Replies

1. 
   Hokuto | Oct 13, 2011 06:46am | #1

   I assume you mean products like Home Slicker. I've never seen any laboratory-controlled studies of their effectiveness, but I can't see how they could possibly be as good as furring strips of comparable thickness, particularly for purposes of the air circulation necessary for drying and pressure equalization. The small air gaps at the bottom and top of a typical rain-screen wall, particularly when combined with the usual bug screen there, provide barely sufficient opening for air entry and exit; when you think of how much effective air blocking is represented by a full-wall product like Home Slicker, the only function I see it providing is space for drainage of liquid water (I'm willing to be proved wrong!)

   On the other hand, something like home slicker *might* be more economical since you can eliminate the labor-intensive business of cutting and installing furring.

    --just one amateur's opinion.

2. 
   erdna77 | Jan 22, 2012 09:17pm | #2

   The best rainscreen I've seen on the market is a new product called "ventgrid".  It comes in 4'X8' sheets, and is made from recycled polyethelyne.  Unlike homeslicker or similar that crushes when the siding or shingles are being nailed on, ventgrid keeps everything straight and true on solid 1/4" stand-off studs.  Since it isn't organic, it will never rot.

   Check it out:

   http://www.ventgrid.com/