Useful tips

What is the rainscreen principle?

What is the rainscreen principle?

Water droplets are not driven through the panel joints or openings because the rainscreen principle means that wind pressure acting on the outer face of the panel is equalized in the cavity. During extreme weather, a minimal amount of water may penetrate the outer cladding.

How does a rainscreen work?

A rainscreen uses an exterior surface–a rainscreen cladding layer–to break the force of sideways, wind-driven water movement, so that any water that gets through the small breaches in the surface has lost its momentum. Behind the cladding is a weather-resistant barrier layer, working to repel any stray drops.

What is rainscreen furring?

Rainscreen cladding is a system that has become one of the most efficient solution for construction envelope purposes. The rainscreen cladding system consists of a load bearing wall, a layer of insulation and a covering material fixed to the building with the help of a supporting structure.

What is rainscreen cladding used for?

The rainscreen cladding makes cooling the building easier during summer and provides a better control of the heating during winter, favouring both thermal comfort and energy saving. Thanks to the rainscreen cladding system, energy bills can be reduced between 30 and 40%.

What are the benefits of a rainscreen?

Benefits of Using a Rain Screen System

  • Weather-resistant barrier support mechanism keeps moisture away from the wall assembly.
  • Water vapor behind cladding and insulation can escape by means of evaporation, avoiding mold.
  • Helps reduce hot and cold air and thermal movement through the wall, reducing energy costs.

Do concrete buildings need rainscreen?

Concrete can also be a good rainscreen material however I have seen issues where the rebar inside the concrete has been exposed due to weathering and it starts to rust affecting the integrity of the building. This can cause problems down the road so be on the lookout for exposed rebar.

Do I need a rainscreen?

If your walls are made of structural insulated panel (SIPs), or if your OSB wall sheathing has closed-cell spray foam on the interior, experts say it’s essential to include a rainscreen because the insulation won’t allow the OSB on these walls to dry to the interior.

How do you make a rainscreen?

To build a rainscreen wall, simply add space between your siding and your weather-proof barrier covered sheathing. The secret to a rainscreen wall system is the airspace separation between siding and sheathing. Traditional wall construction consists of an exterior siding (primary barrier) installed over sheathing.

How much does rain screen cost?

Initial costs (includes basic components, labor and pre-finished hardwood siding) range from $20 / square foot for Garapa siding, $23 for Machiche siding and about $25 per square foot for pre-finished Ipe rain screen system.

What is the purpose of the rain screen principle?

The rain screen principle may be defined as a theory governing the design of a building enclosure in such a way as to prevent water penetration due to rain; in other words, a scientific approach to eliminating water leakage.

Which is the best description of a rainscreen wall?

In general terms a rainscreen wall may be called a cavity or drained wall. The two other basic types of exterior walls in terms of water resistance are barrier walls which rely on the one exterior surface to prevent ingress and mass walls which allow but absorb some leakage.

How does a rainscreen system protect against water intrusion?

The rainscreen system provides for two lines of defense against the water intrusion into the walls: The rainscreen and a means to dissipate leakage often referred to as a channel. In a rainscreen the air gap allows the circulation of air on the moisture barrier.

How does the drainage plane of a rainscreen work?

A rainscreen drainage plane that works as a predictable pressure equalization plane creates a separation (an air chamber) between the backside of a rainscreen and the exterior surface of the weather-resistant barrier that is installed on the exterior sheeting of the structural back up wall.