Rain Screen Behind Hardiplan Lapp Siding

James hardie s installation instructions do not specify a rainscreen for hardieplank on any type of construction.

Rain screen behind hardiplan lapp siding.

An air gap between the siding and sheathing. Sidings like hardie board lp smartside and natural cedar benefit from a rainscreen air gap between the siding and the housewrap. We re using benjamin obdyke home slicker a plastic mesh matrix that spaces siding about 1 4 in. It is used for its new commercial lap siding panel.

In most jurisdictions including alberta a rainscreen system is not required for james hardie lap siding. To rainscreen or not to rainscreen if you are worried about the hardi product breaking which can happen you might see if you can find lp smartside siding in your area. Off the wall surface. The air space behind the shingles allow moisture that soaks in the front of the shingles to dry to the backside as well as the front.

Tips for durable fiber cement exteriors. Detailing a rain screen wall furring strips space the clapboards away from the wall creating a vent space that helps to dry the back of the siding. It kind of seems that they should spec furring strips for both. My question is why is james hardy requiring these furring strips with their new panel and not their normal lap siding.

A predictable rainscreen air gap behind fiber cement sidings like hardie plank and hardie shingle adds durability to the exterior. Layered tar paper and flashings behind the furring strips create what is called a drainage plane which alone would protect the house from water even ifthere were no siding. For single family construction james hardie recommends installing a 90 efficient drainage plane or a 3 8 inch air gap i e. The devil is in the details in this case the air intake and flow behind the skirt board.

It is a much tougher product and easy to install. Rainscreen between flat to wall siding and the water resistive barrier as a best practice. Rainscreen behind hardie panel b amp b hardy plank came out with a new furring strip.