Rainscreen Siding Guide

Walls that can drain and dry last a lot longer than walls that stay wet. An air gap between the siding and sheathing lets both dry independently.

Dan Morrison

Dec. 7, 2023

2 min read

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There are many ways to create a rainscreen gap between the back of the siding and the drainage plane of the wall (WRB, exterior insulation, surface of ZIP sheathing); here are at least a few options—on paper and in the real world, as well as some background rainscreen information.

ANIMATIONS: Rainscreen Walls on Paper

Animated details of different rainscreen systems for high performance walls

Rainscreen Walls Using Furring Strips

Walls that can drain and dry last much longer than those that stay wet. An air gap between the siding and sheathing lets both dry independently.

Rainscreen Walls: Drainage Mesh Behind Siding

An entangled mesh allows airflow in all directions with continuous drainage.

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Rainscreen Walls Using A Dimple Sheet Membrane

Walls that can drain and dry last a lot longer than walls that stay wet.

VIDEO: Rainscreen Walls in the Real World

Jobsite videos of actural carpenters installing various rainscreen products.

Exterior insulation and Rainscreen Retrofit on a 1950s Cape (ptc@home)

How to install two layers of foam and Tyvek's Drainvent rainscreen over an old, lightly-insulated wall.

SPONSOR CONTENT: Rainscreen Installation for a Stone Veneer Wall

Rainscreens protect buildings from moisture with proper ventilation

Building Resilience (13) A Wrap-Up of Construction

Reviewing the WRB, exterior insulation, rainscreen, cladding, and deck detailing

Awesome Wall: Because Sometimes We Screw Up

Belt, suspenders, rainscreen, and redundancy make this wall awesome.

Weatherization Nation 7: Rainscreen on a Roll

Mesh sheeting creates a drainage space between the siding and weather-resistive barrier (WRB), allowing walls to dry much faster and last much longer.