Pre-molded corner flashing for use with sealing members

Abstract

A flashing system including a pre-molded corner flashing member made from polymer material in a single continuous seamless piece. The flashing member has interior flashing portions that meet at an interior corner to conform with a corner of the rough opening, and a membrane flashing portion intersecting each of the interior flashing portions along separate exterior corners, the interior and exterior corners intersecting at a common point. The interior corner of the opening may be sealed by placing the molded corner flashing member in the corner and then running a strip of preferably pre-creased sealing tape or other sealing member along the periphery of the wall opening and overlapping a portion of the sealing member on both the interior flashing portion and the membrane flashing portion.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/578,247 entitled MOLDED CORNER WINDOW FLASHING FOR USE WITH SEALING TAPE, filed Jun. 9, 2004, and hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exterior-type flashing for static structures, such as buildings and home. More particularly, the present invention relates to an interior corner flashing system for window and door openings in walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The problems with water leaking into building structures are well known. Various types of flashing and sealing arrangements have been developed for different parts of a building structure to address these problems.

Flashing for use in roofing is the most common example. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,018,333 and 5,913,779 describe folded flashing members for exterior corners of skylights installed in a roof. U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,530 describes a one-piece roof flashing for exterior corners, such as around chimneys, where the angles of three surfaces are sloped at an angle other than 90 degrees in order to match the slope of the roof.

Another example is the use of flashings around corners of masonry walls. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,700,512 and 6,122,874 describe flashings that are folded or pleated for use with exterior masonry corners. U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,986 describes a two-piece flashing member for use on an interior corner for masonry wall openings.

With the continued improvements in watertight construction of windows and doors and with the widespread use of house wrap materials like Tyvek®, it is now common for some kind of sealing treatment to be applied to the wall openings for windows and doors. Most of these treatments focus on sealing along the length of the top, bottom and sides of the wall opening. While caulking is sometimes used, a more common approach is to use a strip of pre-creased sealing tape that is secured to the edge of the opening and to the adjacent wall. A similar approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,130 and U.S. Pat. Publication No. 2003/0056444A1 that describe an L-shaped window flashing strip with inner lip that fits into rough opening and outer flap that is adhered to wall surrounding rough opening. Another example of this approach is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,001 that describes a strip of window flashing comprised of three panels connected along a common edge and radiating outward.

The problem with these strip-based approaches is how to best handle the interior corners in the wall opening. Conventionally, an overlapping technique is used that overlaps the piece of tape or strip running along the bottom edge with the piece of tape or strip running along the side edge. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,130, sealing of the corners of the rough wall opening with the L-shaped strip is addressed by overlapping the outer flaps of adjacent flashing strips. The disadvantage with this approach is that a seam is created at the corner where these two strips meet that can be prone to leaking.

To address this problem, a flexible sealing tape can be used, with a continuous run of tape wrapped around the interior bottom corners of a window opening. While generally effective, the flexible sealing tape is significantly more expensive than conventional pre-creased straight sealing tape. The flexible nature of the sealing tape also makes the tape more difficult to work with and therefore more likely to have problems caused by improper installation.

Other solutions for sealing the interior corners of window and wall openings have been proposed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,026 describes a fiberglass mesh window flashing sealed by elastomeric liquid flashing material that is applied to the fiberglass mesh once the mesh is installed in a window opening. U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,402 describes a pre-folded clay coated polyethylene sheet for flashing interior window corners.

