Seattle siding – Rain-screen 102
By · CommentsSeattle siding, rain-screen is not 1 size fits all.
Hopefully you’ve read my earlier post – “Siding Seattle – rain-screen 101” and have a basic understanding of Seattle siding rain-screen systems. For this post I will get a little more in depth regarding the different types of rain-screen Seattle siding. For the purpose of this post we’ll assume the drain plane to be vertical battens that the Seattle siding will be fastened to. There are basically 2 different Seattle siding rain screen systems that can be employed. They are: closed rain screen siding, open joint rain screen siding.
Once a closed rain-screen Seattle siding job is done it doesn’t look any different than a traditional siding job. The difference of course is there is a drain plane behind the Seattle siding and plenty of venting to allow the wall to dry out if and when water gets behind the siding.
An open joint rain screen is a Seattle siding system comprised of planks or panels where there are open joints between courses. You can actually see behind the Seattle siding to the weather resistant barrier (wrb). As you have probably guessed the wrb in an open joint rain-screen needs to be very robust as there will be water present whenever there is precipitation. The wrb is also exposed to the sun and needs to be stable under ultra violet light exposure. Right now there’s only a few wrb products on the market that claim they are UV stable and appropriate for open joint Seattle siding rain 
screens. The product we use for this application is Vaproshield. It comes in black and needs to be doubled up where the open joints occur to protect from the UV light. In practice this requires a double layer of the wrb when using narrow planks for your open joint Seattle siding rain-screen and secondary strips at joint locations when using wide panels for your open joint rain-screen. The battens also need to be appropriate for water contact and stable under UV exposure.
Open or closed Seattle siding, rain-screens make sense.
Both of the rain-screen Seattle siding systems written about here are the same in that they both employ a drain plane to keep the wall dry. The closed joint rain-screen looks no different from a traditional Seattle siding project but open joint rain-screens are strikingly different. The open joints add shadow lines and depth that add real aesthetic interest. In my next post on this subject I will discuss how the various systems on the building need to be integrated into an effective rain-screen Seattle siding system.
Seattle siding – helpful information for DIYers
By · CommentsThought this was a good article for the adventurous do it yourselfer wanting to install their own Seattle siding. Of course if you decide it looks like to much work let us give you a proposal for you new Seattle siding.
Seattle Siding – Rain-screen 101
By · CommentsSeattle siding system that’s gained popularity but little understood.
Rain-screen siding systems have become increasingly popular and I plan to devote a few posts discussing this popular Seattle siding system. There are many ways to create a rain- screen for Seattle siding. They each have their pros and cons, such as price, application, aesthetic appeal etc. But for now I will try to illuminate the rain- screen Seattle siding system in general.
What is a rain-screen siding Seattle system?
The premise one must accept is the notion that no exterior cladding is perfectly waterproof. With that assumption you are basically conceding that water will penetrate the Seattle siding. Now that you are accepting that water will infiltrate beyond the Seattle siding, you must consider what to do with that water. Letting it get trapped between the siding and wall is no good. Letting it into the wall is a bad idea. That’s where the 
rain-screen Seattle siding comes in. All forms of rain-screen provided a “drain plane” behind the Seattle siding to allow any water that gets past the Seattle siding a route to get out.
Another benefit of rain-screen siding is pressure equalization that helps with the transfer of water vapor because liquid water is not the only water that we need to pay attention to. This aspect of rain-screen Seattle siding is integral to the overall wall assembly as well as the climate the building exposed to. This gets fairly complicated and I will discuss it further in a later post.
Drain planes can take a few different forms. They can be spacer strips or battens that space the siding away from the wall. The drain plane could be a ribbed membrane that allows water to drain down and out of the wall system. There are 
several products in between the two but the basic purpose is to provide drainage for any water that gets behind the Seattle siding to be able to get back out.
Seattle Siding rain-screen is more than just protection it adds appeal
Rain-screen siding is popular in Seattle not only because we have so much rain and it can be great protection for buildings, but it also provides architects and designers with some aesthetic details that would not be possible with traditional Seattle siding systems. I hope this has given the layman a basic understanding of the concepts behind rain-screen Seattle siding system design. In future posts I will drill down on different types of rain-screen Seattle siding systems.
Seattle siding repair with rotten framing
By · Comments-
If you think there is a potential problem behind your Seattle siding, don’t wait, investigate.
Water had been leaking in through the chimney penetration for years and the wall framing had been comprimised to the point of near colapse.
Synapse Construction, Seattle siding, was recently contracted to perform siding repairs on a circa 1980s residence. One of the areas in need of repair was below a wood stove chimney.
After removing the compromised siding there was much damage discovered from water intrusion and pest activity. The chimney penetration had not been sealed properly and had allowed water to leak into the wall for many years. The area of damage was particularly difficult to deal with as the electrical panel, furnace and trunk line duct work were all in the damaged area.
We at Synapse Construction – Seattle Siding, sympathize with the disapointment the owner feels when unknown serious problems are discovered. That’s why we don’t look at the situation as an opportunity to charge exorbitant rates, like some other contractors, rather we take the opportunity to provide quick affordable solutions to get the project back on track.
