Abstract: An bi-directional mounting bracket assembly is utilized in conjunction with exterior siding that covers sheathing of an exterior wall. A base member of the assembly has a mounting flange secured to the sheathing and a wall arrangement that projects outward with respect to the sheathing and from the mounting flange. Preferably, the wall arrangement supports a raised central panel used for mounting of fixtures. The wall arrangement preferably has four walls extending laterally between the mounting flange and the central panel. Spaced radially outward from the two adjacent walls are respective first and second drip ledges, and spaced radially outward from the other two adjacent walls are respective first and second baffle sets. When the assembly is mounted to the sheathing, a selective one of the two drip ledges is disposed substantially horizontally and beneath the wall arrangement for shedding of water.

Abstract: A window well assembly for buildings and the like include at least a first well unit and a second well unit each having opposite first and second flanges at opposite ends of a retaining wall of each unit for securing the well units to a sub-grade foundation of the building. Preferably, the assembly has a plurality of releasable spacer couplings that are mated and carried between well units when the assembly is in a stored state, and has indexing features that are mated and carried between well units when the assembly is in an assembled state.

Abstract: A shutter assembly having at least one shutter and a security bar device for locking closed and providing additional rigidity to the shutter when covering an opening in a dwelling. The bar device has an elongated member preferably engaged releasably to the dwelling in the opening. The member traverses the opening and prevents the shutters from collapsing into the opening when closed. A retention bracket co-extends with and is spaced from the member with a portion of the shutter layered there-between when in the closed position. As such, the retention bracket prevents the shutter from opening when in the closed position. A locking portion of the retention bracket projects laterally to releasably engage the member.

Abstract: A modular window well arrangement includes one or more window well members. The window well members can be interconnected in a vertically stacked arrangement to provide the required overall height. Snap-connectors interconnect the vertically adjacent window well members, and a plurality of steps provide for escape. The window well members may have different sizes, and extension walls may be utilized to increase the size of the window well members to provide for a wide variety of configurations. The window well members may be made of a relatively lightweight structural foam material.

Abstract: A board-type or log-shaped cementitious siding system, or a cementitious roof shingle system, having a reinforcement material contained therein, and an optional foam insert at least partially enveloped by a cementitious shell. Each system is molded from cementitious slurry, including gypsum cement and a latex/water mixture. A reinforcement material and an amount of the slurry are introduced into an open molding system or an alternative closed molding system, either molding system including a mold surface member having a face defining an exposed surface of the siding or roof shingle system. The slurry introduced to the mold surface member is to a desired depth and/or weight, or for a desired period of time. A foam insert is optionally introduced into the molding system. After sufficient curing, the siding or roof shingle system is separated from the mold surface member and is ready for immediate use and/or further processing.

Abstract: A bending brake assembly for manually bending pieces of sheet metal material including a base supporting a plurality of c-shaped members presenting opposing clamping surfaces for receiving the sheet metal material. An extension extends away from the clamping surfaces with a socket connection rotatably supporting a bending member on the base for bending the sheet metal material disposed between the clamping surfaces. The socket connection includes a mate portion and a female portion in sliding engagement with one another as the bending member moves between a pre-bending position, a first operating position, and a second operating position. A finger extends from the male portion and defines a gap between the finger and the extension when in the pre-bending position with the finger maintaining the gap as the finger moves from the pre-bending position to the first operating position and the finger engaging the extension when in the second operating position.

Abstract: An exterior siding mounting bracket assembly used in conjunction with siding placed over sheathing of an exterior wall has a base member having a mounting flange fastened to the sheathing and a water diversion fitting also fastened to the sheathing and flashed in-part beneath the lower end of the mounting flange. A wall arrangement projects laterally outward from the mounting flange and away from the sheathing. A trim member of the bracket assembly has a partition arrangement that preferably snap fits to the wall arrangement and a trim flange constructed and arranged to substantially cover the water diversion fitting and the cut edges of the siding that cover in-part the mounting flange. Preferably, the water diversion fitting has an elongated drip edge spaced outwardly from the siding to shed water collected from generally cascaded from the mounting flange and outward from the siding.

Abstract: A shutter assembly having at least one rigid edge and at least one hanger edge is described. The rigid edge provides stability to the shutter assembly and the hanger edge allows the shutter assembly to be mounted to a dwelling. The shutter assembly can be formed in an open mold from a cementitious slurry comprising gypsum cement and water. A reinforcing mat or fiber can be disposed in the mold and saturated with the cementitious slurry. A tool disposed adjacent the mold and including a plurality of rotatable sections can be used to form the rigid edge and the hanger edge.

Abstract: A shutter assembly mounts adjacent an opening of a building. The shutter assembly includes a right stile and a left stile disposed in a spaced and parallel opposing relationship with one another and each having a U-shaped cross section presenting a base and side walls. The side walls extend from the base to spaced distal edges to define a channel open at each end of the respective stiles. A top rail and a bottom rail extend in a spaced and parallel opposing relationship between the bases of the stiles. The top rail is disposed in one of the open ends of each of the stiles and the bottom rail is disposed in the other open ends of each of the stiles. Each of the rails define a glue manifold for distributing an adhesive onto the rails and into the channels for securing the rails to the stiles.