While there are existing solutions for sealing interior corners of window and wall openings, it would be desirable to provide a better solution for sealing and flashing the interior corners of window and wall openings that could improve on the existing solutions for flashing window and wall openings in terms of price, performance and ease of installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An interior corner flashing system for window and door openings in walls utilizes a combination of conventional sealing tape or members with a pre-formed corner flashing member made from polymer material in a single continuous seamless piece to provide for an effective and economical solution for sealing an interior corner of a wall opening. The pre-molded corner flashing member has interior flashing portions that meet at an interior corner to conform with a corner of the rough opening, and a membrane flashing portion intersecting each of the interior flashing portions along separate exterior corners, the interior and exterior corners intersecting at a common point. Preferably, the two interior flashing portions of the pre-molded corner flashing member are equilateral and have a width appropriate for a width of the wall so that the corner flashing member can be used on either a left or right interior corner of the rough opening. The interior corner of the opening may be sealed by placing the molded corner flashing member in the corner and then running a strip of pre-creased sealing tape or other sealing member along the periphery of the wall opening and overlapping a portion of the sealing member on both the interior flashing portion and the membrane flashing portion.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a flashing system for an opening in an exterior wall of a structure includes a pre-formed corner flashing member made from polymer material in a single continuous seamless piece. The flashing member includes a pair of generally planar interior flashing portions each presenting a front and an opposing back side, and a generally planar membrane flashing portion presenting a front and an opposing back side. The pair of interior flashing portions intersects along a first corner presenting a first corner axis, the membrane flashing portion intersects one of the pair of interior flashing portions along a second corner presenting a second corner axis, and the membrane flashing portion intersects the other of the pair of interior flashing portions along a third corner presenting a third corner axis, so that the first, second, and third corner axes intersect at a common point. When the corner flashing member is positioned in the interior window or door opening corner with the back side of the membrane flashing portion confronting the exterior surface of the wall exterior membrane and the first corner axis extending along the interior opening corner, the back sides of each of the interior flashing portions confront a separate one of the pair of inwardly facing surfaces defining the opening and the second and third corner axes extending along the periphery of the opening. The system further includes at least a pair of adhesive sealing members for flashing the periphery of the opening on either side of the corner flashing member. Each sealing member sealingly engages with the membrane flashing portion and one of the interior flashing portions of the corner flashing member.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of installing a window in an opening defined in an exterior wall of a structure includes providing a pair of corner flashing members formed from polymer material. Each corner flashing member includes a pair of generally planar interior flashing portions each presenting a front and an opposing back side, and a generally planar membrane flashing portion presenting a front and an opposing back side. The pair of interior flashing portions intersects along a first corner presenting a first corner axis, the membrane flashing portion intersects one of the pair of interior flashing portions along a second corner presenting a second corner axis, and the membrane flashing portion intersects the other of the pair of interior flashing portions along a third corner presenting a third corner axis so that the first, second, and third corner axes intersect at a common point. The interior flashing portions and the membrane flashing portion are integrally formed together in a single, seamless continuous piece. The corner flashing members are positioned in a separate interior corners of the rough opening with the back side of the membrane flashing portion confronting the exterior surface of the wall exterior membrane, the first corner axis extending along the interior opening corner, the back sides of each of the interior flashing portions confronting a separate one of the inwardly facing surfaces defining the opening and the second and third corner axes extending along the periphery of the opening. The periphery of the opening between the corner flashing members is flashed with a first length of sealing tape with a portion of the sealing tape overlapping the membrane flashing portion and one of the interior flashing portions of each corner flashing member. The window is then secured in the opening after the flashing is completed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective cut-away view of a frame wall section including a window rough opening according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a pre-molded corner flashing member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the corner flashing member of FIG. 2 depicting the back side of the interior flashing portion;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the corner flashing member of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective cut-away view of a frame wall section including a window rough opening with corner flashing members according to an embodiment of the present invention FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective cut-away view of the frame wall section depicted in FIG. 5 with sealing tape positioned between the corner flashing members to seal the bottom of the rough opening according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective cut-away view of the frame wall section depicted in FIG. 6 with sealing tape sealing the vertical periphery of the rough opening and with corner flashing members positioned in the upper corners of the opening; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective cut-away view of the frame wall section depicted in FIG. 7 with a window secured in the opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a section of typical frame building construction having a window rough opening defined therein is depicted with portions cut away to show the various components. Wall 10 generally includes frame 12, interior membrane 14, exterior membrane 16, and exterior wall covering 18. Frame 12 generally includes one or more horizontal plates 20 positioned along the top and bottom of wall 10 with a plurality of vertical stud members 22 extending therebetween. Window rough opening 24 is framed at the bottom with a generally horizontal sill 26 and at the top with a generally horizontal header 28. Sill 26 and header 28 along with studs 22 on either side of opening 24 present generally inwardly facing surfaces 29, which intersect at interior corners 29a and define periphery 29b of opening 24. Plates 20 and studs 22 are typically wood, but may also be metal sections, particularly where wall 10 is not load-bearing. Interior membrane 14 is typically one or more layers of gypsum wallboard or plaster, but may also be any other suitable material such as wood paneling.

