Big Green: SIPS and Rain Screen vs. Barrier wall

[Waldron, Adam]

 I finished building  a SIP home last year and installed fiber cement
siding. I considered using furring strips to attach the siding both for
a drainage layer, but mostly to ensure the siding would be adequately
secured to the walls and guarantee the warrantee.   However the siding
manufacturer had another certified spec sheet for fastening to SIP walls
(basically reduce the fastener spacing). So I did not install the
furring strips. 

 

What I did do was install a radiant barrier house wrap ( Water Vapor
Permeability: 70G/m2/24hrs
(ASTM E-96 Method A)  with generous overlaps, and put flashing under
each siding joint.  We usually have quite severe thunderstorms, but have
not really had much moisture at all this summer.  With SIPS I have heard
of problems where the skin delaminates from the core due to moisture
issues.  Out of curiosity, I left some SIP blocks out in the weather
(wet fall, winter and a wet spring) since construction, and thus far,
none of them have delaminated.  I did notice the lamination joint is
beginning to weaken, but the blocks have been completely saturated on
many occasions.

 

Adam

 

From: biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org
[mailto:biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org] On Behalf Of Charles Brown
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 8:33 AM
To: BigGreen List
Subject: Big Green: SIPS and Rain Screen vs. Barrier wall

 

A "value engineering" suggestion to use the structural face (LP Smart
Side) of a SIPS panel as the exterior face of wall.  Battens would be
installed over the SIPS joints.

I'm a little uncomfortable with the idea of eliminating a rain screen
veneer furred out over felt paper over the face of SIPS, whether the
veneer is metal panel, fiber cement, brick, or other.  Any SIPS guru's
out there experienced with this type detail.  Note this is for a NC
project where its not unusual for thunderstorms to blow big drops of
rain almost horizontal.

Thanks, CB

Charles Brown, AIA LEED AP
Brown Architecture Inc.
324 So. Wilmington Street - Box 117
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
charles at brownarchitecture.net
919.803.3700


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