Water Finds a Way...
Ventilated Rain Screen at the Beacon Hill Passive House
Water is the kryptonite of durable construction.
You have to build proactively in order to create a durable home and that means a tried and tested method of dealing with bulk water. That means a ventilated rain screen.
What is a Ventilated Rain Screen?
High performance construction calls for ventilated rain screens, which is essentially just a cavity between the home’s Water Resistant Barrier (WRB) and the most exterior layer. The ventilated rain screen creates space for bulk water to run down and escape through the bottom of the cavity.
The design of a ventilated rain screen is actually quite simple.
At the Beacon Hill High Performance Home we wrapped the SIP wall assembly with Kimberly-Clark BLOCK-IT House Wrap to create the WRB. On top of that we used furring strips to create space between the WRB and the cladding. There’s an opening at the top and bottom of the cavity with a screen at the bottom with a that allows water to run through without bugs and critters getting inside the cavity. The space for water to run down between the WRB and siding ensures that moisture won’t build up and harm the wall assembly.