Exterior membrane 16 is a generally continuous layer of material within wall 10 that may function to retard the flow of air through interstitial openings in wall 10, and that may also function as a water resistant barrier to intrusion of bulk water or moisture into wall 10 from the exterior. Membrane 16 presents an exterior surface 30, and generally includes one or more layers of sheathing 32 and a layer of wrap material 34. Sheathing 32 is typically oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood in light construction, but may also be gypsum sheathing, extruded polystyrene foam, asphalt impregnated fiber board, cement board, or any other suitable sheathing material. Wrap material 34 is typically thin spun bonded polyolefin sheeting such as Tyvek®, but may also be any other thin material suitable for use in wall construction, such as asphalt impregnated felt or other building paper material. At wall openings, such as window rough opening 24, wrap material 34 may be either wrapped inwardly into the opening and terminated on the inwardly facing surface 29 of opening 24 as depicted in FIG. 1 along side edge 36 or may be terminated at the opening edge with wrapping inwardly, as depicted in FIG. 1 along bottom edge 38. Exterior wall covering 18 is generally applied as a finish layer to wall 10, and may include wood, plastic, or metal siding, stucco, masonry products such as brick, or any other material suitable for the exterior of a structure.

Referring to FIG. 2, a pre-molded corner flashing member 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention is depicted. Corner flashing member 40 generally includes a pair of interior flashing portions 42, 44, and a membrane flashing portion 46. Interior flashing portions 42, 44, intersect along an interior corner 48, which presents a first corner axis denoted A-A in the drawing. Membrane flashing portion 46 intersects each of interior flashing portions 42, 44, along exterior corners 50, 52, presenting second and third corner axes, denoted B-B and C-C in the drawing, respectively. Corner axes A-A, B-B, and C-C, intersect at a single point 54 coplanar with membrane flashing portion 46.

Interior flashing portions 42, 44, may be positioned at substantially a right angle relative to each other to conform with the right angle corners of a typical window or door rough opening. Similarly, membrane flashing portion 46 may be positioned at substantially a right angle to each of interior flashing portions 42, 44, to conform with the right angle edges along the periphery of a typical window or door rough opening. It will be appreciated, however, that interior flashing portions 42, 44, and membrane flashing portion 46, may be positioned at any desired angle relative to each other to conform with window or door opening corners that do not form right angles.

In an embodiment of the invention, interior flashing portions 42, 44, are generally rectangular or square with dimensions preferably in a range of about two (2) to eight (8) centimeters, and more preferably about five (5) centimeters. In turn, membrane flashing portion 46 may be generally equilateral L-shaped with dimensions preferably in a range of about four (4) to sixteen (16) centimeters, and more preferably about ten (10) centimeters. Corners 56 of interior flashing portions 42, 44, and corners 58 of membrane flashing portion 46 may be radiused as depicted in FIG. 2, with a preferable radius dimension of about one (1) centimeter, to inhibit penetration of the sealing tape by sharp corners of corner flashing member 40. These radiused corners may also enable more of the sealing tape to adhere to exterior surface 30 of membrane 16 or inwardly facing surfaces 29 of rough opening 24. Interior corner 48 may also be radiused, with a preferable radius dimension of about four (4) millimeters.

In an embodiment, corner flashing member 40 is made from UV stabilized polymer material and is molded or vacuum formed into the desired shape in a single, seamless, continuous piece. The thickness of interior flashing portions 42, 44, and membrane flashing portion 46 is in a range of from about 0.01 millimeters to about 0.25 millimeters.

In an embodiment, texturing or surface patterns are provided on all or portions of front side 60 of interior flashing portions 42, 44, and front side 62 of membrane flashing portion 46 to enhance adhesion with sealing tape. Further, a tacky substance such as glue or other adhesive may be applied to back sides 64 of interior flashing portions 42, 44, and back side 66 of membrane flashing portion 46 to temporarily hold the corner flashing member in position in the corner of a rough opening without the need for penetrating fasteners, which may lead to leaking at the point of penetration.

