Abstract:
System and method for making a wall structure which diverts moisture from an opening. The wall structure has a structural member with a horizontal opening. A moisture diverter is secured to the structural member above the opening, the moisture diverter having a first end and a second end and a length, with the diverter length greater than the horizontal opening distance and the first end positioned relatively higher than the second end. The moisture diverter is laterally positioned at least partially over the horizontal opening. The moisture diverter has a first planar portion and a second planar portion attached to the first planar portion, forming an acute angle. A moisture barrier is secured to the structural member, at least in part, within a volume defined by the first planar portion and the second planar portion. A facade member is secured to the structural member distal of the moisture barrier.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims prior from provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/090,763, Koester, Moisture Diverter, filed Aug. 21, 2008. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to devices, systems and methods of making a wall structure, and in particular a wall structure with a moisture diverter. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Wall structures for many different types of buildings commonly incorporate two or more layers of materials in order to achieve the typical goals of providing relative isolation between the interior of the building and the exterior of the building, of maintaining the structural integrity of the building, and of providing decoration. As is typically the case, the basic component of a wall structure may be a structural member, either load-bearing or otherwise, onto which other building materials may be secured. Facade members which may primarily serve a decorative function may be secured on the outside of the structural member. Facade members may also provide isolation between the interior of the building and the exterior of the building, by providing insulation and water impermeability. Even if the facade member is relatively impermeable to water, a moisture barrier may commonly be positioned between the structural member and the facade member in order to prevent moisture (liquid or vapor) which penetrates the facade member from coming into contact with the structural member, which may then prevent rot or mold. Other materials are also commonly utilized in building wall structures. 
         [0004]    In one sense, it may be preferable to build wall structures with no interruptions or variations within the structure. By making wall structures uniform, water which contacts the exterior of the wall structure may tend to run down the facade member or the moisture barrier evenly and uniformly. Moreover, without interruptions, a constant moisture barrier may be effective in preventing most or all water which contacts the wall structure from coming into contact with the structural member. In general, the less water which comes into contact with the structural member, the less rot or mold the structural member may experience and the longer the structural member may tend to retain the ability to support the wall structure as a whole without replacement, which may be expensive or necessitate replacing the entire wall structure. 
         [0005]    However, it is often desirable to provide openings in wall structures for door, windows, ventilation, and other functions. Such openings create non-uniformities in the wall structure, which inherently create openings in the moisture barrier. These openings in the moisture barrier may tend to expose the structural member to water from outside the building. While various treatments and articles have been created to mitigate the introduction of water to the structural member arising from openings on the moisture barrier from openings in the wall structure, relatively large amounts of water which contact the wall structure in a short period of time, such as during rain, may exceed the capacity of the treatments or articles to prevent undesirable amounts of water contact with the structural member. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A wall structure has been developed which may reduce the potential for an opening in the wall structure to result in moisture contact with the structural member. A sloped moisture diverter may be positioned above the opening, with the facade member and the moisture barrier positioned outside of the sloped moisture diverter relative to the structural member. The moisture diverter may be wider than the opening, such that when moisture runs down the facade member or the moisture barrier the water contacts the sloped moisture diverter rather than simply coming into contact with the opening. 
         [0007]    Because the moisture diverter is sloped and wider than the opening, the moisture may run down the moisture diverter, exiting the moisture diverter past the opening. Once the moisture falls off the moisture diverter it may continue down the wall structure, in the facade member or in contact with the moisture barrier, without the structural member being exposed to the moisture. As such, stress on the treatments or articles protecting the structural member around the opening may be reduced, and the structural member may be less prone to rot and decay. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, a method of making a wall structure formed of a structural member forming a horizontal opening having a horizontal opening distance and an opening top is disclosed. A moisture diverter is secured to the structural member above the opening, the moisture diverter having a first end and a second end and a diverter length between the first end and the second end, the diverter length being greater than the horizontal opening distance, the first end being positioned relatively higher than the second end, and the moisture diverter being laterally positioned at least partially over the horizontal opening and proximate the opening top. The moisture diverter comprises a first planar portion a second planar portion attached to the first planar portion and forming an acute angle therewith. The moisture diverter is impermeable to liquid. A moisture barrier is secured to the structural member, at least in part, within a volume defined by the first planar portion and the second planar portion. A facade member is secured to the structural member distal of the moisture barrier. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the facade member is positioned, at least in part, distal of the moisture diverter relative to the structural member 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, the facade member is positioned, at least in part, within the volume defined by the first planar portion and the second planar portion. