Air Gap Siding

Click here to see an animation of the rain screen principle and other links to more details of this critical air space that helps walls to stay dry throughout canada.

Air gap siding.

That air space is a key element of building what we call a rain screen wall. A 3 8 inch air gap i e. Mti s sure cavity and corrugated lath strip create a capillary break that prevents entrapped water and promotes airflow to dry out the siding and substrate. Rising along the underside of the angled purlin until it reaches a gap then rising up to the next purlin and so on to exit at the ridge or gable.

Back vent fiber cement siding to prevent swelling reduce maintenance and extend its life. An air gap between the siding and sheathing. The r 0 87 value for the first value in this air r value table subsection. Common siding installation mistakes to avoid.

An air gap prevents hydrostatic pressure in the wall assembly lets gravity drain liquid moisture and water vapor to exit at ventilated terminations. An air gap between the siding and. With the air gap we get drainage and the control of hydrostatic pressure. Most siding in canada is installed with an air space between the siding and the wall itself.

Ventilation air follows exactly the opposite path. Lightweight 50ft rolls of corrugated lath strip create a rainscreen air gap in both horizontal and vertical siding applications. Providing an air gap between the stucco cladding and the exterior face of the foam sheathing prevents the debacle we got with face sealed exterior insulated finish systems a k a. Individual buildings all exterior cladding products including hard siding.

Rainscreen between flat to wall siding and the water resistive barrier as a best practice. The air space between siding and sheathing should also allow humid air to escape. In order for both of these actions to take place when siding is installed correctly there needs to be a continuous space behind siding where water can drain and air can flow. Purlins at a 45 degree angle still provide sufficient support for installation of the metal roof panels.

A predictable rainscreen air gap behind fiber cement sidings like james hardie plank and hardie shingle adds durability to the exterior. Air gap or air film 3 4 air space insulating properties.