Considering Barrier Options Underneath Steel Siding in Alaska

It is important to keep your home protected from the outside elements that could weaken the foundation and structural soundness of your house over time. One way to protect your home is to create barriers underneath your steel siding in Alaska, designing a system that blocks air from entering while allowing moisture out. Here are some of the most common ways that a barrier can be constructed.

Air barrier options

The most common type of air barrier system used is a standard weather-resistant house wrap. This wrap is applied to the house shell during construction, and is an effective way of preventing rain, snow and other moisture from getting in and deteriorating the wall assembly. A house wrap also provides a means for water vapor and moisture to escape through to the outside. These wraps are often reinforced with other composite materials to make them tear-resistant, so they will last once they are built upon and sealed in.

Creating an effective air barrier around the walls and inner wall cavities using standard insulation and sheathing is another reliable option for your home, as it prevents both an influx of cold exterior air and the escape of your conditioned warm air inside. This means that your heating system will have to expend less energy to maintain comfortable temperatures inside, and in addition to protecting your house, you will also receive savings on your heating bills.

Polyethylene barriers

A polyethylene barrier is an example of a type of material that can serve as both an air and vapor barrier. Polyethylene plastic is electrical-, chemical- and moisture-resistant, making it a prime candidate for protecting the composite materials within your wall assembly. This type of barrier is well known for preventing the dangerous diffusion that can lead to the deterioration of your home’s core.

It is important to note that if you decide to use an air and vapor combination, a vapor lock could potentially form between the fully sealed membrane on the outside and the vapor barrier on the inside. This vacuum could potentially lead to trapped condensation that could rot wood framing and create other damage that would be costly to fix, so it is imperative that the barrier design within your home avoids this pitfall.

Rain screen siding systems

Another means of protecting your home from outside moisture involves using a rain screen siding system. Serving as an instrumental component of a wall barrier system, the cladding of a rain screen promotes balanced drainage and evaporation. In addition to bolstering the defense of your home’s foundation, a rain screen can also serve as a shield for your air barrier by blocking the rain, the sun and heavy winds, which can help to prolong the life of your barrier.

If you need a trusted company to craft an effective barrier design that helps protect the wall assembly and foundation of your home, contact Superior Products Inc. We have the experience needed to help you avoid the pitfalls and limitations of improper design, and can provide you with the barrier you need under your steel siding in Alaska to make your home last. Give us a call and get protected today!

Categorised in: Steel Siding

This post was written by Writer