Sill pan flashing for doors and windows

Abstract

A flashing system and associated method controls water and air intrusion around the sills of windows, doors, louvers and other wall penetrations. More specifically, a sheet material is creased and folded to form a sill flashing component to control water and air intrusion. Prior to this invention, a separate pre-molded termination accessory was required to effectively seal corner areas around window and door rough openings. The invention provides for sill flashing and supplemental sealing at selected joint locations prior to installation of a closure member in the opening to prevent water and air intrusion around windows, doors and other building openings.

Description

[0001] This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 628,327, filed Nov. 16, 2004 and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates in general to prohibiting weather-related moisture from entering a building and, in particular, to a sill pan and threshold flashing unit for window and door openings in a building. [0003] In recent years, many attempts have been made to find a solution to the ever present problem of unwanted water and air intrusion into buildings. Historically, flashing is the term used to identify the means or components utilized to prevent water intrusion. In this invention, the flashing can be used to control water intrusion and / or air intrusion. Controlling water and air intrusion is a very serious concern which may result in exterior and interior damage if not prevented or corrected in a timely manner. Recent studies have shown that the extent of such damage, on an annual bas...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] As a result of unique components and their associated installation and folding sequence, a sill or threshold flashing is created to form the required closure at the corner areas thus eliminating the need for a termination accessory unit of the type previously utilized. The uniquely folded and assembled flashing components of this invention are creased and folded and formable in a variety of sizes which can then be cut in-situ by the installer to the required dimensions of a particular job. It has been found that a typical window sill rough opening can be completely flashed by utilizing a single section of the flashing membrane by installing it in a particular sequence with associated components to form a pair of folded end dams.

Problems solved by technology

Controlling water and air intrusion is a very serious concern which may result in exterior and interior damage if not prevented or corrected in a timely manner.

Recent studies have shown that the extent of such damage, on an annual basis, has run into millions of dollars.

In addition, heat loses through air leakage around window, door and louver openings have taken on new significance due to today's high energy costs.

However, such sill pans have proven to be too expensive for all building applications.

The high cost of manufacture and wide variety of sizes required for a vast array of door and window opening sizes has limited the desirability of this type of device for more widespread application.

However, after a period of time, the putty-like compounds had a tendency to dry up, shrink and produce gaps or openings.

This provides a passageway for water and air to penetrate the building enclosure ultimately resulting in deterioration beneath the window and door frames at the sheathing or structural components adjacent thereto.

The application of a wad of tar at strategic locations surrounding the window or door opening may be economical, but it is seldom effective over the long term.

Moreover, it is very messy and difficult to efficiently apply.

Nevertheless, these improved sealants eventually break down or are not initially installed properly resulting in water and air intrusion.

All known approaches suffer from significant problems, including limited long-term effectiveness, inability to economically accommodate a variety of opening sizes, substantial expense, limited operating temperature ranges, labor intensive construction and installation procedures, and unreliable moisture penetration prevention.

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