03/01/2018
Benefits of a Vented Rain Screen
Equalized pressure means less air infiltration into the building. An intentional gap between the exterior sheathing and cladding hosts a mid-layer of air around the building. By allowing the building’s outermost air pressure to equalize with the exterior atmosphere, this transitional layer eliminates the large pressure difference between a building’s interior and exterior, which is otherwise common. Since external air can no longer enter the building when it hits the cladding, the walls are as air tight – and as energy efficient – as possible.
Any water that makes it past the cladding will drain and dry quickly. No cladding assembly is entirely impervious to the elements, but with the vented rain screen, any water that may enter will swiftly drain down the Water Resistive Barrier and out the bottom. Any remaining dampness will dry quickly thanks to the air gap behind the cladding. These superior drainage and drying essentials keep moisture from infiltrating the wall’s assembly and prolong the life of the building, no matter the type of cladding used.
An extra layer of air keeps the building cooler. In most exterior walls the sun hits the cladding, which is in direct contact with the sheathing. The result: the sun’s heat travels an easy path directly from the cladding into the walls, heating the building. With Rain Screen Technology, the transitional mid-layer of air impedes the transference of heat; keeping the wall’s sheathing, and therefore the building, much cooler.
