Designing a High-Performance Rainscreen Cladding System

Last updated on April 6th, 2023 | By Peter Barrett | No comments

Dörken is always working to provide innovative products. A great example of this is DELTA®-DRY, a heavy-duty polyethylene rainscreen that provides superior ventilation and drainage for homes built with absorbent cladding.

But we saw an opportunity to further improve productivity and build quality. So, we set out to design a new rainscreen engineered for high-performance rainscreen cladding systems.

The results?

Watch the video below as Krzysztof Apriasz, Dörken’s Technical Service Manager, takes you through the evolution of the DELTA®-DRY rainscreen, and how its proven technology has been adapted to create an innovative 2-in-1 rainscreen and lath solution for absorptive cladding – DELTA®-DRY STUCCO & STONE and DELTA®-DRY & LATH.

A closer look at rainscreen details

Stucco and stone are two cladding materials that are known to soak up water. DELTA®-DRY STUCCO & STONE works to ensure proper drainage and moisture evaporation from behind these two cladding materials.

This rainscreen product features air gaps on both the interior and exterior side of the membrane, which allows water vapor to escape, resulting in higher ventilation, minimized condensation and excellent drainage.

See the details for our residential rainscreen system at the base of a wall foundation, at a window sill, and at the top of a wall:

Find more rainscreen resources through the DELTA® Academy

Installing a rainscreen and lath separately requires additional fasteners and increases labor costs. Metal mesh poses a safety hazard to the workers during installation due to sharp metal. Installing absorptive cladding over wood-based sheathing can lead to moisture damage to the wall assembly.

DELTA®-DRY & LATH combines our rainscreen design with a fiberglass lath, offering installers moisture control with more convenience, plus added safety on the job site.

This two-in-one solution allows installers the ability to save time and is a safer option than separately installing a standard metal lath. Its High-Density Polyethylene and Air-Gap Technology work to control water and vapor from both the interior and exterior sides of the membrane.

Here’s how the rainscreen system details look at the base of a wall at the foundation, at the window sill, and at the top of the wall:

If you’re looking for a better rainscreen design that provides superior ventilation and drainage, and is easy to install, Dörken’s collection of DELTA®-DRY rainscreen products is designed for your needs.

About Krzysztof Apriasz

Krzysztof is Dörken’s Technical Service Manager, responsible for ensuring proper installation and use of all DELTA® products. He also works to maintain and uphold all building code approvals as well as provide product solutions for the whole building envelope, helping to build and maintain healthy structures and homes that are free from mold, moisture, and rot. Krzysztof is also a Certified Passive House Consultant, providing extensive expertise to customers in building for energy efficiency.