Buildings need to dry- not breathe!

Posted by: Matt Hoots // SawHorse Design + Build

Hopefully, by now, most people understand that "Build tight/ ventilate right" is how most green building programs require you to build.  Less understood is the necessity for buildings to "dry out."

In most climate zones, you DON'T want to wrap your building facade in plastic or some material with zero perms.  The reason is that moisture is constantly traveling through the exterior wall assembly, albeit slowly, and any barriers that would stop this movement would result in a building failure.

Recent code changes are now requiring vented rain screens in certain residential and commercial construction where stucco or masonry is involved.  The screens applied between the structure and the cladding allow any moisture to evaporate since air can move, which causes any moisture to evaporate or drain out.

At the International Builder's Show this year, I ran into my friends from Dorken.  I've used their products for decades in crawlspaces and along foundation walls. 

 

In this video, they share their version of a rain screen that works well with stucco since it has an integrated screen and drainage assembly.