US2317926A - Building construction - Google Patents

Description

April 27, 1943. R. L. LINDAHL 2,317,926

BUILDING coNsTRUczT-Ionv April 27, 1943.I RL. I INDAHLv 2,317,926 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION L I Filed Dec. 1e, 1939 v:a sheets-sheet 2.

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Patented Apr. 27, 1943.

summa coNs'raUc'rroN y Robert L. Lindau, chicago, m., asumir te ,The

Celotex Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Delaware .Application December 1s, issaseriai No. 30ans y y a claim. (ci. zo-s) This invention relates to improvements in surfacing members adapted for ornamental surfacing and renovation, and particularly to material of this character comprising panels of insulating structural material formed from felted lignocellulose bre, preferably bagasse fibres, which have been waterproofed and further treated for protection against insects and fungi. The panels are preferably formed rectangular in shape having lthe edges thereof fabricated to form a shiplap unit or other suitable joint construction with contiguous panels and are of sucha size as to simulate a length of six to eight brick and a height of from two to six courses. treated as above and formed into the correct sizel they are suitably water-proofed and surfaced to simulate the appearance and texture of a section of masonry, Particular-1y that formed of brick. I The use of this type of building material has -proveneminently successful by reasons of its per- After being is that since the panels are substantially long manent decorative exterior, ease of installation,

insulating characteristics, and other desirable properties. It has been found in the past, however, particularly in regions where the temperature goesv below freezing, that there is a tend-I ency for moisture to collect behind the panels. as applied for the renovation of old houses 'especlally when applied over siding, particularly at the line of contact between the lower edge of clapboards and the rear face of these panels of simulated brick siding. Moisture collecting back of these brick siding panels is perhaps caused by the increase in humidity due to the heating system within the building with the excess moisture passing through the'interior wall of the building where it condenses between the exterior face of the original'buildi'ng structureand the applied panels. Also, part of this Vmoisture which gathers behind these panels is perhaps due to faulty erection in not properly caulking the joints allowing the elements tobeat in; and also, where the materiai 1s amxed to the side waus by nauing, the rain,` as it beats against the side of the building, tends to seep in along the nails.

Another objection in the past to this form of I and tendency to delamination thereof, particularly along the felting lines of .thematerial and also ofthe impregnated coating from the base material.-

Another objectionable feature of this material relative to the transverse dimensions of the panel there is a tendency for the panel to expend and contract along the length of the material, thus tending to open up the Joints between the vertical edges of the panel and to allow moisture to penetrate to the :space between the members and the surface of the building. There is also a tendency for the material at theship-lap Joints to warp, therefore detracting fromthe surface appearance of the finished wall.

Another condition to which members of this character have been subjecty is that the driving of a nail too deeply into the material, which bestrength, causes a rupture of the surface of the board asfthe nail is driven through, particularly where there is no sheathing to abut against the back face of thepanels. This condition generally exists particularly with the material when applied over clapboard siding due to the space formed between the clapboards and the panels.'

Also, another structural fault of material of this .nature is that the nature of the felted fibrous material prevents the necessary mechanical bond `or friction that is usuallynecessary in securing to insure solid securing of each panel to the frame or sheathing of the building.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this' in- .vention to provide a wall surfacing member wherein the aforementioned difficulties are eliminated and the prefabricated products are manufactured to minimize the possibility of failurev i after erection. i l

A further object of the invention is to provide a prefabricated unit adapted for surfacing ,adapted to provide a slight circulation of air y between the back face ofthe panels and the surf.

face to which they are erected and to further` provide drainage for any amount ofcondensate or moisture which. may collect between the con-l z tiguous faces of thepanels and the surfacev to which they are erected and 4draining it to ythe outside.

Another object of the invention-is to provide a building member of this charafter with preformed depressions, the impressions being intermediate the faces of the building covering mem- 'ber and adapted to increase the frictional resistance between the securing' means and the material iormingthe member and also to effectively seal the interior of the member from the elements and at the same time serves to secure the vapor-sealed surfaces againstfailure by delamination.

Another object of the invention is to provide abuilding member havinga base of felted fibrous material provided with preformed nail recesses and saturated throughout the intermediate prtion of the material forming the bottom of' the n. depressions with awater-proofing material-and having the water-proofing material adjacent all surfaces including the walls of the depressions.

