What does rain screened mean?

A rainscreen is an exterior wall detail where the siding (wall cladding) stands off from the moisture-resistant surface of an air/water barrier applied to the sheathing to create a capillary break and to allow drainage and evaporation.

Which type of wall is constructed based on the principle of rain screen?

The two types of wall systems utilizing the rainscreen principle are: drained/back-ventilated (DB/V); and. pressure-equalized (PE).

What is rainscreen made of?

The Rainscreen Drainage Gap Sure Cavity and Gravity Cavity are made of a rigid corrugated plastic with a mortar blocking fabric that covers the exterior wall surface and provides a predictable drainage gap and an unobstructed path for moisture to exit the wall system.

How do you create 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.

What does it mean to say that cladding is installed as a rain screen?

Rainscreen cladding is a kind of double-wall construction that utilizes a surface to help keep the rain out, as well as an inner layer to offer thermal insulation, prevent excessive air leakage and carry wind loading. The surface breathes just like a skin as the inner layer reduces energy losses.

How do I know if my building is rainscreen?

You can easily tell if a building has a rain screen by feeling under the exterior wall. If you feel a gap under it, likely its been updated with a rain screen. Another way to figure out of a building is rain screened, is observe the exterior wall.

What is rainscreen facade?

What is rainscreen siding?

Rain screen design using wood siding is a very simple concept: space the wood siding away from the exterior sheathing of the house. The siding creates the “rain screen” and protects your house from the pounding elements from the outside. Rain, snow, wind-driven rain, sleet and more are kept away from your house.

What does partial rainscreen mean?

Quite frequently, however, I have seen buildings where it was only partially rainscreened. This means only the most vulnerable wall has been repaired and the remaining walls may still be vulnerable to water ingress.

What is a rainscreen system?

Image courtesy of Bendheim Wall Systems Inc. Rainscreen systems provide a shield against rain, snow, and ice, preventing potentially harmful moisture from bleeding through the exterior walls of the building. Rainscreens are high-performance, multi-layer assemblies, typically featuring:

How to apply the rain screen principle to window/wall interface?

Now we can apply the rain screen principle to the window/wall interface by leaving a small empty drainage path totally free and open behind the moisture barrier.

Why is the outer cladding of a rainscreen system important?

In addition to moisture protection, the outer cladding layer can provide shading and UV protection. A well-ventilated air cavity between the outer cladding and the wall behind it is essential to the effectiveness of a rainscreen system. As air circulates through the cavity, it:

How deep does a rainscreen need to be?

A well-ventilated air cavity between the outer cladding and the wall behind it is essential to the effectiveness of a rainscreen system. As air circulates through the cavity, it: The cavity should be minimally 3/8″ (1 cm) deep / ideally 2″ (5 cm) deep to allow water to escape and air to circulate.