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment, the moisture diverter is secured with the first end being approximately one-quarter inch higher than the second end for every foot of length of the diverter length. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment, the moisture diverter is secured with a midpoint of the moisture diverter being laterally coincident with a midpoint of the horizontal opening. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment, a wall structure comprises a structural member, a moisture diverter, a moisture barrier and a facade member. The structural member forms an opening having a horizontal distance and an opening top. The moisture diverter, impermeable to liquid, is secured to the structural member above the opening and proximate the opening top. The moisture diverter comprises a first planar portion and a second planar portion attached to the first planar portion and forming an acute angle therewith. The moisture diverter has a first end, a second end and a diverter length between the first end and the second end, the diverter length being greater than the horizontal opening distance, the first end being positioned relatively higher than the second end, and the moisture diverter being laterally positioned at least partially over the horizontal opening. The moisture barrier is secured to the structural member and distal, at least in part, of the first planar portion relative to the structural member. The facade member is coupled to the structural member distal of the moisture barrier relative to the structural member. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a cutaway view of a wall structure with a sloped moisture diverter; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of the moisture diverter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is profile view of the wall structure of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart for building the wall structure of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The entire contents of provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/090,763, Koester, Moisture Diverter, filed Aug. 21, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0019]    Structural members of wall structures may be relatively vulnerable to exposure to water, which may create rot or decay. Moisture barriers have been created to prevent water from coming into contact with the structural member. Creating openings in wall structures for doors, windows, ventilation or other functions is desirable but also creates points of relative weakness where structural members of the wall may be particular vulnerable to exposure to water. A wall structure which diverts moisture from openings in the wall structure has been created, thereby potentially reducing the amount of moisture which flows to the opening in the wall structure and reducing the potential exposure of the structural member to moisture. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a cutaway view of wall structure  10 . Structural member  12 , in an embodiment conventional exterior sheathing well known in the art, is combined with a conventional structural support, in an embodiment a standard dimensional lumber to a metal stud, to support, at least in part, wall structure  10 . In various common embodiments, it is impractical, particularly for cost reasons, to treat structural member  12  such that structural member is impervious to moisture. As such, the more moisture which comes into contact with structural member  12 , the more likely structural member may be to rot and decay. 
         [0021]    In the illustrated embodiment, moisture control member  16  is attached to structural member  12  in order to drain from the wall structure moisture which may enter the wall structure, for example, either through condensing water vapor or liquid water. Moisture control member  16  may be made from several different materials, including combinations of materials. Moisture control member  16  may be that member described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,775, Koester, Moisture Draining Product, Wall System Incorporating Such Product and Method Therefore, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , moisture control member  16  includes two layers of asphalt impregnated construction paper  18  and drainage member  20  of Sure Cavity™ drainage material made by Masonry Technology, Inc. Moisture control member  16  may be configured such that moisture which comes into contact from the outside of wall structure  10  may drain from the wall structure by draining down moisture control member  16  and past structural member  12 . 
         [0022]    Facade member  22  may be positioned outside of moisture control member  16 . Facade member  22  may provide both aesthetic benefits to wall structure  10  as well as moisture control intended to reduce or prevent liquid water or water vapor from entering the wall structure from the exterior and provide additional protection against weathering and other damage. Facade member  22  may be many different materials commonly known in the art, including wood, stone, and brick. As illustrated, facade member  22  is primarily comprised of stucco  24 , as illustrated comprising three layers. Metal lath  26  is secured to structural member  12 , whereupon stucco  24  may be applied to lath  26  to secure the stucco to wall structure  10 . In the case of stucco, stone or brick, an additional water impermeable barrier may be used between the stucco, stone or brick to provide moisture impermeability. 
         [0023]    Opening  28 , as illustrated window  30 , may be formed in wall structure  10 . Conventionally, opening  28  may be formed simply by selecting appropriately sized materials for structural member  12 , moisture control member  16  and facade member  22 . Alternatively, opening  28  may be cut into wall structure  10  by cutting through the various layers  12 ,  16 ,  22 . As is well known in the art, openings  28  may also be doors, ventilators, or other common openings. Window  30  may conventionally be secured and affixed in wall structure  10  by securing devices, metal termination  34 , caulking  36  and backer rod  38 . 
         [0024]    Wall structure  10  further includes sloped moisture diverter  40 . Sloped moisture diverter  40  may be made from conventional metal sheeting, in an embodiment galvanized steel. Sloped moisture diverter  40  may include first planar portion  42  and second planar portion  44 . Combined, first planar portion and second planar portion combine to form channel  46 . By positioning first planar portion  42  between moisture control member  16  and structural member  12 , moisture which runs down moisture control member  16  may drip into channel  46  of sloped moisture barrier  40 . 
