Most Vancouver residents have heard the term Rain Screening. The picture to the right shows a brick rain screen for a condo being constructed.

Most Vancouver residents have heard the term Rain Screening. The picture to the right shows a brick rain screen for a condo being constructed.

The brick veneer is an esthetic cladding. It is the first layer of the screen followed by a void, which will allows any water passing it to drain out. Tarpaper protects the structural sheathing (plywood) and wood stud wall construction.

If you look closely at brick veneer wall you should notice little voids between some bricks at each floor level and above windows and doors this is to allow water to drain out as well as help equalize the pressure between the front and rear surfaces of the brick caused by wind. This equalization helps keep water from being pushed into the porous brick.