Exterior wall construction product

A header track comprising:

• a web;
• two flanges extending from opposite sides of the web, the web and two flanges forming a periphery of the header track such that the header track forms an overall generally C-shaped structure having empty space defined between the two flanges, the generally C-shaped structure being sized and shaped to receive studs for exterior walls;
• wherein at least one of the flanges comprises:
• a plurality of elongate, linear slots extending perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the header track and spaced along a length of the at least one flange for allowing a fastener to pass therethrough and for permitting orthogonal movement of the studs relative to the header track;
• a solid wall portion extending downwardly from an edge of the web and longitudinally along the at least one flange for attachment of a sheathing element, the solid wall portion located toward the web relative to the plurality of slots;
• a plurality of tabs positioned along and attached to the at least one flange directly beneath the sheathing attachment area, the tabs extending outwardly from the at least one flange substantially perpendicular to an outer surface of the at least one flange a distance sufficient to locate a lowermost edge of the sheathing element relative to the header track, the tabs being spacially offset from a plane containing the web;
• and
• an elongate groove extending longitudinally along the at least one flange above the slots and below the plurality of tabs.

An elongate header track comprising:

• a web;
• two flanges extending from opposite sides of the web, the web and two flanges forming a periphery of the header track such that the header track forms an overall generally C-shaped structure having empty space defined between the two flanges, the generally C-shaped structure being sized and shaped to receive studs for exterior walls;
• wherein at least one of the flanges comprises:
• a plurality of elongate, linear slots extending perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the header track and spaced along a length of the at least one flange for allowing a fastener to pass therethrough and for permitting orthogonal movement of the studs relative to the header track;
• a solid wall portion extending downwardly from an edge of the web and longitudinally along the at least one flange for attachment of a sheathing element, the solid wall portion located toward the web relative to the plurality of slots;
• and
• an elongate groove and at least one tab positioned between the solid wall portion and plurality of linear slots, the elongate groove and the at least one tab extending away from the empty space defined by the two flanges, whereby the groove is located below the at least one tab;
• wherein the web comprises a plurality of second slots positioned along the length of the web, the second slots configured to permit attachment of the track to a floor located above the header track and configured to provide for limited drift movement of the header track relative to the floor;
• and
• wherein the header track further comprises a connection element configured to be attached to the web adjacent the second slots, the connection element comprising at least one opening for insertion of a fastener through the connection element and a corresponding one of the plurality of second slots.