A further object is to provide a prefabricated product of this material having the strength and siding unit along line I-'I of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the groov- Y ing of the back and impregnation of the unit from the surfaces thereof;

Figure '8 is a vertical sectional View, similar to Figure V'1, of themodifled construction illustrated in Figure 5; v

Figure 9 is a partial sectional view taken substantially along line 9-9 of Figure 8 illustrating struction for'amxing the vertical joints together rigidity and the insulating properties of the material substantially unimpaired by the grooving and further treatments of the surfaces of the manail recesses, 'the intermediate portions between the face of the board at the nailing recesses satu-` rated to increase the frictional resistance between the nail and the material.

Another object of the invention is to provide ay -the unit ofl Figure 5 and showing the spacing of y the furring strips for spacing the unit from a surface to which it is attached;

Figure l0 is an enlarged vertical sectional view alongjline Ill-I0 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the nailing recesses and impregnation thereof formed intermediate the faces of the building construction member;

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating a preferred form of clip and staple conand preventing warping thereof; and,

Figure l2 is a vertical sectional view along line I 2-I2 of Figure 1l looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the clip and staple construction. r

Referring to Figure 1,--the numeral I5 designates a building covering member formed from wall surfacing yunit of this description which is strong and thoroughly water-proofed and vaporsealed, which requires fewer nails in the erection of the material and in which the frictional resistance between the material and the nails is effectively increased.

Further objects, features and advantages 'of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred em-4 bodiment and modifications thereof of the invention as claimed, and as illustrated -in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1' is an elevational view illustrating a felted ligno-cellulose bres, preferably bagasse libres, which have been water-proofed by application of suitable sizing as b y a precipitation of a rosin size thereon with alum and have also been suitably treated for protection against fungi and insects. 'Ihe building covering member is preferably formed so that its height represents five courses of the usual brick wall construction and its length six bricks. It isobvious that other size panels may be fabricated but this size is very well yadapted for shipping and erecting. The prefabricated brick siding units I5 are preferably formed with a ship-lap joint construction about the Vedges so that a continuous wall face is had when erected.' providing closed joints which may be suitably sealed by caulking.

A unit vI6 known as the soldier course is also formed from the same material as the unit I5 but it is preferably of suchv a size and design that it simulates bricks laid in mortar but standing on their ends, as contrasted with the previously described unit representing horizontal brick courses. Althoughthe soldier course and brick preferred form of the surfacing unit and soldier course applied over clapboard siding; A c

Figure 2'is arear elevational view of the preferred form of brick siding units illustrating the preferred'form of back kerfing adapted for the circulation of air and drainage of condensate and moisture from between the contiguous surfaces of the'prefabricated units and surface of a building,

and modified forms of kerfing;

Figure 3 is an elevation in section illustrating a typical clapboard siding construction over which has been applied insulating brick siding units;

Figure 4 is'a vertical sectional view illustrating the brick siding units applied directly over sheathing; Figure 5 is van applied directly to sheathing;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view along line S-I of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the'arrows:

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of a brick "7l elevational view partly in section illustrating a modified form of brick siding unit vsiding unit have been indicated as being separately formed units, it is obvious that it is within the scope of this invention that horizontally laid courses and a soldier `course may be fabricated in one unit.

In utilizing these units for surfacing a building.

or renovating the appearance thereof, other forms of vunits are used, such as corner members but these have not been illustrated as they are not necessary for the understanding of the invention.

The units I5 and I6, after being cut to size and with suitable edge joint thereon, preferably are impregnated from the surfaces and edges thereof as illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 10. This is accomplished by dipping or passing the prepared blank through a bath of saturant so that the satu- `rant impregnates the material a slight distance from the surface to seal the material and form a-water-proof sheath for the blank. The saturant is preferably molten asphalt but may be a suitable pitch or the like which will serve to seal the material and form a water-proof sheath for the blank. It is preferred that the edges of the unit shall be completely saturated for a -certain ance with the disclosure inthe co-pending application of George E. Swenson, Serial No. 214,817,

filed June 17, 1938. This saturation or impregnation causes the voids of the felt'ed brous material from which the units are fabricated to become largely filled with the saturant or impregnant thus rigidifying and strengthening the edges of the unit. It is evident that the saturation of the unit at' the edges, as at I,'and impregnation at the surfaces thereof, as at I8, with asphalt provides a sealed sheath for the unit formed integrally with the material from whichthe unit is fabricated, leaving the interior I9V thereof unimpregnated so that substantially the eiective.

a brick, or masonry construction.

