Climate-Shield® Rain Screen Siding System™ F.A.Q.
How is a rain screen siding system better than conventional siding installations?
With today's extremely weather-tight buildings and homes, moisture, mold and mildew get trapped between the siding and the vapor barrier creating an unhealthy environment which promotes rot and decay. This moisture buildup often extends inside the home or building creating further health hazards. A rain screen system allows moisture to dissipate naturally, minimizing potential mold, mildew, rot and helps eliminate an unhealthy environment.
Can this rainscreen system also be used with softwood sidings?
The Climate-Shield Rainscreen Siding System is specifically designed and engineered to work with any hardwood or softwood siding specie that is appropriate for an exterior application. The project designer is truly free to work with reclaimed wood siding, fire treated wood siding, thermally modified wood siding, high density hardwood siding, FSC® Certified wood siding, or conventionally harvested wood siding for this rainscreen wood siding system.
Is rain the only thing the Climate-Shield System “screens”?
Climate-Shield Rainscreen Wood Siding System goes beyond providing a typical “rainscreen siding” installation. The unique design of the Climate-Shield Rain Screen Clip provides a consistent passive insulation buffer to minimize heat gain to the building envelope structure in warm weather (or heat loss from the building envelope in colder weather). Also, there are no exposed screws to allow thermal transfer or water penetration to the structure. The system is not just a rainscreen to be penetrated, but also a shield for protection against a variety of climatic conditions.
How do I keep insects from getting behind the rain screen siding?
We recommend that you install a permeable insect barrier at the bottom course of rain screen siding. If you are using the Cor-A-Vent SV-5 siding vent as a barrier, it is recommended that you install this vent at the bottom course of wood rainscreen siding and install it behind the top course of rain screen siding (at the soffit or rake trim) as well, to maximize air flow for the rain screen siding system. The Cor-A-Vent can also be used above door openings and above and below window openings to provide additional ventilation for the rain screen siding system.
Why is a rain screen siding system considered a Green Building practice?
Rainscreen siding systems are considered a sustainable design best practice because they extend the life cycle of the entire building and building envelope. At the same time, a properly designed rainscreen siding system promotes health, safety and welfare considerations as defined by the AIA (American Institute of Architects). The Climate-Shield Rainscreen Wood Siding System offers additional sustainable design benefits over typical rainscreen siding systems that use furring strips in their design including the elimination of a food source for mold and mildew growth and providing additional ventilation for the rapid dissipation of moisture.
How is the Climate-Shield Rainscreen Wood Siding System any better than a typical rainscreen siding installation?
The Climate-Shield Rainscreen Wood Siding System has a number of unique benefits. The removal of the furring strip from the design immediately leads to the following advantages: reduced material costs, shortened construction cycle time, lower labor/installation costs and the removal of a food source for mildew and mold (furring strips) improves air movement behind the rain screen leading to rapid elimination of moisture.
The unique design of the Climate-Shield Rainscreen Clip offers other key benefits including: consistent spacing of the rainscreen buffer area, a longer life cycle of the entire rainscreen system because there is no galvanic reaction between the clip and screws, the clip's two screws provide more stability for the rain screen system.
How does the cost of Climate-Shield Rainscreen compare to other current wood siding methods?
Climate-Shield is considerably less costly than other rainscreen methods that use furring strips. Further, the initial cost of Climate-Shield Rainscreen Siding System is comparable to non-rain screen siding installations. When you look at the entire life cycle cost of this long lasting rain screen system, Climate-Shield Rainscreen Siding System is the clear cut winner.
HELPFUL RAIN SCREEN SIDING LINKS
Climate-Shield Rainscreen System
Understanding Wood Rainscreens
