Abstract: An engineered composite building material, such as fiber cement, having one or more engineered sub-surface regions designed to provide the building material with improved moisture ingress resistance, paint adhesion, and other mechanical properties is provided. The sub-surface region has a cement-polymer matrix formed by introducing an impregnating agent into the pores of the substrate. The composite building material may be formed by applying impregnating agents to the subsurface regions of the substrate to form chemical and/or mechanical bonds with the matrix of the building material, the reinforcement fibers, and/or the surface coatings applied to the material. The thickness of the sub-surface regions may be controlled by varying the viscosity and porosity of the building material substrate. The cement-polymer building material has enhanced durability, weather resistance, strength, and stiffness.

Abstract: A building material having a durable exterior finish comprising a fiber cement substrate laminated with a fluorohydrocarbon protective film. The protective film provides the fiber cement substrate with resistance to weathering and maintains the surface texture of the underlying fiber cement substrate while providing an aesthetically pleasing and uniform pre-finish on the exterior surface. The protective film is bonded to the fiber cement substrate using an adhesive composition comprised of a one-component moisture cure polyurethane or polyurea adhesive composition having a reactive isocyanate compound or a two component polyurethane or polyurea composition.

Abstract: Protected prefinished fiber cement articles are manufactured by applying a protective layer on the finished surface of a fiber cement article. The protective layer protects the finish layer of the prefinished fiber cement article during handling, storage, and transport. Removing the protective layer leaves no residue on the finish layer, does not damage the finish layer, and does not substantially tear the protective layer. Protected prefinished fiber cement article are typically stacked on pallets for storage and transport. Optionally, spacers may be placed between the stacked protected prefinished fiber cement article.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are panelized wall systems and methods for their construction, wherein the wall systems have elastomeric joints that are resistant to cracking. The walls are constructed with an elastomeric joint tape. The joint tape is made from an elastomeric backing material with an adhesive applied to a face, and optionally, a release liner laminated to the adhesive. In use, building panels are fastened to a frame with the edges adjacent to each other. The joint tape is applied to the seam between the panels and the wall is then finished with an elastomeric finish.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are caulkless panelized wall systems and methods for their construction, wherein the wall systems have elastomeric joints that are resistant to cracking. Building panels are fastened to a frame with the edges adjacent to each other. No caulk is applied to the seam between the building panels. A backing material is applied over the seam between the panels and the wall is then finished with an elastomeric finish.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are panelized wall systems and methods for their construction, wherein the wall systems have elastomeric joints that are resistant to cracking. The walls are constructed with adhesive-edge building panels. The adhesive-edge building panels are preferably fiber cement. The front surface of each panel has an adhesive preapplied to an edge of the panel. Panels are fastened to a frame with the adhesive-edges adjacent to each other. A joint tape is applied to the seam between the panels such that the edges of the joint tape adhere to the adhesive-edges of the adjacent panels. The wall is then finished with an elastomeric finish.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are panelized wall systems and methods for their construction, wherein the wall systems have elastomeric joints that are resistant to cracking. The walls are constructed with trough-edge building panels. The trough-edge building panels are preferably fiber cement. The front surface of each panel has a trough adjacent to an edge of the panel. Panels are fastened to a frame with the trough-edges adjacent to each other. A joint tape is applied to the seam between the panels such that the edges of the joint tape fall within the troughs of the adjacent panels. The wall is then finished with an elastomeric finish.

Abstract: The building material, in one embodiment, has a jointing system that is uniquely configured to cover the frame of a structure. This building material, in one embodiment, is a building board with a conforming flange that is embossed onto the board and adapted to engage or mate with an end of an adjacent board. In another embodiment, the building material is an engineered panel joint comprised of a building board and a flexible or hinged article attached to the back surface of the building board. The article is preferably attached to the building board by an adhesive and extends beyond the edge and away from the building board for receiving a fastener to fix the building board to the structure. The fastener is preferably a nail. Components of the building material are preferably attached to the frame of the structure through the use of a single row of nails while maintaining or enhancing the shear strength performance of the building board system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are panelized wall systems and methods for their construction, wherein the wall systems have elastomeric joints that are resistant to cracking. The walls are constructed with an elastomeric joint tape. The joint tape is made from an elastomeric backing material with an adhesive applied to a face, and optionally, a release liner laminated to the adhesive. In use, building panels are fastened to a frame with the edges adjacent to each other. The joint tape is applied to the seam between the panels and the wall is then finished with an elastomeric finish.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an elastomeric joint tape used in the fabrication of panelized wall systems with elastomeric joints that are resistant to cracking. The joint tape is made from an elastomeric backing material with an adhesive applied to a face, and optionally, a release liner laminated to the adhesive. In use, building panels are fastened to a frame with the edges adjacent to each other. The joint tape is applied to the seam between the panels and the wall is then finished with an elastomeric finish. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the elastomeric joint tape.

