U.S. patent application number 10/320438 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-17 for building structures.
Invention is credited to Neff, Paul J..
Application Number | 20040111990 10/320438 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32506869 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040111990 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Neff, Paul J. |
June 17, 2004 |
Building structures
Abstract
A simulated log building is constructed by first assembling a
conventional "stick built" frame and then attaching to upright
exterior faces of the frame, rows of siding that are made of solid
wood sections shaped to simulate the appearance of logs.
Inventors: |
Neff, Paul J.; (Mississauga,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BERESKIN AND PARR
SCOTIA PLAZA
40 KING STREET WEST-SUITE 4000 BOX 401
TORONTO
ON
M5H 3Y2
CA
|
Family ID: |
32506869 |
Appl. No.: |
10/320438 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/272 ; 52/284;
52/286 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 2/708 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/272 ;
052/284; 052/286 |
International
Class: |
E04B 007/00; E04B
001/00 |
Claims
1. A method of constructing a building which includes the steps of:
erecting a frame defining walls having upright exterior faces; and,
applying to said faces, horizontal rows of siding to clad said
faces and define exterior wall surfaces of the structure; wherein
each row of siding includes at least one elongate siding section
comprising a face portion, a top portion and a bottom portion, each
of which is made of solid wood and extends over the length of the
siding section, said face portion having an outer surface shaped to
provide the appearance of a log to said exterior wall surface of
the building, and an inner surface, and said top and bottom
portions extending along top and bottom marginal regions of said
face portion and inwardly of the inner surface of the face portion
to define therebetween a space suitable for receiving insulation in
contact with said inner surface of the face portion of the siding
section.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top and bottom
portions are complimentarily shaped in cross-section, and wherein
said step of applying horizontal rows of siding to said upright
faces of the frame includes applying a first section of siding to
said frame and then applying a vertically adjacent section of
siding to said frame with the top portion of a lower siding section
inter-fitted with the bottom portion of a siding section above.
3. A siding section for use in cladding a wall surface in a
building, comprising a face portion, a top portion and a bottom
portion, each of which is made of solid wood and extends over the
length of the siding section, said face portion having an outer
surface shaped to provide the appearance of a log to said exterior
wall surface of the building, and an inner surface, and said top
and bottom portions extending along top and bottom marginal regions
of said face portion and inwardly of the inner surface of the face
portion to define therebetween a space suitable for receiving
insulation in contact with said inner surface of the face portion
of the siding section.
4. A siding section as claimed in claim 3, wherein said top and
bottom portions of the siding section are complimentarily shaped in
cross-section so that the top portion of a lower siding section in
a row of vertically adjacent horizontal siding sections inter-fits
with the bottom portion of a siding section above said lower
section.
5. A siding section as claimed in claim 4, wherein said top portion
is shaped to define a flange and the bottom portion is shaped to
define a complementary rabbet.
6. A siding section as claimed in claim 3, wherein said face
portion, top portion and bottom portion are made separately and
subsequently secured together to form said siding section.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to building structures,
such as domestic or recreational homes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] So-called "log homes" are a visually appealing and popular
form of building. Traditionally, the walls of a log home are built
using actual logs that are laid horizontally one on top of another.
Gaps between the logs are sealed or "chinked" for weather
tightness. At the corners of the structure, the logs are cut to
form corner joints so that the logs of one wall interlock with the
logs of a wall at right angles to the first wall. The logs must
also be cut to form window and door openings.
[0003] This method of construction is costly. Not only is the
construction process very time consuming but significant skill is
required of the workers, particularly to form the corner joints
between adjacent walls. Also, heavy equipment must be used to bring
the logs to site and place the logs one on top of another. The logs
themselves are also quite costly to buy.
[0004] A further drawback is that the walls cannot be insulated
unless supplementary strapping or framing is provided on the
interior wall surfaces. Obviously, when this is done, the logs are
concealed from view at the interior of the building, which may be
considered cosmetically undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the invention is to address some of these
issues by providing a method of constructing a building structure
having a simulated log appearance.
[0006] The method of the invention includes the steps of erecting a
frame defining walls of the building having upright exterior faces,
and applying to those upright faces, horizontal rows of siding to
clad the faces and define exterior wall surfaces of the structure.
Each row of siding includes at least one elongate siding section
comprising a face portion, a top portion and a bottom portion, each
of which is made of solid wood and extends over the length of the
siding section. The face portion has an outer surface which is
shaped to provide the appearance of a log at the exterior wall
surface of the building, and an inner surface, and the top and
bottom portions extend along top and bottom marginal regions of the
inner surface of the face portion and inwardly of said inner
surface, so as to define therebetween a space suitable for
receiving insulation in contact with said inner surface of the face
portion of the siding section.
[0007] In accordance with the method of the invention, it is
possible to construct a building using conventional construction
techniques, while achieving the external appearance of a log home.
The siding is made of solid wood and accordingly has a realistic
texture and "feel". At the same time, the building can be
constructed without the need for exceptional skills or the use of
heaving lifting equipment, and at a cost comparable with the cost
of conventional buildings.
[0008] The spaces at the inner surfaces of the siding sections can
be fitted with insulation. Normally, the frame to which the siding
is applied will itself be insulated in accordance with normal
construction techniques. In that event, any insulation within the
siding sections is supplementary or additional insulation.
