Patent Publication Number: US-11391045-B2

Title: Insulating wall panels for building construction and related methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/193,397, filed Nov. 16, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,837,174, issued Nov. 17, 2020, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/674,161, filed May 21, 2018, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to insulating wall panels for building construction. More specifically, disclosed embodiments relate to insulating wall panels that may better inhibit heat transfer, reduce cost, and enable easier installation. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Drywall is a commonly used building material in building construction, particularly for internal walls. For example, internal walls may be built by forming a wood frame, securing panels of drywall to the wood frame (e.g., using screws), and applying joint tape and/or joint compound to the joints between adjacent panels of drywall to reinforce the drywall and form smooth surfaces and corners. Insulation against conductive and convective heat may be provided, for example, by placing foam or fiberglass in the spaces between wood frame members on a side of the drywall opposite the interior. Radiant insulation in the form of a thin sheet of heat-reflective, metal material may also be provided, which may be accomplished by adhering a sheet of radiant insulation directly to the surface of the drywall that does not face the interior. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While this disclosure concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming specific embodiments, various features and advantages of embodiments within the scope of this disclosure may be more readily ascertained from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial-cutaway perspective view of a wall panel for building construction; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial-cutaway perspective view of another embodiment of a wall panel for building construction; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial-cutaway perspective view of still another embodiment of a wall panel for building construction; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of a stage in a method of making the wall panel of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional top view of the wall panel of  FIG. 1  installed in a building; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a laminate product for use with wall panels in accordance with this disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of another embodiment of a wall panel for building construction; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of still another embodiment of a wall panel for building construction; and 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of yet another embodiment of a wall panel for building construction. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The illustrations presented in this disclosure are not meant to be actual views of any particular wall panel or component thereof, but are merely idealized representations employed to describe illustrative embodiments. Thus, the drawings are not necessarily to scale. 
     Disclosed embodiments relate generally to insulating wall panels that may better inhibit heat transfer, reduce cost, and enable easier installation. More specifically, disclosed are embodiments of wall panels for building construction that may include a panel of drywall material, a radiant barrier, and a corrugated sheet interposed between the panel of drywall material and the radiant barrier, the corrugated sheet configured to provide an air gap between the panel of drywall material and the radiant barrier without requiring complicated and expensive formation and installation techniques. 
     As used herein, the terms “substantially” and “about” in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a degree of variance, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. For example, a parameter that is substantially or about a specified value may be at least about 90% the specified value, at least about 95% the specified value, at least about 99% the specified value, or even at least about 99.9% the specified value. 
     As used herein, spatially relative terms, such as “upper,” “lower,” “bottom,” and “top,” are for ease of description in identifying one element&#39;s relationship to another element, as illustrated in the figures. Unless otherwise specified, the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the elements in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. Thus, the term “upper” can encompass elements above, below, to the left of, or to the right of other elements, depending on the orientation of an assembly. The assembly may be otherwise oriented (rotated ninety degrees, inverted, etc.) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     As used herein, the term “corrugated” means and includes shapes having alternate ridges and grooves. For example, structures that are corrugated may include alternating rows of ridges and grooves or alternating dimples and protrusions in an array, at least one pair of which may form a cross-section having a waving shape. 
       FIG. 1  is a partial-cutaway perspective view of a wall panel  100  for building construction. The wall panel  100  may include a panel  102  of drywall material. The panel  102  may include a room-interior-facing surface  104  positioned and configured to face a room&#39;s interior when the panel  102  is installed as part of a wall of the room. The panel  102  may include a room-exterior-facing surface  106  located on an opposite side of the panel  102  from the room-interior-facing surface  104 , the room-exterior-facing surface  106  positioned and configured to face a room&#39;s exterior when the panel  102  is installed as part of a wall of the room. The room-interior-facing surface  104  of the panel  102  may be positioned to form a closest surface of the panel  102  relative to the room&#39;s interior when the panel  102  is installed as part of a wall of the room. The drywall material of the panel  102  may include, for example, gypsum (i.e., calcium sulfate dehydrate), which may be supported between sheets of facer and backer paper. In other embodiments, the panel  102  may include other building materials, such as, for example, wood paneling, ceramic tile, or stone. 
