When designing a rain screen system, it pays to take a close look at the fastening system.
Rainscreen systems have many sustainable design features and benefits. One of these features is to provide an egress for moisture that is trapped within the structure a means to escape. Using furring strips in a rain screen system often impedes the ability for the moisture to escape. Trapped moisture creates an environment for mold, mildew, rot and decay to flourish.
With some rainscreen systems a furring strip is required to create a 3/4" air space behind the rainscreen.
While this rain screen design allows some moisture to pass through the building envelope and escape outside, some moisture may remain trapped inside the structure, or outside the building envelope but trapped behind the furring strip. A metal furring strip in a hat-channel type of design is somewhat effective to achieve the proper spacing for the rain screen wall cavity.
Another option is using a hardwood furring strip, because they have less of a tendency to rot than softwoods. In an open joint rainscreen design, it is wise to protect the face of the furring strip with EPDM tape to protect it from weathering from the otide.
If you plan to use furring strips in your rain screen design, the question is, "Do you really have to?".
If you positively must use furring strips to achieve your particular rainscreen design goal, you probably want to consider improving the functionality and mitigating your liability by choosing aluminum furring strips; they are not hygroscopic and cover less surface area of the building envelope than a solid wood furring strip. Better yet, why not use a rainscreen system that eliminates furring strips completely? Until recently, no such rainscreen system using solid wood siding offered this option.
The Climate-Shield Rainscreen Wood Siding System has created a design that requires no furring strips at all.
The Climate-Shield CS2 Rainscreen Clip is designed to eliminate the need for wood or other furring strips. the sturdy, yet compact design of the rain screen clip, covers only 3% of the surface area of the building envelope and is not a hygroscopic material. The simple yet elegant design of the Climate-Shield rain screen clip solves a multitude of other design and construction concerns and problems that have plagued architects and builders for years:
Key Benefits of a Climate-Shield Rainscreen Wood Siding System design using no furring strips for architects, builders, and owners:
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Eliminates furring strip costs and labor from design and construction
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Eliminates the ability for moisture to become trapped behind wood furring strips
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Minimizes thermal bridging and other contact with the building envelope.
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Minimizes mold and mildew liability
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Creates a rain screen, yet allows trapped moisture to escape easily
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Can easily adapt your design to install your rain screen horizontally, vertically or diagonally
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Creates a beautiful long lasting design
For additional information about rain screen systems, rain screen design and rainscreen wood siding options, please follow any of the links below:
Understanding Wood Rain Screen Systems
Climate-Shield Rain Screen Wood Siding System
Architectural Details for Wood Rain Screen Systems
Architectural Wood Rainscreen Cladding Options
Rain Screen Products and Information Directory
For a FREE rainscreen quote or FREE rainscreen wood siding samples, please follow either of the links below:
REQUEST A FREE RAIN SCREEN SIDING QUOTE
REQUEST FREE RAIN SCREEN SIDING SAMPLES
For an authoritative whitepaper, packed with useful information about rain screen wood siding systems, please download the FREE, "Ultimate Guide to Building Green With Rain Screen Wood Siding". Click on the button below to download this helpful Rain Screen Guide:
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