Rainscreen experiences: the good, the bad and the ugly

[Bill Robinson]

Gudday!

I am looking for examples and experiences you have had with rainscreen projects and times when you think rainscreen should have been used.
I will use this info to supplement sessions I will be doing on rainscreens at the Minneapolis and Seattle JLCLive shows.

What worked, what materials you used, what you learned--anything to help bring more clarity to the issue of best-practice (and not) rainscreen application.

Thanks,

Bill R

[Dancing Dan]

And the crowd goes wild! I don't have any pix, but we've used Home Slicker Plus several times with seemingly good results. Kind of a pain around windows and doors but otherwise I like its ease of install.

[Bill Robinson]

Thanks Dan.

The topic seems to have created quite a stir;>}

Did you use the HS with some backing like Typar or Fortifiber or did you apply it separately from the weather-resistive barrier?

Thanks again
Bill R

[Dancing Dan]

The "Plus" means it comes attached to typar. Makes install a lot faster.

[Bill Robinson]

Oh, thanks.

Do you use any additional technique to align the trim?
I have used it in limited applications and it does go on faster than the "bald" stuff.
Have you considered using the furring strips?

Thanks again,
Bill R

[charles]

Bill, I hope you will warn all the first timers who use furring strips to screen the bottom siding course to exclude insects.

[always-learning]

Bill,

Since you & Gary did the article in March 06 JLC I've been curious to know what your material preference for the furring strips. The article says that you used pt furring blocks & strips. Is that your suggestion for what to always use or are there circumstances to utilize other materials.

Sorry if this doesn't answer your original thread request, but I've been intrigued by the process since I read the March issue.

Thanks.

P.S. Ordered the E-myth book, thanks for the tip.

[Dancing Dan]

Oh, thanks.

Do you use any additional technique to align the trim?

Have you considered using the furring strips?

We try to pre-assemble the trim, so we don't have to worry about the edges tipping, if that's what you mean. And although we haven't used it yet, our regional distributor, Brockway-Smith, is making these cool PVC trim kits for Andersen vinyl-clads - they're one-piece, screw on thru clips on the outside edge. Look pretty slick and I think they'd work well with the HomeSlicker.

And I've never done furring strips. Seems to me it's cheaper to use the Home Slicker than to rip, lay out, and install the furring. Plus I always worried about sponginess btw. strips.

PS - I hate the e-myth stuff.

[Bill Robinson]

Bill,

Since you & Gary did the article in March 06 JLC I've been curious to know what your material preference for the furring strips. The article says that you used pt furring blocks & strips. Is that your suggestion for what to always use or are there circumstances to utilize other materials.

We use PT to show the best that was available.
However, I asked the APA their opinion and they felt any CDX type ply would be fine.
I would stay away from OSB though.
The PT is nearly 2x the price of standard CDX and not as available.

CDX is fine in most cases. If you want more you can put something on the cut edges.
Bill R

[Bill Robinson]

We try to pre-assemble the trim, so we don't have to worry about the edges tipping, if that's what you mean. And although we haven't used it yet, our regional distributor, Brockway-Smith, is making these cool PVC trim kits for Andersen vinyl-clads - they're one-piece, screw on thru clips on the outside edge. Look pretty slick and I think they'd work well with the HomeSlicker.

And I've never done furring strips. Seems to me it's cheaper to use the Home Slicker than to rip, lay out, and install the furring. Plus I always worried about sponginess btw. strips.

PS - I hate the e-myth stuff.

I think trim pre-assembly with pocket screws is the state of the art right now no matter what method is used.
I would like to see what trim they are offering Brockaway seems to be a good source for innovative building materials in the NE.


IMO, the choice between the variegated wraps, slicker and furring strips is driven by environmental factors. In extreme rain conditions I believe the furring strips work best and in less rainy locations the others are fine.

Thanks for keeping this alive Dan and always.

Gratefully,
Bill R
You "hate it" huh?

Humm, veeery interesting;>}
Bill R

[ToddInVancouver]

Hi Bill,

I've got a question about the pvc watertable you used in the rainscreen article (bit of a thread hijack, sorry). Any concerns about expansion in the length-wise direction? This board can be pretty long.

Thanks,
Todd

[Bill Robinson]

Welcome Todd,
No worries on the HJ as long as it promotes a rainscreen discussion.

If you are concerned about expansion then allow for it by either creating expansion joints or using another material.
We used Cellular PVC beacuse it was close to the ground.

In applications where this is not an issue you could use a more stable material.
But, look at the expansion of PVC, not thah much if you can create joints that allow for it.

And, now that I have given you some of my time would you please give some of yours and fill in your profile?

Thanks,
Bill R

[David Meiland]

Bills slaps the cuffs on the new guy. BLAM.

Hey, Bill, I did not know JLC LIve was coming to Seattle. That's my cue, I'll be there and sit up front for your presentation. What are the dates?

I'm siding my shop right now and thought about using Homeslicker on it. It's vertical siding and I see no way to do furring strips with that. Dan, I'm interested in how you deal with Homeslicker around windows and doors. Around windows, with flanges, Vycor, and felt to deal with, we're already making rabbets in the back of the trim to make it sit flat (trim goes on first). Add anything else and it's hard to see the trim looking flat. What's yer secret?

[ToddInVancouver]

Thanks Bill,

I like the idea of PVC (and the fully furred rain screen), especially around Vancouver, where it starts to rain in October, and doesn't stop until May. Not much time to dry out. Any suggestions for expansion joints? Spaced butt joint, with caulking?

Can you explain or rebutt Raymond Bishops letter regarding your article in this months JLC? He believes that capillary action is a problem at the bottom of the system (presumably above the watertable?) I'm not sure why this would be more of a problem that the upper parts of the system, especially with a sufficiently wide watertable.

Thanks,
Todd

[Dancing Dan]

Dan, I'm interested in how you deal with Homeslicker around windows and doors.

We've done it a couple of ways - sometimes we leave it off around the doors & windows, but as I said we try pre-assembly and careful fastening. Here's the link to the PVC trim product I mentioned above.