     The wall panel  100  may include a radiant barrier  108  including a material reflective to at least heat located proximate to the room-exterior-facing surface  106 . More specifically, the radiant barrier  108  may be located on a side of the panel  102  of drywall material opposite the room-interior-facing surface  104 . The radiant barrier  108  may be configured to inhibit the effect of radiant heat on the temperature of the room&#39;s interior when the wall panel  100  is installed as part of a wall of the room. The radiant barrier  108  may form a rearmost surface (i.e., a most exterior portion relative to the interior of a room) of the wall panel  100  on a side of the panel  102  of drywall material facing the room-exterior-facing surface  106 . The radiant barrier  108  may include, for example, a sheet or foil of thermally reflective material. More specifically, the radiant barrier  108  may include, for example, a foil of aluminum material having a thermally and optically reflective surface finish. 
     A corrugated sheet  110  may be interposed between the panel  102  of drywall material and the radiant barrier  108 , forming pockets  112  of air between the panel  102  of drywall material and portions of the corrugated sheet  110  and between the radiant barrier  108  and other portions of the corrugated sheet  110 . For example, the corrugated sheet  110  may include a first series of peaks  114  and a corresponding first series of troughs  116  located proximate to the room-exterior-facing surface  106  of the panel  102  of drywall material. The first series of peaks  114  may form lines  118  of contact between the corrugated sheet  110  and the next-closest component of the wall panel  100 , which in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is the panel  102  of drywall material, and the space defined by the surface of that component facing the corrugated sheet  110 , which is the room-exterior-facing surface  106  in  FIG. 1 , and the surfaces of the corrugated sheet  110  extending from the first series of peaks  114  to the first series of troughs  116  may form air gaps to provide the pockets  112 . The corrugated sheet  110  may further include a second series of peaks  120  and a corresponding second series of troughs  122  located proximate to the radiant barrier  108 . The second series of peaks  120  may form lines  124  of contact between the corrugated sheet  110  and the next-closest component of the wall panel  100 , which in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is the radiant barrier  108 , and the space defined by the surface of that component facing the corrugated sheet  110 , which is the surface  126  of the radiant barrier  108  facing the panel  102  of drywall material in  FIG. 1 , and the surfaces of the corrugated sheet extending from the second series of peaks  120  to the second series of troughs  122  may form air gaps to provide additional pockets  112 . 
     The corrugated sheet  110  may have an at least substantially sinusoidal shape when viewed in at least one cross-section at least substantially perpendicular to the room-interior-facing surface  104  and the room-exterior-facing surface  106  of the panel  102  of drywall material. For example, a slope of the corrugated sheet  110  as the corrugated sheet  110  transitions between the first series of peaks  114  and the first series of troughs  116 , and as the corrugated sheet  110  transitions between the second series of peaks  120  and the second series of troughs  122  may vary at least substantially continuously, providing a smooth, rounded, arcing wave shape at least substantially resembling a sine wave. The corrugated sheet  110  may include, for example, a cardboard material. More specifically, the corrugated sheet  110  may be of the type and shape employed between panels of planar cardboard material for cardboard shipping boxes. 
     The wall panel  100  may include an adhesive material  128  located between the panel  102  of drywall material and the corrugated sheet  110  and between the radiant barrier  108  and the corrugated sheet  110 . The adhesive material  128  may secure the corrugated sheet  110  to the panel  102  of drywall material and may secure the radiant barrier  108  to the corrugated sheet  110 . For example, the radiant barrier  108  may be directly adhered to the corrugated sheet  110  and the corrugated sheet  110  may be directly adhered to the panel  102  of drywall material by the adhesive material  128  in embodiments, such as that shown in  FIG. 1 , where the corrugated sheet  110  is directly adjacent to, and in contact with, each of the panel  102  of drywall material and the radiant barrier  108 . More specifically, the adhesive material  128  may be located only on the first series of peaks  114  of the corrugated sheet  110  facing the room-exterior-facing surface  106  and on the second series of peaks  120  of the corrugated sheet  110  facing the radiant barrier  108 . The adhesive material  128  may include, for example, a sticky wax material. 
     A distance D between the room-exterior-facing surface  106  of the panel  102  of drywall material and the surface  126  of the radiant barrier  108  facing the room-exterior-facing surface  106  of the panel  102  of drywall material, as formed by the corrugated sheet  110 , may be, for example, between about 1/32 inch and about ¼ inch. More specifically, the distance D between the room-exterior-facing surface  106  of the panel  102  of drywall material and the surface  126  of the radiant barrier  108  facing the room-exterior-facing surface  106  of the panel  102  of drywall material may be, for example, between about 1/16 inch and about ⅛ inch (e.g., about 1/16 inch). 
