A rain screen is essentially a wall detail. It allows for drainage and evaporation. The rain screen acts as an external form of protection, the first line of defense, if you will, against damage to the house from the rain.
It was back in 1960 that a few engineers in Norway did extensive research on the destruction of property due to the penetration of rain.
Thus the first rain screen came into existence which was back then called a rain barrier. It was official three years later when the Canadian National Research Council published “Rain Penetration and its Control”, a brochure which used the definition “open rain screen”.
What Is It?
The screen stands off from the air barrier. There is also always a moisture resistant surface. The siding itself is a part of the rain screen.
However it is not just one installation, it accounts for an entire system. It has a water resistant siding, a drainage system and an air barrier. If a masonry veneer is ventilated, it can be counted as a rain screen. Architectural facades can work wonders too – and can help the building look great. All you have to do is to ensure that you have the right design to help you.
Why Do You Need A Rainscreen?
This is an all-around defense system for the walls of your home. The wall without a rain screen is vulnerable to all the problems created by excessive water exposure. Water can find its way into the wall by a couple of means, like capillary action, momentum, wind or gravity.
The rain screen is unique in the way that it has a dual system of defense. The ventilation in the system offers a way for insulating the outer wall against direct damage. There will also be a drainage system that works as a path of least resistance for channeling away the collected water. You can even get the custom made terracotta rainscreen from Argeton Terracotta. This will be one of the best building protection option.
How Does The System Work?
The main thing it keeps in mind is that you need a system for making sure that the exposed surface that gets insulated by the air barrier remains dry. Having moisture content on it will lead to mold and fungi formation.
The membrane of insulation prevents most of the moisture from coming in contact with the main wall. This insulation can be made in many ways. One very efficient way is to get it done is using battens. These will be fastened vertically to the door. More insulation, which is waterproof, can be provided according to the regulations of the area the house is in.
The drainage plane is the second component of the rain screen. The unobstructed path is created by moving the water from a higher level to a lower level, so gravity does most of the work for us.