Don’t ignore your Seattle siding problems – solve them.
The condition of the framing behind the siding was unrecognizable.
When unfortunate underlying conditions are discovered we make it a point to communicate the problem and all possible solutions with the owner so we can work as a team to make an informed decision that everyone can be happy with. We pride ourselves on our ability to offer creative solutions and least intrusive methods of Seattle siding repair.
If you have vinyl Seattle siding…
By · CommentsThought this video might be helpful for those of you with vinyl Seattle siding. The one thing I would note is the Tyvek under the siding is a sloppy job and the windows are clearly not flashed correctly. The tyvek installation would never fly for Seattle siding needs.
Siding Seattle rainscreen video
By · CommentsSynapse Construction – Siding and Windows Seattle
This is a short video of a open joint rain-screen siding project in Seattle.
What’s under your Seattle siding?
By · CommentsIf you were to just put Seattle siding up on your exterior sheeting alone your building would not be protected. The weatherproof barrier (wrb) is an especially important component to Seattle siding in the wet Northwest.
Seattle siding has gore-tex for your house.
There are many types of wrb on the market these days. Most people are familiar with the old Seattle siding standard of felt paper. Today there are many more options and some of them are fairly high tech and similar to gore-tex clothing. Each of them have their advantages, disadvantages and applications with Seattle siding.
For proper Seattle siding professional wrb installation is paramount.
The wrb will be hidden by your seattle siding but that doesn’t mean it can just be slapped up. The wrb is one of the most important parts of the Seattle siding system that protects your building from the elements so it is important that it be installed correctly and with care. Special care needs to be taken integrating the window openings, metal flashings and mechanical/electrical penetrations with the wrb for a proper Seattle siding installation.
Some wrb manufactures are: Fortifiber , Tyvek, Vaproshield
Contact Synapse Construction – Seattle siding for a free estimate today
What Siding Seattle?
By · CommentsSo many choices for siding Seattle which one is right?
When it comes to the exterior finish of your home there are a lot of choices. There are many different siding materials available that can be mixed and matched to create rich siding Seattle textures.
One thing to consider when looking at your siding in Seattle options is the architecture of the house or building. Traditional cedar wood siding like shingle, board and batten, clap board siding etc tend to look better on craftsmen style buildings. Manufactured products like cement board siding can work for craftsmen style architecture and also lend themselves to more contemporary modern architecture. Metal siding can also be a good choice for a barn style building or to give some texture to a boxy more modern building.
Then there is vinyl siding. Although it has benefits in that it is inexpensive and doesn’t require painting there are several drawbacks. It tends to get very brittle in cold temperatures and can crack easily. It oil cans in the heat when it expands. You can not change the color with paint if you choose to do so. It is also a petroleum product and probably the least environmentally friendly option.
Although nothing can replace the look of stain or clear finished wood siding in Seattle, if your preference is to paint, in my opinion fiber cement siding products are a great Seattle siding choice. There are many shapes and sizes to choose from for you to create the perfect seattle siding look. It is very durable, cost effective and attractive.
You can see some examples of these different materials in an earlier post here and in our project pictures.
Broadview Seattle Rain-screen Siding
By · CommentsClassic 50s era home gets a modern rain-screen Seattle siding look.
Synapse Construction just completed a siding Seattle and window removal and replacement project in the Broadview neighborhood. The old aluminum replacement windows were falling apart and rather than try and preserve the cedar plank siding the owner decided to replace the cedar siding and do a little updating. We installed new Milgard thermally improved aluminum replacement windows and a pre finished 1×6 S4S clear cedar open joint rainscreen Seattle siding system. Rainscreens are becoming more popular and are a great choice for siding Seattle homes of any age.
Click here for pictures of this Rainscreen siding, Seattle project.
James Hardie Artisan Panel – Bellevue Siding
By · CommentsArtisan Siding Panel Installed on Bellevue Home
Synapse construction was recently contracted to provide siding services for a home remodel in Bellevue, WA. The owner decided re-side his residence using James Hardie, Artisan panels.
The main difference from the standard hardie panel is the artisan is twice as thick and utilizes a tongue and groove connection at the butt joints. The added thickness gives a more traditional or wood siding look.
The draw back to the artisan is it’s weight. Because it’s twice as thick it is also twice as heavy which slows down installation a little. Also because of the thickness of the artisan siding material, thicker trim material must be used (ie: corner batts, window trim, belly bands, etc). Traditional brick molding used around doors is not as thick as would be desirable to accommodate the thicker siding. This problem can be solved by extending the door jamb 1/4″ or so and padding out the brick mold with 1/4″ material.
The Hardie Artisan siding does provide a more traditional and substantial look over standard Hardi panels. The wood grain texture matches up well with the t & g butt joint connections. However upon close inspections it is evident that it is a wood substitute. The Hardie Artisan panel siding is also quite a bit more expensive than the standard hardie 
panels.
All in all the owner of the house that Synapse Construction is installing the James Hardie Artisan Panel siding on is pleased with the look. For home owners that have specific aesthetic sensibilities about their horizontal siding may find the increase in cost worth the more substantive look.
I will be posting finished pictures of this project shortly. Stay tuned…