[0009] The invention also provides a siding section for use in
cladding a wall surface of a building, comprising a face portion, a
top portion and a bottom portion, each of which is made of solid
wood and extends over the length of the siding section. The face
portion has an outer surface shaped to provide the appearance of a
log to said exterior wall surface of the building, and an inner
surface, and said top and bottom portions extend along top and
bottom marginal regions of said face portion and inwardly of the
inner surface of the face portion to define therebetween a space
suitable for receiving insulation in contact with said inner
surface of the face portion of the siding section.
[0010] The siding may be used as "retrofit" or replacement siding.
As such, if the siding sections incorporate insulation, the
replacement siding can be used to add insulation to an existing
structure.
[0011] While the top and bottom portions of a siding section may be
the same as one another, so that vertically adjacent siding
sections will be simply butted together, the top and bottom
portions preferably are complimentarily shaped so that the bottom
portion of one siding section can inter-fit with the top portion of
the siding section below for improved weather tightness.
[0012] Further, while a siding section may be made in one piece,
i.e. with the top and bottom portions integral with the face
portion, the three portions preferably are made separately and
subsequently secured together to form the siding section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which
illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention by way of
example, and in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a simple rectangular
building constructed in accordance with the method of the
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the internal
frame of the building of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a section of
siding used to construct the building of FIG. 1; and,
[0017] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing vertically
adjacent siding sections inter-fitted with one another and secured
to the frame of the building.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Referring first to FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes a
building structure constructed in accordance with the method of the
invention and having the appearance of a log cabin. The first step
in the method is to erect a frame such as the frame 22 shown in
FIG. 2. Frame 22 is a conventional "stick built" frame made of
2.times.4 (or larger) lengths of lumber that are nailed together on
a foundation (not shown). The frame is entirely conventional and
includes studs 24 that extend between sill plates 26 and header
plates 28 in accordance with conventional building practice.
Openings 30 for windows and doors are also framed in accordance
with conventional practice.
[0019] Not shown in FIG. 2 is the roof structure of the building
which will also be conventional.
[0020] Once the frame is in place, horizontal rows of siding are
applied to exterior upright faces of the frame 22 to clad the faces
of the frame and define exterior wall surfaces of the
structure.
[0021] In FIG. 1, the rows of siding are individually denoted 32.
Each row includes at least one elongate siding section, a typical
one of which is denoted "S" in FIG. 1. Sections S will be made
available in standard lengths, for example, of 8 feet, and will be
butted together end-to-end where longer rows of siding are
required. At corners of the building or around door and window
openings, the ends of the sections S of siding abut against
vertical trim members such as corner posts indicated at 34 in FIG.
1.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a typical siding
section S. Each section is made up of a face portion 36, a top
portion 38 and a bottom portion 40, each of which is made of solid
wood and extends over the length of the siding section. The face
portion has an outer surface 42 which is shaped to provide the
appearance of a log to the exterior wall surface of the building.
FIG. 3 shows by way of example an exterior surface 42 which has a
somewhat angular shape. It is however to be understood that the
surface may have any shape, for example, a more rounded arcuate
shape in cross-section or a rough hewn "textured" shape.
[0023] The face portion 36 also has an inner surface 44 which in
this embodiment is flat. The top and bottom portions 38, 40 extend
along top and bottom marginal regions of the inner surface 44
inwardly of that surface to define a space 46 suitable for
receiving insulation in contact with the inner surface of the face
portion 36. In this embodiment, a foam insulation panel 48 is shown
within the space. The insulation panel may be friction fitted or
glued in place.
[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, the three portions, 36, 38
and 40 of the siding section are made separately and secured
together by gluing the top and bottom portions 38, 40 to the inner
surface 44 of the face portion 36. Other fastening methods, such as
nails or staples may of course be used instead. Also, the siding
section could be made in one piece, though this almost certainly
would be more costly.
[0025] The top and bottom portions 38, 40 could be identically
shaped so that vertically adjacent siding sections can be simply
butt-joined together. Preferably, however, the top and bottom
portions are shaped to inter-fit with one another for improved
weather tightness. In the illustrated embodiment, the top portion
has a flange or tenon 50 that extends in the plane of the siding
section and the bottom portion 40 has a complimentary recess or
rabbet 52. Normally, the siding is applied a row at a time starting
at the bottom. The flange 50 of each section is then presented at
the top of the siding section. The next row of siding is applied
above that section so that the rabbet 52 at the bottom of the next
higher siding section fits over the flange 50.
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates this assembly method. Parts of several
vertically adjacent rows of siding are shown nailed to the frame
22. Though the siding is not necessarily affixed in this manner, in
the illustrated embodiment, a single nail 54 is driven through both
the bottom portion of an upper siding section and the top portion
of the siding section below.
[0027] As noted above, the method of the invention allows the
construction of buildings having exterior surfaces that simulate
the appearance of a log structure without the cost and
inconvenience of building using complete logs. At the same time,
advantages are offered in terms of ease of insulation and, if
required, supplementary insulation, for example, by way of the
insulation panels 48 shown in FIG. 3.
[0028] Also as noted previously, the siding that is used in the
method of the invention can be used both for new structures and on
existing structures. Normally, the siding will be installed
horizontally. However, if for some reason the appearance of a log
built home is not required, the siding could be applied
vertically.
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