TYPES OF WALt SYSTEMS

Concealed Barrier Wall

Most water is shed from

Concealed Barrier walls consist of cladding

Small gaps behind cladding placed over the sheathing membrane. Most of
may allow for drainage the rain is shed from the face of the cladding
depending on depth with the remaining water that penetrates the
cladding draining out between the backside of
the cladding and the sheathing membrane. If
Sheathing membrane ., the gap behind the membrane is not large
enough to allow for drainage, water can be
Flashings at penetrations held by capillarity and can spread horizontally
carried from behind sheath
across the wall, leading to damage of the struc
ing membrane
ture

Cladding (Wood, vinyl or

aluminum siding or stucco)

Sheathing, framing
and insulation

Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS)

Rigid insulation Sheathing: plywood,

mounted on sheath OSBordrywall
ing

Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS)

consist of foam glued over wall sheathing with
Acrylic stucco a layer of acrylic stucco reinforced with fiber
topcoat
glass mesh over the foam. All joints and pene
trations are sealed to prevent water entry.

Base coat with rein

forcing mesh

© Quality Home Inspections Ltd. 2006

 TYPES OF WALL SYSTEMS (Cont.)

ftAlNSCREEN WALL SYSTEM

Most water shed at face of cladding

Cladding

Drainage plane minimum 12 mm (1/2") clear

Cross cavity flashing at all

penetrations and floor lines

Sheathing

Insulation and framing

Water penetration cladding is drained

and directed out

Rainscreen walls consist of a cladding, a clear air space behind the cladding a minimum
of T deep, and a sheathing membrane (building paper or house wrap).
The drained cavity in rainscreen walls provides many benefits:
• Holes in the inner and outer surface are generally offset so that direct rain entry by
momentum is eliminated.
• Water that passes through the cladding tends to run down the backside of the cladding
where it is drained to the outside by flashing and weep holes.
• The combination of a wall cavity and vent paths to the outside improves the drying
ability of the wall.
. The amount of water reaching the inner surface of the cavity and remaining in contact
with moisture sensitive materials is greatly reduced.

NOTES:

Quality Home Inspections Ltd.

m T: (604) 271-7177
m W: www.qhi.ca
m E: quality@qhi.ca
© Quality Home Inspections Ltd. 2006