Vented Soffit Assembly and Method of Installation

Abstract

A continuous, elongate, strip of openwork ventilation material is provided in roll form and is unrolled and installed in a soffit as a one-piece, continuous vent along a length of the soffit. The opposite longitudinally-extending side edges of the ventilation material are inserted within opposed, spaced-apart channels lining the periphery of the soffit opening or are provided with laterally-extending fastening strips that are fastened to boards lining the soffit opening.

1 . A method of assembling a soffit in an eave of a roof, comprising the steps of: 
 supplying a continuous, elongate, strip of openwork ventilation material in a spiral roll;    unrolling said ventilation material;    positioning a continuous length of said ventilation material in an elongate opening of a predetermined length in the soffit; and    securing opposite edges of said unrolled continuous elongate ventilation material to the soffit such that said ventilation material forms a one-piece, continuous soffit vent within said opening.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of forming an opposed, parallel, spaced-apart pair of elongate, longitudinally-extending channels within said elongate opening.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said securing step includes supporting opposite longitudinally-extending side edges of said unrolled continuous elongate ventilation material in said channels.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said securing step includes inserting an end of said ventilation material into an open end of said channels and sliding said ventilation material in said channels along a full length of said elongate opening.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the step of cutting said continuous elongate ventilation material to a length that substantially matches said full length of said elongate opening.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein said supplying step includes supplying a spiral roll of an openwork ventilation material that has opposite faces with alternating, transversely-extending ridges and grooves.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein, when said ventilation material is supported in said channels, said ridges and grooves of said ventilation material extend transversely to said channels.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein said channels are formed by applying elongate plastic or metal clips or channels to opposed surfaces of said soffit on opposite sides of said opening.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said securing step includes fastening opposite longitudinally-extending side edges of said unrolled continuous elongate ventilation material to the soffit.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein said supplying step includes supplying a spiral roll of an openwork ventilation material that has opposite faces with alternating, transversely-extending ridges and grooves and opposite longitudinally-extending side edges with fastening strips.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein said fastening strips are secured with a fastener, or are bonded, to opposing strips of board applied along a length of said opening.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said ridges and grooves of said ventilation material extend transversely across said opening and wherein said fastening strips are substantially planar.  
   
   
       13 . A vented soffit assembly of a building structure, comprising: 
 an eave of a roof having an elongate, continuous ventilation opening extending between an exterior wall of the building structure and a fascia board of said eave; and    a one-piece, continuous strip of openwork ventilation material spanning a full length and width of said opening;    said strip of ventilation material being sufficiently flexible to be stored and shipped in a spiral roll and to be unrolled for installation within said assembly.    
   
   
       14 . An assembly according to  claim 13 , further comprising channels that extend along at least a part of a periphery of said opening and that receive peripheral edges of said strip of ventilation material for supporting said strip of ventilation material in said opening.  
   
   
       15 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said strip of ventilation material has opposite faces with alternating, transversely-extending ridges and grooves.  
   
   
       16 . An assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said ridges and grooves of said ventilation material extend substantially perpendicular to said exterior wall and fascia board.  
   
   
       17 . An assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said strip of ventilation material is an undulating perforated web of thermoplastic material or an undulating mat of fibers.  
   
   
       18 . An assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said channels are formed by elongate plastic or metal clips applied to said exterior wall and said fascia board.  
   
   
       19 . An assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said strip of ventilation material has opposite faces with alternating, transversely-extending ridges and grooves and opposite longitudinally-extending side edges with fastening strips.  
   
   
       20 . An assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein said fastening strips are fastened to strips of board extending on said sidewall and said fascia board along said elongate opening.  
   
   
       21 . An assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein said strip of ventilation material is an undulating perforated web of thermoplastic material having integrally-formed substantially-planar fastening strips.