Siding and Rainscreen

Siding installation is well under way. We are fortunate here in the West Kootenays to have access to some excellent cedar bevelled siding. I got this siding from Perry Ridge Panelling, which is about 15 minutes away from the site. I love being able to use local materials.

I always use a rainscreen system for my exterior siding. The strapping you see on the photos acts as a ventilation space between the siding and the wall sheathing. The reason for this system has been obvious in the coastal climates of British Columbia. However, it just makes sense to use it everywhere. A rainscreen system allows for drainage of unwanted moisture, it allows for continuous drying of both the siding and the wall, and it creates a long lasting finish on the siding because the wood stays dry.