     By spacing the panel  102  of drywall material and the radiant barrier  108  from one another by a distance D utilizing the corrugated sheet  110  to form the pockets  112  of air between the panel  102  of drywall material and the corrugated sheet  110  and between the corrugated sheet  110  and the radiant barrier  108 , the wall panel  100  may better insulate against the various potential sources of heat transfer than simply directly adhering the radiant barrier  108  to the room-exterior-facing surface  106  of the wall panel  100 . For example, the pockets  112  of air, and the barriers formed by the corrugated sheet  110 , may better insulate against heat transfer by conduction and convection, while the radiant barrier  108  may better insulate against heat transfer by radiation. 
       FIG. 2  is a partial-cutaway perspective view of another embodiment of a wall panel  130  for building construction. The corrugated sheet  132  shown in  FIG. 2  may have an at least substantially triangle wave shape when viewed in at least one cross-section at least substantially perpendicular to the room-interior-facing surface  104  and the room-exterior-facing surface  106  of the panel  102  of drywall material. For example, the corrugated sheet  132  may include at least substantially planar sections  134  extending between the first series of peaks  114  and the first series of troughs  116 , and between the second series of peaks  120  and the second series of troughs  122 , which may for at least substantially linear intersections between the at least substantially planar sections  134 , forming a sawtooth-like, ridged series of spikes resembling a triangle wave. 
     In some embodiments, such as that shown in  FIG. 2 , the wall panel  130  may include additional components interposed between the panel  102  of drywall material and the corrugated sheet  132 , between the corrugated sheet  132  and the radiant barrier  108 , or between the panel  102  of drywall material and the corrugated sheet  132  and between the corrugated sheet  132  and the radiant barrier  108 . For example, the wall panel  130  may include a planar sheet  136  interposed between the corrugated sheet  132  and the panel  102  of drywall material. The planar sheet  136  may be directly adhered to the corrugated sheet  132  and to the panel  102  of drywall material by the adhesive material  128 . As another example, the wall panel  130  may include an overlying planar sheet  138  interposed between the corrugated sheet  132  and the radiant barrier  108 . The overlying planar sheet  138  may be directly adhered to the corrugated sheet  132  and to the radiant barrier  108  by the adhesive material  128 . As still another example, the wall panel  130  may include the planar sheet  136  interposed between the corrugated sheet  132  and the panel  102  of drywall material and the other overlying planar sheet  138  interposed between the corrugated sheet  132  and the radiant barrier  108 . More specifically, the corrugated sheet  132  may be provided in the form of a complete panel of cardboard, including the planar sheet  136  and the other overlying planar sheet  138  on opposite sides of the corrugated sheet  132 , which planar sheet  136  and other overlying planar sheet  138  may, in turn, be adhered to the panel  102  of drywall material and the radiant barrier  108  to form the wall panel  130 . 
       FIG. 3  is a partial-cutaway perspective view of still another embodiment of a wall panel  140  for building construction. The wall panel  140  may include, for example, at least one other corrugated sheet  142  located on a side of the radiant barrier  108  opposite the panel  102  of drywall material. For example, the other corrugated sheet  142  may be secured to the radiant barrier  108  by the adhesive material  128 . The corrugated sheet  110  may include, for example, another first series of peaks  144  and another corresponding first series of troughs  146  located proximate to the radiant barrier  108 . The other first series of peaks  144  may form lines  148  of contact between the other corrugated sheet  142  and the next-closest component of the wall panel  140 , which in the embodiment of  FIG. 3  is the radiant barrier  108 , and the space defined by the surface of that component facing the other corrugated sheet  142 , which is the rearmost surface  150  of the radiant barrier  108  in  FIG. 3 , and the surfaces of the other corrugated sheet  142  extending from the other first series of peaks  144  to the other first series of troughs  146  may form air gaps to provide still other pockets  152  of air. The other corrugated sheet  142  may form a rearmost surface (i.e., a most exterior portion relative to the interior of a room) of the wall panel  140  on a side of the panel  102  of drywall material facing the room-exterior-facing surface  106 . 
     The lines  148  of contact between the other first series of peaks  144  of the other corrugated sheet  142  and the radiant barrier  108  may extend, for example, in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the lines  118  of contact between the corrugated sheet  110  and the panel  102  of drywall material. In other embodiments, the lines  148  of contact between the other first series of peaks  144  of the other corrugated sheet  142  and the radiant barrier  108  may extend, for example, in a direction parallel, or oblique, to the lines  118  of contact between the corrugated sheet  110  and the panel  102  of drywall material. 
