Rainscreens as a solution for better moisture management and energy efficiency.
A rainscreen is an exterior cladding infrastructure that sits away from a building’s outside wall’s weather-resistant barrier, creating an air cavity directly behind the cladding that helps to protect the buildings important weather-resistant barrier. This allows any moisture that may pass by the cladding to easily drain away from the building, and the air that flows between the cladding and the wall accelerates evaporation of any residual moisture. Rainscreens also provide a solution for improving buildings energy efficiency by facilitating exterior insulation.
- Water that manages to penetrate the exterior surface is drained away from the wall by flashings and vents.
- The moisture is directed back into the ground or into storm sewers.
- Any water that does remain evaporates before it can penetrate the inner wall.
http://www.garbuttdumas.ca/what-is-rainscreen/