Abstract: A pre-finished, moisture resistant and durable building material is provided. In one embodiment the building material includes a fiber cement substrate having a first side and a second side, at least one resin impregnated paper over at least one of the first and second sides, and a stress-relieving polymeric film between the fiber cement substrate and the at least one resin impregnated paper, the polymer film acting as a stress relaxer between the fiber cement substrate and the at least one resin impregnated paper. In another embodiment, a stress-relieving polymeric coating or film is provided between resin penetrated sheets and a substrate. In another embodiment, a process for bonding the resin penetrated sheets to the substrate is provided.

Abstract: A building material having a durable exterior finish comprising a fiber cement substrate laminated with a fluorohydrocarbon protective film. The protective film provides the fiber cement substrate with resistance to weathering and maintains the surface texture of the underlying fiber cement substrate while providing an aesthetically pleasing and uniform pre-finish on the exterior surface. The protective film is bonded to the fiber cement substrate using an adhesive composition comprised of a one-component moisture cure polyurethane or polyurea adhesive composition having a reactive isocyanate compound or a two component polyurethane or polyurea composition.

Abstract: Protected prefinished fiber cement products are manufactured by applying a protective layer on the finished surface of a fiber cement product. The protective layer protects the finish layer of the prefinished fiber cement product during handling, storage, and transport. Removing the protective layer leaves no adhesive residue on the finish layer, does not damage the finish layer, and does not substantially tear the protective layer. Protected prefinished fiber cement products are typically stacked on pallets for storage and transport. Optionally, spacers may be placed between the stacked protected prefinished fiber cement products.

Abstract: A building material having a durable exterior finish comprising a fiber cement substrate laminated with a fluorohydrocarbon protective film. The protective film provides the fiber cement substrate with resistance to weathering and maintains the surface texture of the underlying fiber cement substrate while providing an aesthetically pleasing and uniform pre-finish on the exterior surface. The protective film is bonded to the fiber cement substrate using an adhesive composition comprised of a one-component moisture cure polyurethane or polyurea adhesive composition having a reactive isocyanate compound or a two component polyurethane or polyurea composition.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a pre-finished, moisture resistant and durable building material that is able to diffuse stress caused by variations in temperature and climate. One preferred embodiment of the building material includes a fiber cement substrate, at least one resin impregnated paper, and a stress-relieving elastomeric film between the fiber cement substrate and the resin impregnated paper, wherein the elastomeric film acts as a stress relaxer between the fiber cement substrate and the one resin impregnated paper.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are panelized wall systems and methods for their construction, wherein the wall systems have elastomeric joints that are resistant to cracking. The walls are constructed with adhesive-edge building panels. The adhesive-edge building panels are preferably fiber cement. The front surface of each panel has an adhesive preapplied to an edge of the panel. Panels are fastened to a frame with the adhesive-edges adjacent to each other. A joint tape is applied to the seam between the panels such that the edges of the joint tape adhere to the adhesive-edges of the adjacent panels. The wall is then finished with an elastomeric finish.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are caulkless panelized wall systems and methods for their construction, wherein the wall systems have elastomeric joints that are resistant to cracking. Building panels are fastened to a frame with the edges adjacent to each other. No caulk is applied to the seam between the building panels. A backing material is applied over the seam between the panels and the wall is then finished with an elastomeric finish.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an adhesive-edge building panel used in the fabrication of panelized wall systems with elastomeric joints that are resistant to cracking. The panels are preferably fiber cement. An adhesive is preapplied adjacent to an edge of the panel and laminated to a release liner. Panels are fastened to a frame with the adhesive-edges adjacent to each other. A backing material is applied to the seam between the panels such that the edges of the joint tape adhere to the adhesive-edges of the adjacent panels. The wall is then finished with an elastomeric finish. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the adhesive-edge panels.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are panelized wall systems and methods for their construction, wherein the wall systems have elastomeric joints that are resistant to cracking. The walls are constructed with trough-edge building panels. The trough-edge building panels are preferably fiber cement. The front surface of each panel has a trough adjacent to an edge of the panel. Panels are fastened to a frame with the trough-edges adjacent to each other. A joint tape is applied to the seam between the panels such that the edges of the joint tape fall within the troughs of the adjacent panels. The wall is then finished with an elastomeric finish.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a reinforced fiber cement article comprising a fiber cement piece and a reinforcing fixture bonded to a portion of the fiber cement piece for improving the performance, strength and durability of the fiber cement piece. The reinforcing fiber cement article could be used as or in conjunction with a siding plank assembly, which further comprises an interlocking feature that allows the siding plank to be stacked with other siding planks in a manner such that a uniform and deep shadow line is created. The interlocking feature sets the gauge of the exposed plank face and allows for leveling of the plank during installation. The reinforcing fixture could also serve as a thick butt piece or a plastic spline that produces a deep shadow line. A cementitious adhesive is used to bond the reinforcing fixture to the fiber cement piece.