As depicted in FIGS. 5-8, corner flashing member 40 may be used in connection with conventional sealing tape during the installation of exterior windows 68 or doors (not shown) in rough opening 24 of wall 10 to inhibit intrusion of water and moisture to wall 10 from the exterior. Corner flashing member 40 provides for a seamless corner 70 that joins inwardly facing surfaces 29 of rough opening 24 to exterior surface 30 of membrane 16.

In an embodiment, corner flashing member 40 is positioned in both bottom left corner 72 and bottom right corner 74 of rough opening 24 with back side 66 of membrane flashing portion 46 confronting exterior surface 30 of membrane 16, first corner axis A-A extending along interior opening corner 29a, back sides 64 of interior flashing portions 42, 44, confronting a separate inwardly facing surfaces 29 and second and third corner axes B-B, C-C, extending along periphery 29b of rough opening 24 as depicted in FIG. 5. Bottom corners, 72, 74, of rough opening 24 are generally where water and moisture most often penetrate into wall 10. Corner flashing members 40 may also be similarly positioned in upper corners 76 of rough opening 24 as depicted in FIG. 7 if desired. As depicted in FIG. 6, a first length 76 of sealing tape may then be positioned as a sealing member 78 extending between corner flashing members 40 along periphery 29b of rough opening 24 at bottom edge 38, overlapping onto interior flashing portion 44 and membrane flashing portion 46 of each corner flashing member 40. Sealing member 78 adheres and seals to both corner flashing members 40, exterior surface 30 of membrane 16 and inwardly facing surface 29 to form a “pan flashing” at the bottom of rough opening 24, effecting a “pan” or “dam” effect to divert water to the exterior wall surface and away from the interior wall cavities. Thus, when used in connection with sealing member 78, corner flashing members 40 may provides a system that forming a continuous water and moisture retarding barrier along the sides of a rough window or door opening.

If desired, additional sealing members 80, 82, may be positioned along periphery 29b on the opposing sides of corner flashing members 40 so as to extend in the direction opposite sealing member 78. Sealing members 80, 82, may be positioned so as to overlap interior flashing portion 42 and membrane flashing portion 46 of corner flashing members 40 as depicted in FIG. 7. With corner flashing members 40 and sealing members 78, 80, 82, in place, window 68 may be secured in rough opening 24 to complete the installation as depicted in FIG. 8.

Sealing members 78, 80, 82, may be formed from any sealing tape or sealing material suitable for the purpose. Preferably, the sealing tape is a conventional pre-creased, but otherwise generally non-flexible tape such as Tyvek® StraightFlash™ made by E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company of Wilmington, Deleware. Alternatively, while a more expensive option, flexible tape such as FlexWrap™ by E.I. DuPont could be used. It will also be understood that any kind of flat flashing tape could be used and a crease could be effected in the flat tape as part of the step of applying the sealing members.

The thin wall structure of corner flashing member 40 may insure that corner flashing member 40 does not interfere with the installation of a window or door in rough opening 24, or otherwise require a change in the window or door manufacturer's specifications for rough opening 24 or specified installation procedure for the door or window. In addition, corner flashing member 40 does not require the use of nails, screws or other fasteners that would penetrate corner flashing member 40 and create a potential avenue for water to enter the interior or cavity of the wall.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment, it will be understood that variation and changes can be made to the preferred embodiment and that the scope of the invention is set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A flashing system for an opening in an exterior wall of a structure, the exterior wall including a generally planar membrane presenting an exterior surface, a periphery of the opening defined by at least a pair of generally inwardly facing surfaces intersecting each other at an angle so as to define at least one interior opening corner, the system comprising:

a pre-formed corner flashing member made from polymer material in a single continuous seamless piece and including a pair of generally planar interior flashing portions each presenting a front and an opposing back side, and a generally planar membrane flashing portion presenting a front and an opposing back side, the pair of interior flashing portions intersecting along a first corner presenting a first corner axis, the membrane flashing portion intersecting one of the pair of interior flashing portions along a second corner presenting a second corner axis, and the membrane flashing portion intersecting the other of the pair of interior flashing portions along a third corner presenting a third corner axis, wherein the first, second, and third corner axes intersect at a common point, and wherein when the corner flashing member is positioned in the interior opening corner with the back side of the membrane flashing portion confronting the exterior surface of the membrane and the first corner axis extending along the interior opening corner, the back sides of each of the interior flashing portions confront a separate one of the pair of inwardly facing surfaces defining the opening and the second and third corner axes extending along the periphery of the opening; and

