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Community and Q&A

Wall venting

BruceAF | Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on

I posted this yesterday but I think it got caught up in the spam.

I am having a disagreement with my siding/trim subcontractor and my immediate superior about the need for a rain screen/venting space between PVC panels and the sheathing. I believe installing an impermeable sheet of plastic over an otherwise permeable wall is a bad idea leaving no way for the wall to dry to the exterior and potential of trapping water between the PVC and wall sheathing

The make up of the walls is as follows (inside to out)

Board and plaster
2×6 wall with OC spray foam
3/4” CDX sheating
Blueskin VP100
Paneled siding (as shown below)

We are located just outside of Boston, MA

Any input from the experts out there?

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Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #1

    Bruce,
    I agree with you. The Blueskin VP100 is vapor-permeable, which is good.

    You need some type of ventilated air gap between the PVC panels and the Blueskin VP100. Something like Benjamin Obdyne Home Slicker would work. The trick is finding a way to integrate vents at the bottom and top of the gap.

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