Devices and methods to provide air circulation to insulation material

Abstract

Insulation devices, methods and related construction techniques are provided. An exemplary device may include a body having a plurality of openings defining an openwork, to allow the passage of air therethrough when placed in contact with insulation material. The device may further include a plurality of spacer struts and/or spacing depressions fixedly attached to the body. The struts may be configured to maintain a predetermined distance between a first side of the insulation material and a building surface. The body and struts act together to define and maintain a space between the first side of the insulation material and the building surface, for example, for ventilation. The building surface can be the bottom face of a roof, an insulated attic floor, wall sheathing or a soundproofed demising wall, for example. The spacer device can be capable of being transported and stored together with, or as a separate item from, the insulation material, and can also be stored in nested layers. The device can also be stored in rolled form. The openwork of the device can additionally or alternatively include a sheet of entangled net filaments or other similar material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling the passage of moisture into and out of a fibrous insulation batt disposed in a wall cavity between two adjacent studs or rafters comprising:
 disposing a breathable layer of material having a plurality of pores along at least a surface of the fibrous insulation batt that faces outwardly toward sheathing material attached to the two adjacent studs or rafters, wherein moisture present in the fibrous insulation batt passes through the plurality of pores of the breathable layer of material.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising defining an open ventilating air channel between the surface of the breathable material and the sheathing material for receiving moisture passing from the insulation batt through the pores. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the open ventilating air channel defines a first end near a soffit, and a second end near a ridge vent, wherein the moisture is removed from the air channel by flowing outwardly through the ridge vent, and further wherein two adjacent rafters define sides of the ventilation channel. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , further defining disposing shingles on a side of the sheathing opposite the ventilation channel. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the open ventilating air channel defines a first end near a sill plate, and a second end near a ridge vent, wherein the moisture is removed from the air channel by flowing outwardly through the ridge vent, and further wherein two adjacent rafters and two adjacent studs define sides of the ventilation channel.