at least a pair of adhesive sealing members for flashing the periphery of the opening on either side of the corner flashing member, each sealing member sealingly engagable with the membrane flashing portion and one of the interior flashing portions of the corner flashing member.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the opening has a pair of interior corners, and wherein the system comprises a pair of corner flashing members, each corner flashing member for flashing a separate one of the pair of interior corners.

3. The system of claim 3, wherein the pair of adhesive sealing members includes a first elongate sealing member for flashing the periphery of the opening between the pair of interior corners, the first sealing member having a pair of opposing ends, each end having a portion sealingly engagable with the membrane flashing portion and one of the interior flashing portions of a separate one of the pair of corner flashing members.

4. The system of claim 4, including second and third elongate sealing members for flashing the periphery of the opening extending away from each corner flashing member in a direction opposite the first sealing member.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the back side of at least one of the interior flashing portions or the membrane flashing portion is substantially covered with an adhesive material.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second and third corners of the corner flashing member are radiused.

7. The system of claim 7, wherein a radius of the second and third corners is about one centimeter.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the interior flashing portions intersect at substantially a right angle, and wherein the membrane flashing portion intersects each of the interior flashing portions at substantially a right angle.

9. The system of claim 9, wherein the interior flashing portions are substantially rectangular in shape, and wherein the membrane portion is substantially L-shaped.

10. The system of claim 10, wherein the interior flashing portions are substantially equilateral.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the polymer material is UV resistant.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least a pair of elongate sealing members are pre-creased.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the front side of the interior flashing portions or the membrane flashing portion is textured.

14. A method of installing a window in an opening defined in an exterior wall of a structure, the exterior wall including a membrane presenting an exterior surface, the opening having a polygonal periphery defined by a plurality of generally inwardly facing surfaces and including at least a pair of interior opening corners, the method comprising steps of:

providing a pair of corner flashing members formed from polymer material, each corner flashing member including a pair of generally planar interior flashing portions each presenting a front and an opposing back side, and a generally planar membrane flashing portion presenting a front and an opposing back side, the pair of interior flashing portions intersecting along a first corner presenting a first corner axis, the membrane flashing portion intersecting one of the pair of interior flashing portions along a second corner presenting a second corner axis, and the membrane flashing portion intersecting the other of the pair of interior flashing portions along a third corner presenting a third corner axis, wherein the first, second, and third corner axes intersect at a common point and wherein the interior flashing portions and the membrane flashing portion are integrally formed together in a single, seamless continuous piece;

positioning each of the corner flashing members in a separate one of the interior opening corners with the back side of the membrane flashing portion confronting the exterior surface of the membrane, the first corner axis extending along the interior opening corner, the back sides of each of the interior flashing portions confronting a separate one of the inwardly facing surfaces defining the opening and the second and third corner axes extending along the periphery of the opening;

flashing the periphery of the opening between the corner flashing members with a first length of sealing tape, a portion of the sealing tape overlapping the membrane flashing portion and one of the interior flashing portions of each corner flashing member; and

securing the window in the opening after the flashing is completed.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of flashing the periphery of the opening by extending away from each corner flashing member in a direction opposite the first length of sealing tape with second and third lengths of sealing tape.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of providing the corner flashing members from polymer material is performed by vacuum forming the corner flashing members.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of providing the corner flashing members from polymer material is performed by injection molding the corner flashing members.

