Best Options of Rainscreen Systems That A Leading Irish Rainscreen Contractor Can Get You

 

There are so many different terms to define Rainscreen Systems, that buyers are so often confused. So if you are looking for a solution, the best place to start is to have a clear understanding of what a Rainscreen really is, and what are its capabilities. Then it would be easier to understand the technologies that make it more advanced.

The First Step Is To Understand What Is A Rainscreen

Rainscreens are protective siding or cladding systems, whose sole job is to keep away rainwater from entering the building and act as a barrier over the building facade or entire envelope. It is a structure, that is more like a raincoat for the building. Rainscreens form the outermost barrier in the exterior wall detailing of a building. So a typical wall construction would have the following order, from inwards out:

 

1. Main Structural Wall
2. Air Barrier
3. Exterior Insulation
4. Drainage Cavity for Ventilation
5. Rainscreen Cladding

 

Hailing from the U.S, this exterior cladding technology is rather new, which entered the Irish construction industries little over a decade ago. A dynamic rainscreencontractor Irish landscape would essentially make available a broad range of materials and construction technologies, that may include terracotta facade and brickslip rainscreen systems, metallic materials, such as steel, zinc and copper that has to be corrosion resistant; wood, fibreglass and glass-fibre reinforced concrete (GFRC) are also used.

 

Modern Rainscreen Systems Offered by an Irish Rainscreen Company    

There are basically 3 systems of rainscreens that are available in the Irish market - Ventilated/Vented Facade Cladding Systems, Drained and Ventilated Cladding and Pressure Equalised Rainscreens. Here is a detailed overview of the technologies.

 

Ventilated/Vented Facade Cladding

It utilizes a warm cavity, and no ventilation, with a sole bottom opening which inhibits enough ventilation while moisture is not able to enter the barrier. Therefore, the cavity helps maintain the Dew Point. But this system is most convenient for buildings less than 5-storeys high. This is not the safest option for tall buildings and skyscrapers.

 

 Drained & Ventilated Cladding

In contrast to the Vented Cladding, the Drained & Ventilated systems come with inbuild drainage that allows the penetrating rainwater to drain out. The construction has cavities both at the top and bottom of the screen, promoting the range of convection ventilation. This type of a structure requires a well-detailed facade, ensuring that the circulating water on the drainage level, cannot pass through the gap between the facade and the structure wall. Sometimes an overhang is installed separately to add extra protection to the cavities against elements.

 

Pressure Equalized Rainscreens

This system is a multi-layered defence mechanism. It would have big size ventilation cavities that would be adequate as an air passage, and no matter the air pressure, it can get equalized on either side of the cladding. This is a highly expensive method. A window company would need to provide intense designing and engineering services to pull it off, wherein the objective is to adequately balance the airflow, in normal weather and during a windstorm. Since Ireland is a wind-prone area, this type of cladding would be much functional for tall buildings.

 

Conclusion

Whether you understand the technologies, or you don’t, it is not the best step to make a decision solely based on budget. Yes, rainscreens are highly sensible constructional features as a weather barrier, especially in a location like Ireland, that has a dedicated Storm Season to worry about. So it is always good to talk to a Rainscreen Contractor, for better understanding of the best options, that are available in the market, and the one solution that can be best for your