Integrated Water-Intrusion Management Solutions for Multifamily Properties

Single-source products for various facade options

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Conclusion

When it comes to buildings, water intrusion is a huge challenge to manage. Multifamily residential projects present their own set of challenges, with designs that include a variety of different cladding materials. When different cladding materials are used, there can be a mismatch between WRB requirements (e.g., furring or not), which can cause problems with water intrusion. Several manufacturers have addressed this problem by creating integrated rainscreen and WRB systems that do not require furring. This means that the basis of the wall assembly will be consistent across the project—and that translates into improved moisture management.

Extruded aluminum trim can work into this integrated system as well. Trim provides design aesthetics to multifamily projects, all while enhancing the moisture management system by strategically draining water from the exterior down to the ground. Where the integrated rainscreen and WRB system can give architects the option to do one-stop shopping to protect the building assembly, extruded aluminum trim provides one-stop shopping for all of the details needed for the siding and facade materials. The trim can be used for each component on its own and for transitions (vertical, horizontal, or corners) between the components.

Advances in both integrated rainscreen and extruded aluminum trim systems offer architects and buildings increased confidence that all components of their moisture management system will work together, thus saving time and costs.

BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSULTANTS AND WRBs

Building envelope consultants are trained to understand and evaluate every aspect of a building’s technical performance. This means that they need to be well-versed in everything about building design, construction, and operation, and they may be involved with construction technology, building energy efficiency, and building inspections. As such, building envelope consultants tend to collaborate with everyone involved in the building process, from architects and contractors to building owners and material manufacturers. And, ideally, they are involved in the project as early as possible to help with decisions regarding the building design and construction.

Energy efficiency is an important part of what building envelope consultants deal with. After all, that is a big part of what the building envelope is designed to do: it provides a physical barrier between a building’s interior and exterior as a way to optimize performance.

Water-resistant barriers (WRBs) are a key aspect of a building’s energy efficiency and overall performance plan. When a WRB is applied properly, moisture is prevented from getting in; when it is not applied properly, water intrusion is a problem, and the wall assembly is also at risk for other energy-efficiency problems.

As part of their job, building envelope consultants should ensure that WRBs have been installed properly. This can help make sure that the building itself is protected against eventual mold and rot, both of which can shorten the lifespan of the building and eventually put building occupants at risk. In situations where the WRB was not properly installed or was inappropriate for the project, building envelope consultants can help identify the source of problems and provide solutions that improve the life of the building and health of the occupants.

TWO-PIECE SOLUTIONS FOR EXTRUDED ALUMINUM TRIM: QUICK, EASY INSTALLATION IN THE FIELD

Extruded aluminum trim can greatly improve the exterior aesthetic of a building, especially for large multifamily residential projects. When used in conjunction with modern rainscreens and exterior cladding, aluminum trim provides architects and designers with an easy, cost-effective, and durable way to create modern architectural lines and transition points between panels, all while improving overall performance of the building. Extruded aluminum trim works especially well with mixed material application to give a solid appearance of the exterior.

While extruded aluminum trim will not fully keep water from penetrating the space between rainscreen panels, new designs do help with moisture runoff and improve the performance life of the building. They are quickly becoming a standard material in multifamily residential projects, and consequently their ease of installation matters.

Two-piece extruded aluminum trim are a series of profiles that include two types of verticals, two types of outside corners, and two utility profiles. The utility profiles include a base element and a cap/face piece. The base element is installed along with the panel, and then the installation crew comes back to install the cap/face to finish out the design. This process is quicker and easier than a single-piece trim installation, which requires that the components be installed in layers, from the bottom up. Moreover, a single-piece trim installation requires that a starting point be carefully considered. (It is usually an inside corner.)

A two-piece trim is also helpful in situations where the distance from trim to trim is tight. For example, if there is a small space between windows and a panel needs to be installed, a two-piece J trim can be used on both sides where the base and panel are set, and the cap/face can be fit on easily afterward. If a single-piece trim were used in this situation, installers would be challenged to fit the panel between the installed trims or forced to cut the panel short and slide it in on one side and back under the other.

Given the previous example, it is clear why extruded aluminum trim designed with two-piece systems offer a real advantage in installation time. Such systems include pieces that quickly and easily fit together and require minimal preparation, especially when used with a water-intrusion management system by the same manufacturer. For example, snap-fit vertical or corner trim for fiber cement panels or other exterior cladding speed up installation compared to systems that require additional screws or nails. Once the base piece is affixed to the assembly, the exterior portion simply needs to be clipped into place.

Again, this one-stop shopping concept can save project construction time, which in turn means that it saves overall project costs.

END NOTES

¹Hanamura, Deborah. “Multifamily real estate trends for 2019 and beyond.” Building Design + Construction. 17 April 2019. Web. January 2020.

²Kesik, Ted J. “Moisture Management Strategies.” Whole Building Design Guide. 16 August 2016. Web. January 2020.

³Barger, Cary. “Understanding rainscreen wall systems.” Building Design + Construction. 13 December 2016. Web. January 2020.

Rebecca A. Pinkus, MTPW, MA, is a Toronto-based communication consultant, writer, editor, and historian of technology. She has been writing for the green build industry for several years and has contributed to more than 40 continuing education courses and publications through Confluence Communications.

TAMLYN is a family-owned company with 50 years in the building products industry and has placed a great deal of recent focus on building science, especially moisture management. This direction led to the development of their TamlynWrap® line, Drainable with its 1.5mm bonded filament creating an enhanced WRB, and RainScreen 6.3 (1/4”) and 10.1 (3/8”). TamlynWrap® RainScreen is a multi-layer water management system, intended for use over existing WRB or coated sheathing, of cavity spaces that are non-compressible and act as a furring matrix to promote enhanced drainage and drying, paired with improved installation efficiency.

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Originally published in March 2020

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