The present invention relates to a wall structure for insulating and enclosing a building frame. More specifically, the invention relates to a wall structure which retains electrical wiring and provides a base and reinforcement for an interior finishing layer of plaster.
Post-and-beam frame construction is a well known and popular form of home construction. Several styles of prefabricated or precut housing have been developed in recent years to take advantage of modern manufacturing techniques combining the appearance and cost advantage of post-and-beam construction.
Typically, in a post-and-beam structure a heavy wooden frame is constructed of vertical posts and horizontal beams which receive the roof and upper floor stresses and transmit them to the posts.
After the frame has been constructed, various known means may be used for enclosing and insulating the building. Insulation may be placed between the beams and siding nailed to the outside of the beams. A wire lathing as a base for plastering or wall board may be secured to the inside surface of the frame. However, this form of construction has two drawbacks. First, the insulation does not serve to keep the structural members themselves at a uniform temperature. Therefore, in cold weather, the interior side of the post is warmer than the outside and moisture migrates from the inside toward the colder outside where it condenses, flows downward and accumulates to cause rotting or to freeze and weaken the frame members. Secondly, this construction does not enable the builder to leave the beams exposed if he wishes to do so.
Accordingly, some home manufacturers attach the insulation outside of the main structural members. This construction exposes the structural members to view and insulates them from cold temperature. However, a problem inherent with this type of enclosure is that there is no convenient way to conceal wiring along the wall. Further, it does not provide a fully suitable arrangement for applying plaster to the inside of the wall.