The efficiency of radiant space heating or cooling is improved and the use of renewable energy sources enabled by reducing the resistance of the thermal path through cladding used in the floor, walls or ceiling of a domestic or commercial living space. The resistance of the thermal path is reduced by constructing the cladding with an array of thermal bridges each comprising a thermal shunt connected to a heat-collecting layer and to a heat-dispersing layer. Such bridged cladding extends the range of choice of interior cladding and of configuration of radiant system.

A flashing for concrete board siding includes a substantially rigid panel, a guide protrusion, an interior protrusion and at least one strip of adhesive double-sided tape. The guide protrusion and interior protrusion are integrally formed with the panel at opposing ends. The at least one strip of adhesive double-sided tape is on an exterior face of the panel. In an embodiment, a channel separates two or more strips. Some embodiments include at least one groove disposed between two or more strips. Further, a method of installing concrete board siding to a structure includes fastening a first piece of cement board siding to the structure, providing an embodiment of the flashing disclosed herein, positioning the interior protrusion on the top edge, adhering a second piece of cement board siding to the least one strip of adhesive double-sided tape and fastening the second piece of cement board siding to the structure.

An integrated fiber cement and foam cladding system is provided that incorporates foam or similar light weight material to improve the insulation capacity of the cladding system. The system includes at least a fiber cement layer and a foam layer disposed on the backside of the fiber cement layer. The system improves the R-value of the building, a measure of the building's resistance to transferring heat or thermal energy.

A flashing for concrete board siding includes a substantially rigid panel, a guide protrusion, an interior protrusion and at least one strip of adhesive double-sided tape. The guide protrusion and interior protrusion are integrally formed with the panel at opposing ends. The at least one strip of adhesive double-sided tape is on an exterior face of the panel. In an embodiment, a channel separates two or more strips. Some embodiments include at least one groove disposed between two or more strips. Further, a method of installing concrete board siding to a structure includes fastening a first piece of cement board siding to the structure, providing an embodiment of the flashing disclosed herein, positioning the interior protrusion on the top edge, adhering a second piece of cement board siding to the least one strip of adhesive double-sided tape and fastening the second piece of cement board siding to the structure.

A flashing for concrete board siding includes a substantially rigid panel, a guide protrusion, an interior protrusion and at least one strip of adhesive double-sided tape. The guide protrusion and interior protrusion are integrally formed with the panel at opposing ends. The at least one strip of adhesive double-sided tape is on an exterior face of the panel. In an embodiment, a channel separates two or more strips. Some embodiments include at least one groove disposed between two or more strips. Further, a method of installing concrete board siding to a structure includes fastening a first piece of cement board siding to the structure, providing an embodiment of the flashing disclosed herein, positioning the interior protrusion on the top edge, adhering a second piece of cement board siding to the least one strip of adhesive double-sided tape and fastening the second piece of cement board siding to the structure.

An integrated fiber cement and foam cladding system is provided that incorporates foam or similar light weight material to improve the insulation capacity of the cladding system. The system includes at least a fiber cement layer and a foam layer disposed on the backside of the fiber cement layer. The system improves the R-value of the building, a measure of the building's resistance to transferring heat or thermal energy.

A cladding element, for use in a building envelope, comprising a first face, a second face and a plurality of edges. One or more of the plurality of edges includes a mating feature configured to resist moisture passage between cladding elements when the cladding elements are installed on a wall or other structure. The cladding element can include one or more joint features to improve mating between the cladding elements, reduce labor costs, and facilitate moisture drainage from the cladding elements.

A cladding element, for use in a building envelope, comprising a first face, a second face and a plurality of edges. One or more of the plurality of edges includes a mating feature configured to resist moisture passage between cladding elements when the cladding elements are installed on a wall or other structure. The cladding element can include one or more joint features to improve mating between the cladding elements, reduce labor costs, and facilitate moisture drainage from the cladding elements.

An integrated fiber cement and foam cladding system is provided that incorporates foam or similar light weight material to improve the insulation capacity of the cladding system. The system includes at least a fiber cement layer and a foam layer disposed on the backside of the fiber cement layer. The system improves the R-value of the building, a measure of the building's resistance to transferring heat or thermal energy.

A prefabricated concrete element (10) having a textile reinforcement (17) comprising fastening elements (12, 13, 14, 15), which are connected directly to the reinforcement (17). The fastening elements (12 to 15) can have a bent form and pass through a flat side of the prefabricated concrete element (10). The fastening elements can also have a straight or elongated form and emerge on narrow sides of a plate-shaped prefabricated concrete element (I 0). Because of the direct connection between the fastening element (12 to 15) and the reinforcement (17), the prefabricated concrete element can have an especially extensive and thin form and thus can be used as a faade panel.