Put a Rainscreen Intake Vent Over Windows and Doors
Screen crimp, stapled around a rainscreen matrix, is easy to install and necessary to keep insects out.
Intake and exhaust vent spaces on walls sided over rainscreen spaces need to be covered with screen to keep insects out. This includes over window and door heads. Since the siding needs to be held up 1/4 in. to 3/8 in. over the cap flashing there’s a good chance bugs will get into the rainscreen space.
Here we’re using Benjamin Obdyke HomeSlicker mesh matrix to create the rainscreen behind cedar shingles. One way to install a strip of insect screen 3 in. to 4 in. wide is to tack staple a strip along the wall, then apply the HomeSlicker and fold the bottom half of the screen onto the face of the matrix. I think a simpler way is to fold the screen around the bottom of the HomeSlicker and crimp staple together.
Neatness doesn’t count. Just make sure there are no gaps.
www.mikeguertin.com @mikeguertin
For more articles on this topic, please click below:
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- HomeSlicker bonded with housewrap – SlickerHP
- Rainscreen Best Practices
- Vented Rainscreen atricle
- Rainscreen – GBA
- All About Rainscreens – GBA
View Comments
Though using the screen is a good idea, I sense the use of staples to quickly form the screen will rust, and drip rust color residue that will eventually show on your window trim. The make stainless steel staples - don't use a stapler from a desk like this guy.
Reply to user-5511429
You are right to be concerned about the staples corroding. Even though the vented rainscreen space should see no water regular steel staples could rust due to humidity The staples used here are galvanized. When I'm working close to salt water I would indeed use stainless steel staples.
As far as the stapler - the one used in the video is a plier-style Bostitch crimping stapler, not a desk stapler. Crimping staplers aren't commonly used in residential construction but are handy for installing screen over the HomeSlicker. It takes a similar staples used in hammer tackers and some cap staplers. Desk style staplers and staples would be inappropriate.