         [0025]    In an embodiment, sloped moisture barrier  40  has first end  48  and second end  50  defining a length of moisture barrier  40 . In an embodiment, opening  28  likewise has a first end  52  and a second end  54  defining a horizontal width or distance of opening  28 . In an embodiment, sloped moisture diverter  40  may be positioned above and proximate opening top  29  of opening  28  such that each end  48 ,  50  of sloped moisture diverter  40  projects four inches beyond each end  52 ,  54  of opening  28 . In addition, sloped moisture diverter  40  may be positioned such that for every foot of length of sloped moisture diverter  40 , first end  48  is one-quarter inch higher than second end  50 . In alternative embodiments, second end  50  is positioned higher than first end  48 . As such, sloped moisture diverter  40  length may be selected in order to meet those criteria relative to the horizontal width or distance of opening  28 . 
         [0026]    In alternative embodiments, the four inch projection of ends  48 ,  50  beyond ends  52 ,  54 , respectively, may be varied, and the one-quarter inch per foot slope characteristic may be varied, depending on the particular circumstances, particularly relating to an amount of moisture which may be expected to contact wall structure  10  and the conditions in which the moisture may contact wall structure  10 . In circumstances where relatively high winds may tend to blow large amounts of rain against wall structure  10 , it may be desirable to increase the slope of sloped moisture diverter  40  while increasing the overall length of moisture diverter  40  in order to divert relatively greater amounts of water away from opening  28  relatively more quickly. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of sloped moisture diverter  40 . In an embodiment, first planar portion  42  is one and seven-eighths inches tall and second planar portion  44  projects five-eighths inches beyond first planar portion  42 . In an embodiment, second planar portion  44  is angled at 65 degrees relative to first planar portion  42 . In an embodiment, the material of sloped moisture diverter  40  may be 0.024 inches thick. In alternative embodiments, these dimensions may be altered. In particular, second planar portion  44  may be angled at greater or lesser angles and may project greater or lesser amounts from first planar portion  42 . Such differing dimensions may be selected on the basis of the conditions in which sloped moisture diverter  40  are going to be used. If relatively large amounts of moisture may be expected to drain into sloped moisture diverter  40  then first planar portion  42  and second planar portion  44  may be selected such that channel  46  is relatively larger. If relatively little moisture is expected then first planar portion  42  and second planar portion  44  may be selected such that channel  46  is relatively smaller. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a side-view of wall structure  10 . Moisture control member  16  and sloped moisture diverter  40  may be affixed to structural member  12 . As illustrated, asphalt impregnated construction paper  18  may be made in two parts, with first planar portion  42  positioned between top part  56  and structural member  12 , and bottom part  58  positioned between sloped moisture diverter  40  and structural member  12 . As illustrated, drainage member  20  may be positioned within channel  46 . In alternative embodiments, drainage member  20  may be positioned outside of channel  46 , at least in part. 
         [0029]    As illustrated, facade member  22  is positioned outside of channel  46 . In alternative embodiments, facade member  22  may be positioned inside of channel  46 , at least in part. In an embodiment, metal lath  26  and at least one layer of stucco  24  may be positioned within channel  46 . In such an embodiment, sloped moisture diverter  40  may provide structural support to facade member  22 . Such structural support may be improved by increasing the size of first planar portion  42  and second planar portion  44 , to provide greater contact area with facade member  22  and structural member  12 , thereby potentially improving an ability to secure sloped moisture diverter  40  to structural member  12  and a support area with facade member  22 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart for creating wall structure  10 . Structural member  12  may be constructed ( 400 ). Moisture control member  16  may be secured ( 402 ) to structural member  12  and sloped moisture diverter  40  may be obtained ( 404 ) and secured ( 406 ) with first planar portion  42  to structural member  12  in a manner consistent with the structure of  FIGS. 1 and 3 . In an embodiment, sloped moisture diverter is secured to structural member such that end  48  is one-quarter inch higher than end  50 , and ends  48 ,  50  extend four inches beyond ends  52 ,  54  of opening  28 . 
         [0031]    Securing ( 402 ) moisture control member  16  and securing ( 406 ) sloped moisture diverter  40  may occur concurrently or in sequence. The steps may occur concurrently particularly to create wall structure  10  consistent with the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , in which case bottom part  58  of moisture control member  16  may be secured to structural member  12 , followed by sloped moisture barrier  40 , followed by top part  56  of moisture barrier. 
         [0032]    Facade member  22  may then be secured ( 408 ) to structural member  12 . Optionally, opening  28  may be formed ( 410 ) in order to permit the insertion of window  30 . Alternatively, and in an embodiment preferably, opening  28  is formed during steps ( 400 ), ( 402 ), ( 406 ) and ( 408 ) by selecting building materials such that opening  28  does not have to be cut in wall member  10 . 
         [0033]    Various modifications and alterations of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It should be understood that this invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth above.