Rainscreen Siding Problems

A rainscreen is a system of materials used to create a gap between the siding and the water resistive barrier wrb.

Rainscreen siding problems.

Rainscreen exterior wall construction. Once it makes it s way past the water barriers it can be absorbed into the wooden framing of your home. Rainscreens increase the durability of the siding cladding and the exterior walls behind them. What every homeowner needs to know while homes are made to get wet occasionally excessive amounts of water such as during rainy seasons can cause problems if it seeps past the home s siding and vapor wrap.

Drip edge flashing installed over rainscreen mat to allow an un interrupted drain plane behind the siding. Although mentioned in a previous write up the hydrogap product has small bumps on it that actually compress under lap siding if nailed too tightly thus defeating their purpose. Block the bottom of the foam with lumber and cover the rain screen gap with perforated metal flashing. Wood is clearly the best choice for rainscreen siding.

They also come with a higher carbon footprint than those from renewable resources. Trim always costs money. For a clean finish the bottom of the foam will need trim anyways a piece of custom bent up perforated j trim is not that much. Trapped moisture from driving rain or condensation can cause major problems.

Air enters behind water table and exits through gap above top trim piece. Other builders use natural materials but omit a rainscreen which can lead to premature failure. Venting behind your siding is just as necessary and valuable as venting your attic. It should be pretty obvious that using composites or pvc could create numerous problems in rainscreen siding applications.

It comes in at under a buck a linear foot. Some attribute energy savings to rainscreens but if your wall is so thermally weak that it benefits from a rainscreen there should probably be a re evaluation of the air sealing and insulation strategies. I re read the article and did notice that it called out the compression concerns. Air flows behind siding in continuous airspace of rainscreen drain plane.