18. A water intrusion resistant window system for an exterior wall of a structure, the exterior wall including a generally planar membrane presenting an exterior surface with an opening defined therein, the periphery of the opening defined by defined by a plurality of generally inwardly facing surfaces and including at least a pair of interior opening corners, the system comprising:

a window dimensioned so as to be receivable in the opening;

a pair of pre-formed corner flashing members each made from polymer material in a single continuous seamless piece adapted to flash each of the pair of interior opening corners, each corner flashing member comprising a pair of generally planar interior flashing portions each presenting a front and an opposing back side, and a generally planar membrane flashing portion presenting a front and an opposing back side, the pair of interior flashing portions intersecting along a first corner presenting a first corner axis, the membrane flashing portion intersecting one of the pair of interior flashing portions along a second corner presenting a second corner axis, and the membrane flashing portion intersecting the other of the pair of interior flashing portions along a third corner presenting a third corner axis, wherein the first, second, and third corner axes intersect at a common point, and wherein when the corner flashing member is positioned in the interior opening corner with the back side of the membrane flashing portion confronting the exterior surface of the membrane and the first corner axis extending along the interior opening corner, the back sides of each of the interior flashing portions confront a separate one of the pair of inwardly facing surfaces defining the opening and the second and third corner axes extend along the periphery of the opening; and

a first elongate sealing member adapted to flash the periphery of the opening between the pair of interior corners, the first sealing member having a pair of opposing ends, each end having a portion sealingly engagable with the membrane flashing portion and one of the interior flashing portions of a separate one of the pair of corner flashing members.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising second and third elongate sealing members adapted to flash the periphery of the opening extending away from each corner flashing member in a direction opposite the first sealing member, the second and third sealing members each having a pair of opposing ends.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each of the elongate sealing members are pre-creased along a longitudinal axis defined between the pair of opposed ends.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the second and third corners of each corner flashing member are radiused.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the radius of the second and third corners is about one centimeter.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the interior flashing portions of each corner flashing member intersect at substantially a right angle, and wherein the membrane flashing portion intersects each of the interior flashing portions at substantially a right angle.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the interior flashing portions are substantially rectangular in shape, and wherein the membrane portion is substantially L-shaped.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the interior flashing portions are substantially equilateral.

26. A pre-molded corner flashing member for a flashing an interior corner of a rough opening in an exterior wall of a structure, the exterior wall including a generally planar membrane presenting an exterior surface, the periphery of the opening defined by at least a pair of inwardly facing surfaces intersecting each other at an angle so as to define the interior opening corner, the flashing member made from polymer material in a single continuous seamless piece and including a pair of generally planar interior flashing portions each presenting a front and an opposing back side, and a generally planar membrane flashing portion presenting a front and an opposing back side, the pair of interior flashing portions intersecting along a first corner presenting a first corner axis, the membrane flashing portion intersecting one of the pair of interior flashing portions along a second corner presenting a second corner axis, and the membrane flashing portion intersecting the other of the pair of interior flashing portions along a third corner presenting a third corner axis, wherein the first, second, and third corner axes intersect at a common point, and wherein when the corner flashing member is positioned in the interior opening corner with the back side of the membrane flashing portion confronting the exterior surface of the membrane and the first corner axis extending along the interior opening corner, the back sides of each of the interior flashing portions confront a separate one of the pair of inwardly facing surfaces defining the opening and the second and third corner axes extend along the periphery of the opening.

27. The pre-molded corner flashing member of claim 26, wherein the interior flashing portion and the membrane flashing portions have a thickness dimension in a range of from about 0.01 millimeters to about 0.25 millimeters.

28. The pre-molded corner flashing member of claim 26, wherein each of the interior flashing portions presents a radiused corner.

29. The pre-molded corner flashing member of claim 28, wherein a radius dimension of the radiused corner is about one centimeter.

30. The pre-molded corner flashing member of claim 26, wherein the first corner of the flashing member is radiused.

31. The pre-molded corner flashing member of claim 30, wherein a radius dimension of the first corner is about four millimeters.

32. The pre-molded corner flashing member of claim 26, wherein the interior flashing portions are generally square.

33. The pre-molded corner flashing member of claim 32, wherein the interior flashing portions have a width dimension in a range of about two to eight centimeters.

34. The pre-molded corner flashing member of claim 26, wherein the membrane flashing portion is substantially equilateral L-shaped.

35. The pre-molded corner flashing member of claim 34, wherein the membrane flashing portion has a width dimension in a range of about four to sixteen centimeters.

36. The pre-molded corner flashing member of claim 26, wherein the flashing member is made from UV stabilized polymer material.