A unit formed as above is satisfactory except that upon erection by nailing or otherwise the securing nails or securing means which are applied to secure the siding unit in place, perforatey the interior,sealed portion of the unitallowing moisture to penetrate withinthe material causing deterioration of the material and possible delamination of the face from the material. To

overcome this and4 to improve not only thel strength of the material but to increase thefrictional resistance between the material and the securing means, a preferred form o f construction as illustrated in Figures 1 andlO is utilized. -Before dipping to water-proof and vapor-seal the surfaces -of a unit, recesses 23 are formed in one or preferably in 'both sides of.the materiaL-as by drilling or pressing indentations in the material by the use of platens or by rolling. The recesses which are substantially equal in diameter et the bottom thereof tortue heed of the nous" or other securing means used for applying the units are so formed that an intermediate portion 24 lies preferably midway betweenv the faces of the unit. The number of these indentations is best illustrated in Figure' 1 and shall be such that the units I5 and I8 may be securely affixed as they are erected in place. The units so preformed and fabricatedwith th nailing recesses are then dipped and impregnated as previously described. The surface is therefore impregnated, as at I8, while theinterior of the material about the nailing recesses 23 is -imprege nated as at 26'. The dimensions of the intermediate portion 24 formed at the nailing recesses 23 shall be such that it shall preferably be come pletely saturated throughout,v thus completely sealing the interior of the material at this point. The saturation is possible at-this point because of the fibrous character of the materiales it has substantially greater porosity transverse with respect to the felting planes than at the face of the material, so that transverse saturationl will extend laterally about the recesses. In addi+ion to providing a sealfor the interior of the material, it also increases the nail holding characteristics of the material, as has'been disclosed and claimed in the oo-pending application of 3 George E. Swenson, serial No. 215,896, med June 25` 1938.

A nail 25 or other securing means when driven I through this material in applying it, as illustrated in lifigurel 10, has greater frictional resistance or grip, and the material about the recess is so reenforced that the nail, when subjected to norrial breaking whatever seal is formed about the securing means. .Nailing as defined in the claims is synonomous to securing means which I6 is also formed in the same manner to simulate includes'as equivalent construction screws, and the-like. The recesses 23, which are similarly formed at the back of the material, the same as at the face, also because of the impregnation about the recess prevents the breaking out of the material as the nails are driven through, particularly when the material is applied over clapboard siding.

In addition to forming an improved nailing construction for the units, the impregnated por tion about the nailing recesses forms what might be called an impregnated rivet thoroughly securing the water-proofed impregnated layers I8 on opposite faces ofthe material together so that any delamination of these layers I8 is prevented. It is obvious that a sufficient number of these nailing'recesses may be formed on the faces of the unit so that there is substantially the same effect as that of a plurality of rivets for securing for nailing to suitably secure .the units in their yerected position. v

In addition'to forming `an improved nailing construction for these units, it was a principal object of the invention to fabricate the units with a novel means for providing drainage of any condensate or moisture which may form between the contiguous faces of the siding units andthe surface to which'they are applied and also to provide for some and particularly a slow circulation of air between these faces to decrease any tendency of the formation of condensate and retention of moisture therebetween. l Figures l 1 to 9 inclusive, illustrate the preferred form of that they will form'capillarytubes. The kerfs: 28 are preferably spaced substantially 4" apart and extend transversely across the unit substantially on a diagonal Iline as illustrated. The units. are beveled about the 'inner edges thereof, as' at 21, to form grooves 28 between vcontiguous edges f of abutting units, thus'forming complete drainage and circulatory passages. The kerfs 26 are so formed and spaced that when the units are'applied over clapboardv siding 21 Aas illustratsdin Figure 3, drainage passages are provided betweenthe pockets 29 formed between the outer face of the clapboard siding land the inner face of the surfacing unit IB. r

Itis in these pockets 28 .that condensate or. moisture tends to form which passes through the walls of the building from the interior thereof to the outside and because of the insulating characterial over the nail heads, breaking the seal of the material and allowing additional moisture to seep into the porous interiorl of the' material. Moisture. which'seeps into theinterior of `the lmaterial may cause delamination of the material and further destruction `of the unit. By embodying the novel features of this invention in the siding panels, i. e., the improved nailing construction and kerfing to allow for drainage, the destruction of the units as has been previously formed is overcome.

