the second wall sheathing element.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coupling a third sealing member to a second wall structural member along a first side of the second wall structural member, the second wall structural member adjacent to the wall structural member;   coupling a fourth sealing member to the second wall structural member along a second side of the second wall structural member opposite the first side, wherein the third sealing member and the fourth sealing member each comprise a compliant seal having a thickness and an adhesive along at least one side;   coupling the first wall sheathing element to the first sides of the wall structural member and the second wall structural member; and   coupling the second wall sheathing element to the second sides of the wall structural member and the second wall structural member, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth wall sealing members form a sealed stud bay with the first wall sheathing element, the second wall sheathing element, the wall structural member, and the second wall structural member, the sealed stud bay being restrictive to fluid flow past the sealing members.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sealed stud bay is positioned along an interior of a building structure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising placing the sealed stud bay in fluid communication with a HVAC system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the sealed stud bay is in fluid communication with a return line of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member comprise a compressible foam rubber. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising compressing the first sealing member and the second sealing member in a thickness direction to form fluid-resisting seals with the wall structural member and the first and second sheathing element. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first sealing member extends beyond a widthwise direction of the wall structural member. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 coupling a fifth sealing member to a first wall plate member coupled to the wall structural member and the second wall structural member, the fifth sealing member positioned along a first side of the first wall plate member;   coupling a sixth sealing member to the first wall plate member along a second side of the second wall plate member opposite the first side;   coupling a seventh sealing member to a second wall plate member coupled to the wall structural member and the second wall structural member, the seventh sealing member positioned along a first side of the second wall plate member; and   coupling an eighth sealing member to the second wall plate member along a second side of the second wall plate member opposite the first side;   wherein the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth sealing members each comprise a compliant seal having a thickness and an adhesive along at least one side.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein adjacent sealing members contact one another to form a restrictive fluid path at locations of intersection of adjacent sealing members. 
     
     
         11 . A method of assembling a wall structure comprising:
 coupling a sealing member to a first wall structural member, the sealing member comprising a compliant seal having a seal thickness, a seal width, and a seal length that is greater than the seal thickness and the seal width, and an adhesive along at least one side;   coupling a second wall structural member to the first wall structural member, the second wall structural member comprising a structural member thickness, a structural member width, and a structural member length that is greater than the structural member thickness, wherein:   the sealing member is positioned with the seal length generally aligned with the structural member length; and   the sealing member forms a restrictive fluid path between the first wall structural member and the second wall structural member.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first wall structural member is one of a foundation, a sill plate, or an end joist. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second wall structural member is one of a sill, a subfloor, or a build-up plate of a roof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first wall structural member and the second wall structural member are positioned proximate to an exterior wall of a building structure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing member comprises a compressible foam rubber. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising compressing the sealing member in the seal thickness direction to form a fluid-resisting seal with the first wall structural member and the second wall structural member. 
     
     
         17 . A wall structure comprising:
 a wall structural member having a structural member thickness, a structural member width, and a structural member length that is greater than the structural member thickness and the structural member width;   a sealing member coupled to the wall structural member, the sealing member comprising a compliant seal having a seal width, a seal thickness, and a seal length, the seal length greater than the seal width and the seal thickness, and an adhesive applied to one side of the compliant seal and, the compliant seal being free from adhesive along a side opposite the side to which adhesive is applied; and   a first wall sheathing element coupled to the wall structural member, wherein:   the sealing member is positioned with the seal length generally aligned with the structural member length; and   the sealing member forms a restrictive fluid path between the wall structural member and the first wall sheathing element.   
     
     
         18 . The wall structure of  claim 17 , wherein the adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . The wall structure of  claim 17 , wherein the sealing member comprises a compressible foam rubber, and the sealing member is compressed in the seal thickness when installed in the wall structure as compared to an uninstalled condition. 
     
     
         20 . The wall structure of  claim 17 , wherein the sealing member is positioned proximate to an exterior wall of a building structure.