Rainscreen Systems

Davenport Masonry & Restoration is well versed in rainscreen systems and has installations on several high-profile projects.

A  Terra Cotta Rainscreen  is an exterior wall detail where the siding (Terra Cotta) stands off from the moisture – resistance of an air barrier applied to the sheathing or exterior wall to create a capillary break and to allow drainage and evaporation. The rainscreen is Terra Cotta siding itself but the term rainscreen implies a system of building. Ideally the rainscreen prevents the wall air/moisture barrier on sheathing from getting wet. In some cases, a rain screen wall is called a pressure-equalized rainscreen wall where the ventilation openings are large enough for the air pressure to nearly equalize on both sides of the rainscreen. Terra Cotta is one material used in manufacture of the panels, but different materials are used as well.

Baguette Sunscreens can lend a subtle variation, add texture to a building, or create a work of art. Both energy efficient and aesthetically pleasing, terracotta sunscreens are composed of extruded material in a wide variety of profiles, colors, and finishes. Supported internally by a metal reinforced bar, the sunscreens can be installed horizontally or vertically. Baguette sunscreens can be used in combination with the rainscreen system or as a standalone feature. A true marriage of form and function, these sunshade devices aid in reduction of glare and help to shield occupants from the sun like traditional blinds.  The basic elements of these shading systems are the terra cotta baguette or louver with an internal spline (typically aluminum) for attachment. Typically, this system is attached to an aluminum support system that is incorporated into the building and engineered to the specific conditions for the given project.

***Content partial from Boston Valley Terra Cotta and Shildan – two suppliers of rainscreen systems.