`The riveting action of the improved nailing illustrates the preferred ldepth to which the kerfs extend with respect to the thicknessof the unit. The units are preferably fabricated from material in thickness which is a suitable Y thickness for renovating buildings without necessitating too much change in the trim of the building. Obviously, units maybe fabricated'in other thicknesses without departing from the scope of this invention and'such an-increase in thickness -is desired where the prefabrlcated units are used in lieu of both sheathing and siding, ythe unit performing the function of sheathl ing, sheathing paper and siding, aswell as a facing material.

Figures 8 and 9 illustratea modified form of brick siding uiits wherein-thin furring strips 31 nations integrally with the siding unit or by nailing or stapling material suchas wood strips to the back face of the siding unit. The furring construction prevents Athe delamination of the ,impregnated surfaces of thematerial from the core portion and also prevents seepage of moisture into the interior of the material and further strengthens the material so that the nail heads will not be pulled through the material. In Figure2 which illustrates the preferred form of back kerfing, the lines 30 indicate the intersecvtion of the lower edge of the clap-board siding with theback face of the siding unit and it is therefore obvious that any pattern of kerfs 28 should serve to provide drainage passages from each pocket to each lsuccessively -lower `pocket formed by successive clapboard sidings.

Other modifications of the kerfing are illustrated respectively in units 3l, 32, and 33. In the unit 3i, the preferred patternof kerfs 2B may f be connected at their bottom ends by a diagonal continuous passage 34. It is obvious that with this diagonal passage that positive drainage may be had across theback face of the unit due to the interconnection .of the'pockets 29 formed between the lback face of the unit and the face Aof the clapboard siding. The diagonal passages 34 shall be of such length that at all -times irrespective of the exposure `of the clapboard siding construction, drainage will be had from one pocket to another downward across the face 'of the building to the outside.

Similarly,v the unit 32 also illustrates a modi4V ned .pattern of kerflng 4wherein the panel is formed by similarly formed kerfs placed diagv onally with respect to the length of the unit andy each oi' the kerfs-35 spaced longitudinally along the back face of the unit as shown. This pattern' of kerng also provides. suitable drainage between the pockets which may beformed between clapboard siding and the siding'units.

The unit 33 illustrates a pattern of kerfs 3,6 which is formed by kerflng the unit transversely across the back face thereof and longitudinally spacing the kerfs 38 as illustrated. Thispattern is preferred for the kerng of the backs of the soldier coursesl as illustrated in Figure 1 to` -provide drainage from the bottom grooves 28 to the atmosphere of any moisture which may form in back of the siding and between the surface to which the siding units are applied, and

also to allow. a slight circulation of air betweenthe contiguous faces thereof through-the continuous interconnecting passages or grooves 28l formed by abutting contiguous siding units.

lFigure 'I is a vertical section oi' a unit and strips 31 are preferably applied in the same patterns as they have been illustrated in Figure 2, wherein the units are shown formed with kerfs on the back face.

furring strips vthereon that the grooves and fur-- ring strips shall be formed on the material of whichthe unit is fabricated prior to the surface impregnation thereof to, provide a waterproof and vapor-proof sheath for the insulating unit. As illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, the im pregnation of the unit should thoroughly saturate the material about the kerfs 28 and similarly the impregnation would take place across the surface of the material in themodifled form of unit designated as 38 of Figures 8 and 9. The function. of the furring strips 31 is to suiiiciently space the rear faces of units 38 from the s urface to'- which they are applied so that the air spaces between these surfaces are interconnnected and completely drained of any moisture and condensate which mayl form therebetween.V

In the construction illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the inner edges of the unit may or' may not be chamfered, as at 21,` -to form grooves 28 when contiguous units are abutted together in the erection thereof.; Q

Referring to' Figure 1, the application andl erection of the units on a face ofa building will e be described. It is preferred, particularly in renovating the surface of a building, as for instance a clapboard type of home as illustrated in section in AFigure 3, that the drip cap of the building about the bottom thereof shall be first removed and, if required, the building furred out from the sills so that the soldier course I6 may be applied in such a man ner that the face thereof will be in co-planar relationship with the face of the siding units i5 when they are applied and secured over and to the siding as illustrated in Figure 3. The ship-lap joint construction 39 of the units vpermits the units to be abutted together in such It is preferred both in` forming the siding units with grooves or with the interconnecting system of passages formed thereby. The additional passages formed by the any formation of ice,- which in turn would tend to force the units from their position or to cause the nail heads to penetrate into the material breaking the vapor-seal, consequently allowing moisture to penetrate to' the interior of the umts.

