Systems and methods for retrofitting an existing building

Abstract

Example embodiments of the described technology provide a building wrap useful for retrofitting a building. The building wrap may comprise a plurality of different types of pre-fabricated panels such as roof panels, wall panels and foundation panels. Wall panels may be coupled to mounting rails which are attached to an exterior wall of the building. The foundation panels may carry the weight of the wall panels. At least some portions of some of the foundation panels may be below a grade level of the building.

1 . A building wrap for retrofitting a building, the building wrap comprising:
 a plurality of pre-fabricated roof panels joined together to form a roof;   a plurality of vertically extending mounting rails attachable to an exterior wall of the building at horizontally spaced locations;   a plurality of pre-fabricated wall panels, each of the plurality of wall panels coupled to at least one of the plurality of mounting rails, the wall panels joined together to form a wall abutting the roof at an upper edge of the wall;   a plurality of pre-fabricated foundation panels supporting the weight of the wall panels at a lower edge of the wall;   wherein each said pre-fabricated wall panel comprises a rigid frame having horizontal and vertical frame members and clips attached at spaced locations on said horizontal frame members for engaging said mounting rails and securely holding each said panel against said mounting rails;   means for securing the lower horizontal frame member of one wall panel to the upper horizontal frame member of a vertically adjacent wall panel; and   water and air sealing means between vertically and horizontally adjacent wall panels.   
     
     
         2 . The building wrap of  claim 1  wherein at least some portions of some of the foundation panels extend below a grade level of the building. 
     
     
         3 . The building wrap of  claim 2  wherein at least some of the foundation panels extend to a footing of the building. 
     
     
         4 . The building wrap of  claim 2  wherein at least some of the foundation panels are supported by a ledger, the ledger mounted to the foundation of the building at a location below the grade level and above the footing of the building. 
     
     
         5 . The building wrap of  claim 1  wherein each of said clips comprises an inwardly spring-biased end for engaging a slot in a corresponding mounting rail. 
     
     
         6 . The building wrap of  claim 1  wherein the pre-fabricated wall panels comprise an insulating layer sandwiched between an exterior cementitious layer and an interior cementitious layer. 
     
     
         7 . The building wrap of  claim 6  wherein said frame is framed around the insulating layer of the pre-fabricated wall panels. 
     
     
         8 . The building wrap of  claim 1  wherein said frame is made of hollow structure section steel, an angle beam, a channel beam, a flat beam, or an I-beam. 
     
     
         9 . The building wrap of  claim 1  wherein said frame is made of a cementitious material. 
     
     
         10 . The building wrap of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the pre-fabricated wall panels comprises a cut-out region. 
     
     
         11 . The building wrap of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of pre-fabricated wall panels are joined together to form a perimeter wall enclosing the building. 
     
     
         12 . The building wrap of  claim 1  wherein each of the mounting rails receives at least two wall panels. 
     
     
         13 . The building wrap of  claim 1  wherein the thickness of each of the plurality of roof panels is greater than the thickness of each of the plurality of wall panels. 
     
     
         14 . A kit comprising the pre-fabricated roof panels, the pre-fabricated wall panels, the pre-fabricated foundation panels, the mounting rails and the clips for use in assembling the building wrap claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A method of retrofitting a building, the method comprising:
 scanning the building to determine an exterior topography of the building;   designing a plurality of prefabricated building panels which conform to the exterior topography of the building;   fabricating the plurality of building panels based on the design;   installing a plurality of mounting rails on the building;   securing at least some of the plurality of prefabricated building panels against at least some of the mounting rails; and   securing at least some of the plurality of prefabricated building panels against each other.