     Although the corrugated sheet  110  and the other corrugated sheet  142  are depicted in  FIG. 3  as having an at least substantially sinusoidal cross-sectional shape, like the corrugated sheet  110  of  FIG. 1 , the corrugated sheet  110 , the other corrugated sheet  142 , or the corrugated sheet  110  and the other corrugated sheet  142  may have an at least substantially triangle wave cross-sectional shape, like the corrugated sheet  132  of  FIG. 2 . And although the corrugated sheet  110  and the other corrugated sheet  142  are depicted in  FIG. 3  as being in direct contact with the panel  102  of drywall material and the radiant barrier  108 , like the corrugated sheet  110  of  FIG. 1 , the corrugated sheet  110 , the other corrugated sheet  142 , or the corrugated sheet  110  and the other corrugated sheet  142  may be in direct contact with one or more planar sheets  136 ,  138  (see  FIG. 2 ) interposed between the corrugated sheet  110  and one or both of the panel  102  of drywall material and the radiant barrier and/or located on one or both sides of the other corrugated sheet  142 . 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of a stage in a method of making the wall panel  100  of  FIG. 1 . Before securing the corrugated sheet  110  to the panel  102  of drywall material and the radiant barrier  108 , the adhesive material  128  may be placed on the corrugated sheet  110 . For example, the corrugated sheet  110  may be moved past an adhesive-applying device, which may place the adhesive material  128  on the corrugated sheet  110 , and the adhesive material  128  may be used to secure the corrugated sheet  110  to the panel  102  of drywall material and the radiant barrier  108 . More specifically, the corrugated sheet  110  may be moved past rollers  154  having the adhesive material  128  coated on the outside surfaces of the rollers  154 . As the first series of peaks  114  and the second series of peaks  120  of the corrugated sheet  110  come into contact with the rollers  154 , the rollers  154  may rotate and deposit the adhesive material  128  onto the first series of peaks  114  and the second series of peaks  120 . Once the adhesive material  128  has been applied, the adhesive material  128  located on the first series of peaks  114  may be brought into contact with the panel  102  of drywall material and the adhesive material  128  located on the second series of peaks  120  may be brought into contact with the radiant barrier  108  and cured or permitted to cure to adhere the corrugated sheet  110  to the panel  102  of drywall material and the radiant barrier  108 . In embodiments where the corrugated sheet  110  is provided with one or more planar sheets  136 ,  138  (see  FIG. 2 ), the adhesive material  128  may be placed on the planar sheet or sheets  136 ,  138  (see  FIG. 2 ), rather than on the corresponding first series of peaks  114  or second series of peaks  120 . 
     Because making the wall panel  100  may only require placement of adhesive material  128  and attachment of the various components to one another, the process may be simple, susceptible to automation, and low-cost. As a result, the resulting wall panels  100  may remain a cost-competitive option for providing insulation when constructing a building. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional top view of the wall panel  100  of  FIG. 1  installed in a building. When installing the wall panel  100 , a wall frame  156  for supporting the wall panel  100  may be provided. The wall frame  156  may be formed from wooden members, and may link the wall panel  100  to the supporting structure for the building (e.g., may transmit the loads of the wall panel  100  to the foundation, building frame, or other support structure). The wall frame  156  may include studs  158  spaced at regular intervals from one another. The studs  158  may form a wall space  160  into which other insulating material  162  may be placed before installing the wall panel  100 . For example, insulating foam or fiberglass insulation may be positioned in the wall space  160  to further inhibit heat transfer due to conduction and convection. 
     The wall panel  100  may be brought proximate to the studs  158 , with the room-exterior-facing surface  106  facing the studs  158 . An exterior-most surface of the wall panel  100  may be brought into contact with the studs  158 . For example, the rearmost surface  150  of the radiant barrier  108  may be contacted to the studs  158  in embodiments where the radiant barrier  108  is the component of the wall panel  100  farthest to the exterior. In other embodiments, the other corrugated sheet  142  (see  FIG. 3 ) or a planar sheet  136 ,  138  (see  FIG. 2 ) may be contacted to the studs  158 . 
     The wall panel  100  may be secured to the studs  158  to support the wall panel  100  on the wall frame  156 . For example, screws  164  may be inserted through the panel  102  of drywall material, through the corrugated sheet  110 , through the radiant barrier  108 , and through any other components of the wall panel  100 , into the studs  158  to secure the wall panel  100  to the wall frame  156 . Tightening the screws  164  may, for example, compress the corrugated sheet  110 , although the pockets  112  of air may remain between the panel  102  of drywall material and the corrugated sheet  110  and between the corrugated sheet  110  and the radiant barrier  108  along a majority of the room-exterior-facing surface  106 . 