In the same manner the construction of the siding unit illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 allows for the drainage of moisture and circulation of air between the siding units and the surface to which they are applied. Figure 3 illustrates the usual form of clapboard siding construction through a wall thereof, illustrating the plaster and lath construction 40 applied on the inside of the building'to studs 4I and the exterior face of the building formed by a sheathing construction 42 which may be the usual wood sheathing or gypsum board sheathing, or the like construction, over which may be -applied sheathing paper 43 providing an air and vapor-seal. Over this sheathing construction, the usual clapboard siding 21 is applied; and, particularly for renovating or changing the appearance of a building embodying such construction, the siding units I5 are applied, which because of their ornamental appearance and simulated masonry construction,

the staples when they areldriven through the cause an ordinary wood frame dwelling to have Y the appearance of brick construction with the added advantage of the insulation due to the. material from which the simulated masonry units are formed. These units I5, when applied on the surface of a building, have the joints suitably caulked and there may be formed, as at 43, wire cut faces on the simulated masonry construction which serve to conceal the vertical joints of the has been applied a modied form of brick masonry simulating unitA 38, which is formed as described with' reference to Figures 8 and 9.

In this form of siding-unit, the unit is spaced from the surface of the building to which'it is applied byl a furring strip construction 31 providing interconnecting passages to allow for the circulation of air and the drainage of any mois- 'ture which may form between the 'back face Lof theunit andthe surface to which it is applied. Referring to Figures 1, 11, and 12, a preferred form of construction will b e described which serves `to thoroughly secure the-vertical Joints formed by the contiguous units at the ship-lap joint constructions thereof, so that theedges will not warp or pull-away from one ,another allowingthe inner 'face of the unit.- This'construction for thoroughly afilxing the Joints is formed by 75 masonry simulated construe moisture to penetrate the joint construction to slotting', as at 44, to receive atransverse member 45 of a clip construction 46. Itis preferred in forming the slot 44 that it shall be formed inv the material vfrom which the unit is fabricated before it has been impregnated so that after thel material has been impregnated, as illustrated in Figure l1, `the vertical edge in which the slot is formed is strengthened and rigidied by the impregnation of asphalt or other impregnant.- The kerf 44 shall slide over the transverse portion 45' lofvthesliplt v Referring to Figure 1, the clip y46, as illustrated. is applied to the siding unit I5 and aixed to Ithe sheathing 21. As will be seen at the left hand side of the unit, the nail recesses 23 are at a substantial distance from the joint between contiguous units. Obviously, then, the transverse portion 45 prevents the unit from warping outwardly because of the slot construction 44 having mounted therein the transverse member 45 of the clip. To. further secure the joint, `staples 41 may be secured through the ship-laps of the contiguous umts as illustrated in the enlarged sectional view, Figure 11. Since the units l5 are impregnated at the edges thereof, as at l1, to strengthen and rigidity the joint construction,

material at the joint, are frictionally aflxed to the material because of the additional holding power of the material from which I the unit is` fabricated because of the impregnation thereof.. It is also preferred to slot the siding units, as at 48. to allow the staple to be driven below the surface of the depressions 22 forming the mortar simulated joints. theseslots or kerfs 48 are preferably formed before the material has the coating zo appuea thereto, the coating zo at least f partially fills this slot 48 and forms a self-seal for the staples 41 as they are driven in place, thus covering the staple when'secured. f

In the same manner, the coating 2u, asl lit. is' 'n apphed after the nailing recesses or. sections 23 have been formed inthe material as described `with reference to the coating 20 lling the slots 48, will illl or tend a self-sealing construction for the nails as they aredriven in place to aillx to the seal formed by the coating 20, the impreg-i nation of the intermediate portion y24 of the nailing construction tends to cause self-sealing as'a nail is driven through the material at this point. f

Obviously, therefore, there has 'been provided'at the nailing sections 24, and as at the joints wheres.

the units are stapled, a novel form of construction wherein, as securing means are driven through the coating on the material and the impregnated portion of the material, the securing means become self-sealed because yof -the -nature of the impregnation `and the coating applied, and the construction at these points, with the impregnated portion tending to grip the nails and staples. Also, as the coating 20 isordinarily applied hot,. there is a tendency for the surface Y of the coating at 24 and 48 to be slightly depressed indicating attaching points.

