The
Crane "Smartcore" moisture control system is of special
interest to those in wet climates such as we in the Northwest
face
Moisture in the walls can lead to rot and to the growth of molds.
Moisture can pass through walls from internal sources such as
showers, kichens (steam, etc.) as well as from ordinary perspiration
from people and other sources. Moisture can get into walls from
what is called a dew point. When one surface is warm and one
is cold, condensation is likely to occur. This occurs frequently
with conductive materials. Take a look at a cold can of soda
and you will see the condensation on the outside from "Dewpoint".
Cement based sidings such as Hardiplank are susceptable to this
problem because of their lack of insulating ability.
Builder
codes vary and you should know what they are in your area. Multifamily
apartments and condos presently have codes that require the
siding be away from the walls. With cement boards a plastic
strip can be installed or something similar to meet code. Allowing
air flow to prevent moisture isn't required for single family
homes now so products like Hardiplank generally are installed
directly to builders wrap.
In the Northwest, it certainly is nice to see a siding product
like Craneboard address the potential moisture issue for all
people including the single family homeowners straight from
the factory.
Because of the smart design of the angled drain planes on the
Craneboard foam, the water cannot easily avoid the drainage
"straws" on the woven Raindrop underlayment.This housewrap
has a new moisture management technology that exceeds simply
serving as a water barrier and actually works actively to get
the water out of the wall cavity. Vertical bands every few centimeters
along the face of the housewrap create drainage channels that
act like straws. These drainage channels will not crush even
when a hard-backed siding is fastened to the wall over the housewrap.
When moisture penetrates the exterior finish or condenses on
the backside of the exterior material, the moisture drains easily.
Once the water has drained away and the source of water has
ended, the "straws" air dry.
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