     Because installing the wall panel  100  may not require any specialized installation techniques, particularly when compared to installing conventional panels of drywall material or such panels with radiant barriers adhered directly to the panels of drywall material, the wall panels  100  may not significantly increase the time and cost for constructing walls. With this and other advantages discussed in this application, as well as other advantages not explicitly mentioned, wall panels  100 ,  130  (see  FIG. 2 ),  140  (see  FIG. 3 ) in accordance with this disclosure may better inhibit heat transfer, particularly due to conduction and convection, without significantly increasing the cost or complexity associated with making and installing the wall panels  100 ,  130  (see  FIG. 2 ),  140  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a laminate product  170  for use with wall panels in accordance with this disclosure. The laminate product  170  may include the corrugated sheet  110 , which may be configured as an undulating lamina of cardboard material. Optionally, the laminate product  170  may include one or more planar sheets  136  and  138  located on opposite sides of the corrugated sheet  110 , which planar sheets  136  and  138  may be configured as at least substantially planar lamina of cardboard material. Any planar sheets  136  and  138  included in the laminate product  170  may be secured, directly or indirectly, to the corrugated sheet  110 . 
     The laminate product  170  may include one or more radiant barriers secured to corresponding surfaces of one or more of the corrugated sheet  110 , an optional underlying planar sheet  136 , and an optional overlying planar sheet  138  of the laminate product  170 . For example, the laminate product  170  may include the radiant barrier  108  located on a side of the overlying planar sheet  138  opposite the corrugated sheet  110 . More specifically, the radiant barrier  108  may be affixed to an exterior-facing surface  172  of the overlying planar sheet  138  by an adhesive material  128 . The radiant barrier  108  may form an exterior-most component of the laminate product  170 . 
     In addition to, or instead of, the radiant barrier  108  located closest to an exterior of a room in which a wall panel including the laminate product  170  may be installed, the laminate product  170  may include a radiant barrier  174  located on a side of the corrugated sheet  110  opposite the optional underlying planar sheet  136 . In embodiments where the laminate product  170  includes the optional overlying planar sheet  138 , the radiant barrier  174  may be interposed between the corrugated sheet  110  and the overlying planar sheet  138 . More specifically, the radiant barrier  174  may be affixed to an interior-facing surface  176  of the overlying planar sheet  138  and to the second series of peaks  120  of the corrugated sheet  110  or a second series of peaks  183  of a corrugated radiant barrier  180  secured to an exterior-facing surface  182  of the corrugated sheet  110  by an adhesive material  128 . 
     In addition to, or instead of, the radiant barrier  108  located at the exterior, the radiant barrier  174  located between the corrugated sheet  110  and the overlying planar sheet  138 , or some combination or subcombination thereof, the laminate product  170  may include a corrugated radiant barrier  180  located adjacent to the corrugated sheet  110 . The corrugated radiant barrier  180  may be located on an exterior-facing surface  182  of the corrugated sheet  110  or on an interior-facing surface  184  of the corrugated sheet  110 . The corrugated radiant barrier  180  may undulate, following the waving patterns of the corrugated sheet  110  and forming its own first series of peaks  178  and corresponding first series of troughs  181  (as shown on the left-hand side of  FIG. 6 ) or its own second series of peaks  183  and corresponding second series of troughs  185  (as shown on the right-hand side of  FIG. 6 ) covering those of the corrugated sheet  110 . More specifically, the corrugated radiant barrier  180  may cover, and be affixed to, the first series of peaks  114  and corresponding first series of troughs  116  forming the interior-facing surface  188  of the corrugated sheet  110 , or may cover, and be affixed to, the second series of peaks  120  and corresponding second series of troughs  122  forming the exterior-facing surface  182  of the corrugated sheet  110 , or both by an adhesive material. 
     In addition to, or instead of, the radiant barrier  108  located at the exterior, the radiant barrier  174  located between the corrugated sheet  110  and the overlying planar sheet  138 , the corrugated radiant barrier  180  located on one or both major surfaces  186  and  188  of the corrugated sheet  110 , or some combination or subcombination thereof, the laminate product  170  may include a first radiant barrier  190  located on a side of the corrugated sheet  110  opposite the optional overlying planar sheet  138 . In embodiments where the laminate product  170  includes the optional underlying planar sheet  136 , the first radiant barrier  190  may be interposed between the corrugated sheet  110  and the underlying planar sheet  136 . More specifically, the first radiant barrier  190  may be affixed to an exterior-facing surface  192  of the underlying planar sheet  136  and to the first series of troughs  116  of the corrugated sheet  110  or the first series of troughs  181  of a corrugated radiant barrier  180  secured to an interior-facing surface  188  of the corrugated sheet  110  by an adhesive material  128 . 
