Method and apparatus for wall component drainage

Abstract

A pan flashing including a pitched pan configured to wrap around a bottom of the door or window on three sides defining a bottom surface thereof; a plurality of spaced wedges extending from the pitched pan providing a weight bearing support for a sill disposed thereover; a front flange projecting perpendicularly and downwardly from a front edge defining a fourth side, the flange being fluted for fluid communication with channels defined by the plurality of spaced wedges, thus allowing ventilation up through the flutes to the pitched pan residing under the door or window and allowing a place for the water to flow out of the pan; and a front wall coplanar with the front flange and extending upwardly and downwardly from the pan, the front wall providing an attachment means for securing to a vertical stud framing the door or window, when installed.

1 . A pan flashing to prevent water from entering a building by wicking underneath a door or window comprising: 
 a pitched pan configured to wrap around a bottom of the door or window on three sides defining a bottom surface thereof, said pan having a substantially rectangular shape in plan;    a plurality of spaced wedges extending from said pitched pan, an exposed top surface of said plurality of spaced wedges corresponding to a horizontal plane and providing a weight bearing support for a sill disposed thereover;    a front flange projecting perpendicularly and downwardly from a front edge defining a fourth side of said rectangular shape, said flange being fluted for fluid communication with channels defined by said plurality of spaced wedges, thus allowing ventilation up through the flutes to said pitched pan residing under the door or window and allowing a place for the water to flow out of the pan; and    a front wall coplanar with said front flange and extending upwardly and downwardly from said pan, said front wall providing an attachment means for securing to a vertical stud framing the door or window, when installed.    
   
   
       2 . The pan flashing of  claim 1 , wherein said three sides defining said pan extend no more than about ¾ of an inch from a bottom of said pan.  
   
   
       3 . The pan flashing of  claim 2 , wherein lateral ends defining said front wall extend no more than about ¾ of an inch from said bottom of said pan.  
   
   
       4 . The pan flashing of  claim 1 , wherein said front flange is one of fused and integrally molded to said fourth side of said pan.  
   
   
       5 . The pan flashing of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of spaced wedges are one of bonded and integrally molded with said pitched pan to form a pan portion with channels in fluid communication with fluted downward section of said front flange.  
   
   
       6 . The pan flashing of  claim 5 , wherein said pan portion strong is enough to bear weight if incorporated under a door sill having said plurality of spaced wedges disposed with a frequency to give the strength needed to support weights in excess of 200 pounds crossing said door sill.  
   
   
       7 . The pan flashing of  claim 6 , wherein said frequency includes disposing a ¼-inch width wedge having a ½ inch gap between contiguous wedges.  
   
   
       8 . The pan flashing of  claim 1 , wherein two wedges wider than each of said plurality of spaced wedges are disposed on opposite sides of said plurality of spaced wedges.  
   
   
       9 . The pan flashing of  claim 8 , wherein said two wedges are configured and positioned to provide the necessary strength to carry jambs disposed thereover.  
   
   
       10 . The pan flashing of  claim 1 , wherein said front flange is configured to include moulding disposed thereover while retaining fluid communication therethrough to said channels.  
   
   
       11 . The pan flashing of  claim 1 , wherein said flutes include spacers disposed on said front flange.  
   
   
       12 . Flashing for installation underneath entry doors comprising: 
 a water impervious, generally rectangular bay portion having an interior pitched bottom for installation in a rough entry door opening of a building structure underneath an entry door;    a plurality of spaced wedges extending from said pitched bottom, an exposed top surface of said plurality of spaced wedges corresponding to a horizontal plane and providing a weight bearing support for a sill disposed thereover;    an interior lip upwardly projecting at approximately 90 degrees integrally formed along one edge of said bay portion;    side lips upwardly projecting at approximately 90 degrees integrally formed along opposite edges of said bay portion and on opposite ends of said interior lip;    an exterior lip downwardly projecting at approximately 90 degrees integrally formed along the edge of said bay portion opposite said upwardly projecting interior lip and between said side lips, said exterior lip including lip end portions being integrally formed therewith and extending outwardly from each end thereof, said lip end portions also being integrally formed with an exterior edge of said lips in perpendicular relation thereto; and    a plurality of spacers intermediate said exterior lip and a kick plate disposed thereover, said plurality of spacers providing fluid communication between said pitched bottom between said plurality of wedges and an exterior surface defining said exterior lip,    whereby a waterproof entry door flashing is provided that extends underneath and completely surrounds a bottom surface of an entry door assembly preventing windblown water which penetrates through said entry door assembly from contacting the interior floor of said building structure and allows drainage thereof.    
   
   
       13 . The entry door flashing of  claim 12  wherein at least one of said interior lip and said upwardly projecting side lips is approximately three quarters of an inch.  
   
   
       14 . The entry door flashing of  claim 12  wherein the exterior lip downwardly projects at least about four inches.  
   
   
       15 . The entry door flashing of  claim 12  wherein the bay portion, upwardly extending interior flange, the upwardly extending side flanges, and the downwardly extending exterior lip are all integrally formed.  
   
   
       16 . The door flashing of  claim 15  wherein said flashing pan is molded.  
   
   
       17 . The door flashing of  claim 12  wherein said plurality of spacers include configuring said exterior lip with a fluted portion defining channels in fluid communication with said pitched bottom between said plurality of wedges.  
   
   
       18 . A method of installing a water impervious, integrally formed entry wall component flashing including a generally rectangular bay portion having a pitched bottom, an interior edge, an exterior edge and side edges with an upwardly projecting lip at approximately 90 degrees along said interior edge, upwardly projecting lips at approximately 90 degrees along said end edges, a plurality of spaced wedges extending from the pitched bottom, and a downwardly projecting lip at approximately 90 degrees along said exterior edge, comprising: 
 forming a rough entry wall component opening having side jack studs, a header and one of a sill and a subflooring threshold with exterior sheathing therebelow in a building structure;    placing said flashing pan in said rough entry wall component opening juxtaposed to said sill or threshold, with said exterior lip juxtaposed to said exterior sheathing with said end lips being disposed juxtaposed to said jack studs;    overlapping felt sheathing over under or behind said upwardly projecting end lips;    placing a wall component assembly that includes one of a sill and a threshold connected to one end of a pair of jambs with a header connected to the other end of said jambs with at least one of a door and a window operatively mounted in said assembly, in said flashing pan;    securing the door and header in said rough opening; and    trimming said entry door whereby a water impervious means is provided for flowing water that has penetrated around the vertical edges and underneath the threshold of said door assembly to the exterior of said building structure.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said entry wall component assembly includes at least two doors.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said entry wall component assembly includes at least one door.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said entry wall component assembly is a sliding-type door.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said entry wall component assembly is one of: 
 a sliding-type window;    a crank out window;    a non-opening window;    a side light window;    a dryer vent;    a gas fireplace vent; and    any structure extending from an exterior wall.