Abstract: A sheet metal bending brake having a frame with a sheet metal support surface. A clamping jaw is movable relative to the frame support surface to clamp the sheet metal between the clamping jaw and the frame. The clamping jaw has a linear front edge. An elongated bending arm is pivotally mounted to the frame by an elongated flexible strap having spaced apart edges. One edge of the strap is secured to the bending arm while the other edge of the strap is secured to the frame such that the bending arm extends parallel to and closely adjacent the clamping jaw front edge.

Abstract: An exterior siding mounting bracket is secured to a substructure and projects over siding that covers the substructure. The bracket comprises a base member attached to the substructure and has at least one elongated wall projecting laterally outward from the substructure. A trim member has an outer flange with the siding disposed between the substructure and the outer flange. First and second side partitions project laterally inward with respect to the substructure and from the outer flange for snap fitting to the at least one elongated wall. A water diversion device has a trough located above the first and second side partitions supported by the outer flange and projecting laterally toward the substructure for receiving and diverting water run-off away from the substructure. At least one drainage tube of the water diversion device projects unitarily downward from the trough.

Abstract: A modular louvered shutter includes first and second stiles and a center section assembled using a tongue and groove joint. The center section is a solid piece have a plurality of rails and louvers cut into the center section.

Abstract: An bi-directional mounting bracket assembly is utilized in conjunction with exterior siding that covers sheathing of an exterior wall. A base member of the assembly has a mounting flange secured to the sheathing and a wall arrangement that projects outward with respect to the sheathing and from the mounting flange. Preferably, the wall arrangement supports a raised central panel used for mounting of fixtures. The wall arrangement preferably has four walls extending laterally between the mounting flange and the central panel. Spaced radially outward from the two adjacent walls are respective first and second drip ledges, and spaced radially outward from the other two adjacent walls are respective first and second baffle sets. When the assembly is mounted to the sheathing, a selective one of the two drip ledges is disposed substantially horizontally and beneath the wall arrangement for shedding of water.

Abstract: An exterior sill assembly preferably for a window has a preferably extruded body, and attachable facial and preferably end caps for covering open ends of a cavity defined by the body. The body has a substantially vertical flange for mounting to a structure preferably below a window frame. A sill projects outward from the flange to a distal portion and preferably a support plate spaced below the sill and projecting outward from the flange to a distal segment. Attachment features are carried between the facial, the distal portion and the distal segment for releasable engagement of the facial to the body. Fasteners disposed in-part in the cavity extend through the flange for engagement into the structure. Preferably, the fasteners are used in conjunction with respective members for distributing stress loads across the flange.

Abstract: A housing assembly for mounting to a wall of a building is disclosed. The housing assembly includes a front plate attached to a back plate. The back plate defines an axis and has a flange extending radially away from the axis for coupling to the wall. An insert is disposed between the front plate and the back plate. The insert includes a central body having a fluid diverter extending outwardly from the central body for guiding a fluid away from the wall. The housing assembly further includes a locking device for selectively coupling and uncoupling the insert from one of the front plate and the back plate.

Abstract: A self-adjusting base member preferably of a mounting bracket assembly is utilized in conjunction with exterior siding that covers sheathing of an exterior wall. The base member of the assembly has a mounting flange secured to the sheathing and a wall arrangement that projects outward with respect to the sheathing and from the mounting flange. Preferably, the wall arrangement supports a raised central panel used for mounting of fixtures. Spaced radially outward from the wall arrangement is at least one flexible drip ledge of the base member. The drip ledge is generally self-adjusting with respect to the thickness of the adjacent siding.

Abstract: A housing assembly for mounting to a wall of a building is disclosed. The housing assembly includes a front plate attached to a back plate. The back plate defines an axis and has a flange extending radially away from the axis for coupling to the wall. An insert is disposed between the front plate and the back plate. The insert includes a central body having a fluid diverter extending outwardly from the central body for guiding a fluid away from the wall. The housing assembly further includes a locking device for selectively coupling and uncoupling the insert from one of the front plate and the back plate.

Abstract: A shutter assembly for protecting an opening in a structure. The shutter assembly includes a first shutter and a second shutter. Each of the shutters have an attachment end and a free end and defining a width between the corresponding attachment end and the corresponding free end and each present an outer surface. An impact-resistant sheet is disposed on each outer surface. A plurality of hinges are adapted to pivotally couple each shutter to the structure at the attachment end for allowing the shutter to pivot between an open position and a closed position. A crossbar is sized to span the first shutter and the second shutter and terminate at or before the attachment ends of the shutters. A plurality of studs are disposed in linear alignment across the shutters. The crossbar is adapted to engage the studs for securing the shutters in the closed position.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a portable saw table assembly for cutting a material longitudinally, laterally, and at various angles thereto. The assembly includes a first and a second table rail being parallel and spaced from each other and each extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A saw rail is moveably supported by the first and the second table rails for moving longitudinally along the table rails between the proximal and the distal ends and a mounting plate is moveably supported by the saw rails to allow movement of the mounting plate laterally along the saw rail between the first table rail and the second table rail. A saw plate is rotateably supported by the mounting plate for carrying a saw to cut the material. A guide bar is disposed diagonally relative to the first and the second table rails and engages the saw plate to guide the saw plate diagonally in response to simultaneous movement of the saw rail longitudinally and the mounting plate laterally.