     In addition to, or instead of, the radiant barrier  108  located at the exterior, the radiant barrier  174  located between the corrugated sheet  110  and the overlying planar sheet  138 , the corrugated radiant barrier  180  located on one or both major surfaces  186  and  188  of the corrugated sheet  110 , the first radiant barrier  190  located between the corrugated sheet  110  and the underlying planar sheet  136 , or some combination or subcombination thereof, the laminate product  170  may include an interior-most radiant barrier  194  located on a side of the underlying planar sheet  136  opposite the corrugated sheet  110 . More specifically, the interior-most radiant barrier  194  may be affixed to an interior-facing surface  196  of the underlying planar sheet  136  by an adhesive material  128 . The interior-most radiant barrier  194  may form an interior-most component of the laminate product  170 . 
     Laminate products in accordance with this disclosure, and wall panels resulting from affixing the laminate products to a panel of drywall material, may include any one, any combination, or any subcombination of the radiant barriers, their positioning and manner of affixation, described previously in connection with  FIG. 6 . Certain, specific configurations for wall panels, and their associated laminate products including radiant barriers, are discussed in greater detail in connection with  FIGS. 7 through 9 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of another embodiment of a wall panel  198  for building construction. The wall panel  198  may include a panel  102  of drywall material and a laminate product  170  affixed to a room-exterior-facing surface  106  of the panel  102  of drywall material. The laminate product  170  may include an interior-most radiant barrier  194  located adjacent to, be in contact with, and optionally be adhered to the panel  102  of drywall material. The interior-most radiant barrier  194  may form an interior-most component of the laminate product  170 . The laminate product  170  may include a planar sheet  136  located on a side of the interior-most radiant barrier  194  opposite the panel  102  of drywall material, such that the interior-most radiant barrier  194  may be interposed between the planar sheet  136  and the panel  102  of drywall material. The interior-most radiant barrier  194  may be, for example, affixed to each of the planar sheet  136  and the panel  102  of drywall material by an adhesive material  128 . 
     A corrugated sheet  110  may be affixed to the planar sheet  136  on a side of the planar sheet  136  opposite the interior-most radiant barrier  194 , and another overlying planar sheet  138  may be affixed to the corrugated sheet  110  on a side of the corrugated sheet  110  opposite the first planar sheet  136 . In other words, the corrugated sheet  110  may be interposed between the planar sheets  136  and  138 , each of which sheets  110 ,  136 , and  138  may include a cardboard material. Another radiant barrier  108  may be affixed to the overlying planar sheet  138  located distal from the panel  102  of drywall material on a side of the overlying planar sheet  138  opposite the panel  102  of drywall material, such that the radiant barrier  108  may form an exterior-most component of the laminate product  170  and of the wall panel  198 . 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of still another embodiment of a wall panel  200  for building construction. The wall panel  200  may include a panel  102  of drywall material and a laminate product  170  affixed to a room-exterior-facing surface  106  of the panel  102  of drywall material. The laminate product  170  may include a planar sheet  136  adjacent to, in contact with, and optionally adhered to the panel  102  of drywall material. The planar sheet  136  may form an interior-most component of the laminate product  170 . The laminate product  170  may include a first radiant barrier  190  located on a side of the planar sheet  136  opposite the panel  102  of drywall material, such that the planar sheet  136  may be interposed between the first radiant barrier  190  and the panel  102  of drywall material. The planar sheet  136  may be, for example, affixed to each of the first radiant barrier  190  and the panel  102  of drywall material by an adhesive material  128 . 
     A corrugated sheet  110  may be affixed to the first radiant barrier  190  on a side of the first radiant barrier  190  opposite the planar sheet  136 . Another radiant barrier  174  may be affixed to the corrugated sheet  110  on a side of the corrugated sheet  110  opposite the first radiant barrier  190 . In other words, the corrugated sheet  110  may be interposed between the radiant barriers  174  and  190 . Another overlying planar sheet  138  may be affixed to the radiant barrier  174  located distal from the panel  102  of drywall material on a side of the radiant barrier  174  opposite the panel  102  of drywall material, such that the overlying planar sheet  138  may form an exterior-most component of the laminate product  170  and of the wall panel  198 . 