The surfacing of the siding units. although it 'has been particularly describedwith reference to a coating applied over the` surface of the unit in which granules or grits are embedded to form a. tion, itis obvious' that toll the recesses 23 and formsn the unit. Inaddition as asphalt having a comparatively high melting v point of around 140 F. M.P. and substantially free from volatile solvents, withthe coating 20 of the material formed from a like material. this type of impregnation and coating, any possibility cf chemical action between the coating and the saturant for the material, such as a permeation of the coating by solvents which dilute the body thereof or impair the adhesive qualitiesv of the Vcoating is avoided.

With.

constructions, whether for renovating old buildings or for surfacing the walls of new construction.

In addition, there has been disclosed anovel siding unit or surfacing material having an improved form of nailing constructions wherein the nailing constructions thoroughly seal the material and also act as a self-seal for nails or other securing means applied therethrough. In addition to this, there has been disclosed a novel clip construction and joint construction to pre- Although the material is preferably formed by,

applying the coating insuch a manner that the nail receiving recesses 23 are thoroughly filled,

however, the nature of the impregnation of the intermediate portion 24 is such thatthe material at this pointand the nail are thoroughly sealed and affixed together because of the frictional increase due to the nature of the impregnation at this point. Therefore, rust proof nails having their heads the same color as'that'of the coating may be used without any. additional painting to improve the appearance. With this construction of the nail receiving sections, as described above, the nail is so'sealed that protection of the board by further coating at this point is unnecessary, and all that is necessary to be considered is the color problem for the concealment of the nail. However, as this coating is knife coated or otherwise applied to the material and the depressions 23 being substantially filled A serve to" indicate where to nail. it is no problem to drive the nail through this illling and thus completely cover up the head of the securing nails so that it may not be noticed from the'face of the unit. Depending upon the type of securing means used, it may or may not be necessary to additionally point up the unit where it is secured. If a large headed nail is used the' filling at the recess may 'need further pointing to secure the finished appearance of mortar construction.

It is obvious from the above-description that there has been disclosed a novel building member which is so formed as to satisfactorily drain any moisture which may be formed between the unitand the surface siding or sheathing to which it is applied. Furthermore, several patterns have been disclosed for accomplishing this result, and these patterns have been merely illustrative of the range of equivalents which may be used, particularly with'respectboth to the patterns of the grooves, whether grooves or integral furring strips shall be used and to the respective patterns of the furring stripsor grooves.

Also, there has been disclosed a suitablesiding unit or construction member which may be readily prefabricated and erected in place to any surface of a wall or building construction for the simulation of a masonry construction. This form of construction has been particularly illustrated with respect to application over clapbca'rd siding and other forms of siding or sheathing asl vent the opening up at the joints formed by the surfacing units and to prevent warpage of the material forming the units at the joints thereof from a coplanar surface which would detract from the surface appearance of the assembled units.

It will, of course, be understood that various combinations of the features of the invention, other than the combinations illustrated and Vdescribed will be obvious tothose skilled in the art and are therefore entirely within the scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims. The same applies to various modifications and. minor departures from-the specific form of prefabricated siding unit as wellas the method and means of securing the prefabricated siding units' in a wall-construction herein illustrated and described in this novel wall surfacing unit and .wall y construction.

What is lclaimed is:

1. In a wall structureA in combination with an Y outside surface thereof, facing units applied thereto, such facing units von their rear faces beveled along their vertically directed edges whereby passages are formed'between the rear lfaces of the facing units land the surface of the wall structure, additional recesses in the rear faces of the facing units and providing communication between the aforesaid passageways and providing for the drainage of moisture from and for a slight circulation of air between the rear faces ofthe facing units and the surface of the wall structure.

2. In awall structure in combinationwith an,

, outside surface thereof facing units applied thereto, such facing units on their rear faces beveled along'gtheir ledge whereby passageways are formed between the rear faces of the facing unit and the surface-of the wall structure, additional recesses in the rear faces of the facing imits andinterconnecting vthe said passageways formed due to the bevels on the edges of the units and thereby providing interconnecting' communications between the aforesaid passageways and providing for the drainage of moisture and for circulation of air between the rear faces of the facing units and the surface of the wall structure. l A l 3. A building :unit comprising a fiber board to be secured to a building wall as a facing, weatherprooiing material applied to theputer exposed surface of the board and patterned to simulate masonry construction, the opposite rearwardly directed face of the board coated with asphalt and having formed therein interspersed series of interconnecting, inclined and parallel grooves providing when a plurality 'of the units are secured to a building wall a com-

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