Insulative and weather-resistant building construction

Abstract

A building structural component, such as a wall, roof, ceiling, floor, or the like, is resistant to weather and moisture while facilitating the drying and elimination of water vapor and liquid water. The component includes a vapor-permeable membrane that resists penetration of liquids including water, but that permits gases including water vapor to pass through the membrane to resist buildup of moisture in the building component, A batten, such as an insulated batten, forms a cavity in the building component to facilitate air circulation, and reduces heat flow through structural studs of the building component to increase the overall insulation value of the finished component.

1 . A building structural component comprising:
 a plurality of structural stud members in spaced arrangement, said stud members having exterior and interior surfaces;   a sheathing having an exterior and interior surface, said interior surface of said sheathing being positioned along the exterior surfaces of said stud members;   a plurality of battens having exterior and interior surfaces, each of said battens being generally aligned with a respective one of said stud members and positioned along said sheathing;   a vapor-permeable membrane along said battens, said vapor-permeable membrane being substantially impervious to liquids and permeable to gases including water vapor;   an exterior siding member having an interior and exterior surface, said siding member positioned along the exterior surfaces of said battens so that said siding member is spaced from said sheathing by said battens, and said exterior surface of said siding member being adapted to resist weather elements;   a cavity defined between said interior surface of said siding member and said exterior surface of said sheathing; and   wherein said battens reduce the flow of thermal energy through said plurality of structural stud members to thereby increase the insulation value of said building structural component.   
   
   
       2 . The building structural component of  claim 1 , wherein said vapor-permeable membrane is positioned between said interior surfaces of said battens and said exterior surface of said. sheathing. 
   
   
       3 . The building structural component of  claim 1 , wherein said vapor-permeable membrane is positioned along said exterior surface of said sheathing. 
   
   
       4 . The building structural component of  claim 1 , wherein said cavity is further defined between each of said battens. 
   
   
       5 . The building structural component of  claim 1 , further comprising a vent positioned between said exterior surfaces of said battens and said interior surface of said siding member; said vent being coupled to said siding member and adapted to permit ventilation of said cavity. 
   
   
       6 . The building structural component of  claim 1 , wherein said battens comprise insulated battens having outer portions and inner insulation portions at least partially surrounded by said outer portions. 
   
   
       7 . The building structural component of  claim 6 , wherein the width of said inner insulation portions of said insulated battens equals or exceeds the thicknesses of said structural stud members, 
   
   
       8 . The building structural component of  claim 7 , wherein said insulated battens are approximately 4 inches wide and approximately 1 inch thick. 
   
   
       9 . The building structural component of  claim 8 , wherein said inner insulation portions are approximately ⅝ inches thick and at least about 3.5 inches wide. 
   
   
       10 . The building structural component of  claim 7 , wherein said outer portion comprises recycled waste materials and a magnesium-based binder. 
   
   
       11 . The building structural component of  claim 7 , wherein said inner insulation portion comprises an aerogel. 
   
   
       12 . The building structural component of  claim 11 , wherein said outer portion comprises recycled waste materials and a magnesium-based binder. 
   
   
       13 . The building structural component of  claim 7 , wherein said outer portion comprises one of wood, fiberboard, and high-density foam. 
   
   
       14 . The building structural component of  claim 2 , said battens comprising insulated battens having outer portions and inner insulation portions at least partially surrounded by said outer portions, wherein said inner insulation portions comprise an aerogel and said outer portions comprise recycled waste materials and a magnesium-based binder. 
   
   
       15 . The building structural component of  claim 14 , wherein said outer portion encases said inner insulation portion. 
   
   
       16 . The building structural component of  claim 1 , wherein said exterior siding member comprises a wall siding material or a roofing material. 
   
   
       17 . A building structural component comprising:
 a plurality of structural stud members in spaced arrangement, said stud members having exterior and interior surfaces;   a sheathing having an exterior and interior surface, said interior surface of said sheathing being positioned along the exterior surfaces of said stud members;   a plurality of insulated battens having exterior and interior surfaces, said insulated battens comprising outer portions and inner insulation portions at least partially surrounded by said outer portions, each of said insulated battens being generally aligned with a respective one of said stud members and positioned along said exterior surface of said sheathing such that the interior surface of each insulated batten faces the exterior surface of said sheathing;   a vapor-permeable membrane along said interior surfaces of said insulated battens, said vapor-permeable membrane being substantially impervious to liquids and permeable to gases including water vapor;   an exterior siding member having an interior and exterior surface, said siding member positioned along the exterior surfaces of said insulated battens so that said siding member is spaced from said sheathing by said insulated battens, and said exterior surface of said siding member being adapted to resist weather elements;   a cavity defined between said interior surface of said siding member and said exterior surface of said sheathing;   a vent positioned between said exterior surfaces of said battens and said interior surface of said siding member; said vent being coupled to said siding member and adapted to permit ventilation of said cavity; and   wherein said insulated battens substantially reduce the flow of thermal energy through said plurality of structural stud members to thereby increase the insulation value of said wall.   
   
   
       18 . A batten for eliminating or reducing thermal shorts in building construction that includes one or more studs, said batten comprising:
 an outer portion, said outer portion comprising a mixture of recycled waste materials and a magnesium-based binder;   an inner insulation portion, said inner insulation portion being at least partially encased in said outer portion and comprising an aerogel material; and   wherein when said batten is positioned in close proximity to a side of a stud, said batten substantially reduces the flow of thermal energy through the stud.   
   
   
       19 . The batten of  claim 18 , wherein the width of said inner insulation portion equals or exceeds the thickness of each stud. 
   
   
       20 . The batten of  claim 19 , wherein said outer portion comprises an elongate chamber, said inner insulation portion being disposed in said chamber.