     Though  FIGS. 7 and 8  have depicted the laminate product  170  as including radiant barriers  108  and  194  at the innermost and outermost extents of the laminate product  170  or as including radiant barriers  174  and  190  located immediately adjacent to the corrugated sheet  110 , other combinations of the different positions for the radiant barriers  108 ,  174 ,  190 , and  194  are contemplated. For example, the laminate product  170  may include the exterior-most radiant barrier  108  and the first radiant barrier  190  adjacent to the corrugated sheet  110  on a side of the corrugated sheet  110  proximate to the panel  102  of drywall material. As another example, the laminate product  170  may include the interior-most radiant barrier  194  and the radiant barrier  174  located adjacent to the corrugated sheet  110  on a side of the corrugated sheet  110  opposite the panel  102  of drywall material. As yet another example, the laminate product  170  may include any combination of three of the radiant barriers  108 ,  174 ,  190 ,  194 . 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of yet another embodiment of a wall panel  202  for building construction. The wall panel  202  may include a panel  102  of drywall material and a laminate product  170  affixed to a room-exterior-facing surface  106  of the panel  102  of drywall material. The laminate product  170  may include a planar sheet  136  adjacent to, in contact with, and optionally adhered to the panel  102  of drywall material. The planar sheet  136  may form an interior-most component of the laminate product  170 . The laminate product  170  may include. A corrugated sheet  110  affixed to the planar sheet  136  on a side of the planar sheet  136  opposite the panel  102  of drywall material. 
     A corrugated radiant barrier  180  may be affixed to the corrugated sheet  110  in such a manner that the corrugated radiant barrier  180  may undulate with the waves of the corrugated sheet  110 . The corrugated radiant barrier  180  may be, for example, affixed to the corrugated sheet  110  on a side of the corrugated sheet  110  opposite the panel  102  of drywall material by an adhesive material  128 . Another overlying planar sheet  138  may be affixed to the corrugated radiant barrier  180  on a side of the corrugated radiant barrier  180  opposite the first planar sheet  136 . The planar sheets  136  and  138  may form the outermost components of the laminate product  170 , with the corrugated sheet and the corrugated radiant barrier  180  sandwiched therebetween. 
     Though the corrugated radiant barrier  180  is depicted as being located on a specific side of the corrugated sheet  110 , and is depicted as being used without the inclusion of any other radiant barriers secured to, and undulating with, the corrugated sheet  110  or extending in an at least substantially planar manner over one or more surfaces of the planar sheets  136  and  138 , the corrugated radiant barrier  180  may be located on the opposite side of the corrugated sheet  110  proximate to the panel  102  of drywall material, another corrugated radiant barrier  180  located on the opposite side of the corrugated sheet  110  proximate to the panel  102  of drywall material may be included, and one or more other radiant barriers  108 ,  174 ,  190 ,  194  (see  FIG. 6 ) may also be provided. 
     Additional, nonlimiting embodiments within the scope of this disclosure include, but are not limited to, the following: 
     Embodiment 1 
     A wall panel for building construction, comprising: a panel of drywall material comprising a room-interior-facing surface and a room-exterior-facing surface; a radiant barrier comprising a material reflective to heat located proximate to the room-exterior-facing surface; and a corrugated sheet interposed between the panel of drywall material and the radiant barrier, the corrugated sheet forming pockets of air between the panel of drywall material and the corrugated sheet and between the radiant barrier and the corrugated sheet. 
     Embodiment 2 
     The wall panel of Embodiment 1, wherein the radiant barrier is directly adhered to the corrugated sheet and the corrugated sheet is directly adhered to the panel of drywall material by an adhesive material. 
     Embodiment 3 
     The wall panel of Embodiment 2, wherein the adhesive material is located only on peaks of the corrugated sheet facing the room-exterior-facing surface and on peaks of the corrugated sheet facing the radiant barrier. 
     Embodiment 4 
     The wall panel of Embodiment 2 or Embodiment 3, wherein the adhesive material comprises a wax material. 
     Embodiment 5 
     The wall panel of any one of Embodiment 1, further comprising a planar sheet interposed between the corrugated sheet and the panel of drywall material, the planar sheet directly adhered to the corrugated sheet and to the panel of drywall material by an adhesive material. 
     Embodiment 6 
     The wall panel of Embodiment 5, further comprising at least one other radiant barrier comprising a material reflective to heat adhered to the planar sheet, the at least one other radiant barrier interposed between the panel of drywall material and the corrugated sheet on at least one corresponding side of the planar sheet. 
     Embodiment 7 
     The wall panel of Embodiment 1, further comprising a planar sheet interposed between the corrugated sheet and the radiant barrier, the planar sheet directly adhered to the corrugated sheet and to the radiant barrier by an adhesive material. 
     Embodiment 8 
     The wall panel of any one of Embodiments 1 through 7, wherein the corrugated sheet comprises a cardboard material. 
     Embodiment 9 
     The wall panel of any one of Embodiments 1 through 8, further comprising another corrugated sheet located on a side of the radiant barrier opposite the panel of drywall material, the other corrugated sheet secured to the radiant barrier by an adhesive material. 
     Embodiment 10 
     The wall panel of Embodiment 9, wherein lines of contact between peaks of the corrugated sheet and the panel of drywall material extend at least substantially perpendicular to lines of contact between the other corrugated sheet and the radiant barrier. 
     Embodiment 11 
     The wall panel of any one of Embodiments 1 through 10, wherein the corrugated sheet has an at least substantially sinusoidal shape when viewed in at least one cross-section at least substantially perpendicular to the room-interior-facing surface and the room-exterior-facing surface of the panel of drywall material. 
     Embodiment 12 
     The wall panel of any one of Embodiments 1 through 10, wherein the corrugated sheet has an at least substantially triangle wave shape when viewed in at least one cross-section at least substantially perpendicular to the room-interior-facing surface and the room-exterior-facing surface of the panel of drywall material. 
     Embodiment 13 
     The wall panel of any one of Embodiments 1 through 8, 11, and 12, wherein the radiant barrier forms a rearmost surface of the wall panel on a side of the panel of drywall material facing the room-exterior-facing surface. 
     Embodiment 14 
     The wall panel of any one of Embodiments 1, 2, 4, 8, and 11 through 13, wherein the radiant barrier is affixed to, and undulates with, the corrugated sheet. 
     Embodiment 15 
     A method of making a wall panel for building construction, comprising: placing an adhesive material on a first series of peaks of a corrugated sheet on a first side of the corrugated sheet; adhering the corrugated sheet to a panel of drywall material by contacting the first series of peaks and the adhesive material to the drywall material; placing the adhesive material on a second series of peaks of the corrugated sheet on a second, opposite side of the corrugated sheet; and adhering the corrugated sheet to a radiant barrier comprising a reflective material by contacting the second series of peaks and the adhesive material to the radiant barrier. 
     Embodiment 16 
     The method of Embodiment 15, wherein placing the adhesive material on the first series of peaks of the corrugated sheet comprises contacting the first series of peaks to a first roller having the adhesive material on an exterior surface of the first roller, the first roller located on the first side of the corrugated sheet, and rotating the first roller as the corrugated sheet is moved past the first roller and wherein placing the adhesive material on the second series of peaks of the corrugated sheet comprises contacting the second series of peaks to a second roller having the adhesive material on an exterior surface of the second roller, the second roller located on the second, opposite side of the corrugated sheet, and rotating the second roller as the corrugated sheet is moved past the second roller. 
     Embodiment 17 
     A method of installing a wall panel for building construction, comprising: placing a radiant barrier of a wall panel proximate at least one stud of a wall frame, the radiant barrier comprising a reflective material, the radiant barrier located on a first side of a corrugated sheet, the wall panel comprising a panel of drywall material adhered to a second, opposite side of the corrugated sheet; and securing the wall panel to the wall frame by at least one screw extending through the panel of drywall material, through the corrugated sheet, and through the radiant barrier into the at least one stud. 
     Embodiment 18 
     The method of Embodiment 17, further comprising compressing the corrugated sheet in response to securing the wall panel to the wall frame. 
     Embodiment 19 
     The method of Embodiment 17 or Embodiment 18, wherein placing the radiant barrier proximate the at least one stud comprises contacting the radiant barrier directly to the at least one stud. 
     Embodiment 20 
     The method of Embodiment 17 or Embodiment 18, wherein the wall panel further comprises another corrugated sheet located on a side of the radiant barrier opposite the panel of drywall material and wherein placing the radiant barrier proximate the at least one stud comprises contacting the other corrugated sheet directly to the at least one stud. 
     While certain illustrative embodiments have been described in connection with the figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize and appreciate that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to those embodiments explicitly shown and described in this disclosure. Rather, many additions, deletions, and modifications to the embodiments described in this disclosure may be made to produce embodiments within the scope of this disclosure, such as those specifically claimed, including legal equivalents. In addition, features from one disclosed embodiment may be combined with features of another disclosed embodiment while still being within the scope of this disclosure, as contemplated by the inventor.