Rainscreen cladding and curtain walling might seem like the same thing, but there are a few key differences worth knowing about. If you’re wondering how to tell them apart and which one might be the right choice for your project, you’re in the right place!
At first glance, they both seem pretty similar – both are designed to keep water out and protect the building’s walls from moisture. They also provide added perks like thermal insulation and UV protection. So, what’s the real difference?
Keep reading – in this article we’re breaking it all down so you can make an informed decision when choosing between rainscreen cladding and curtain walling.
What is a Rainscreen Cladding System?
Let’s take a closer look at what exactly a rainscreen cladding system is all about. Essentially, it’s an external cladding setup that’s designed to do two main things: look good and protect your building from the weather.
While it might look similar to regular cladding or even curtain walling, rainscreen cladding goes a step further. It’s specifically built to shield your building from rain, snow, and ice – keeping that dreaded moisture at bay. Plus, it adds an extra layer of insulation, which means better thermal performance overall. But that’s not all…a rainscreen cladding system can also help with shading, keeping your building cooler in the summer, and providing extra UV protection to keep everything safe from sun damage.
So, it’s not just about looks – it’s about giving your building some serious protection and efficiency too!
How Does a Rainscreen Work?
By now, we’re sure you’re wondering how rainscreen cladding actually works – to put it simply, they’re multi-layer, high-performance systems which feature an outer cladding layer, a cavity, and an air and vapour barrier.
So, what does each layer do?
- Outer cladding layer: The main purpose of the outer layer is to shield against water penetration, while protecting the buildings integrity and aesthetic design. Often referred to as a “rainscreen”, it takes the brunt of all weather conditions. Just bear in mind that it’s not effective without the cavity and vapour barrier.
- Cavity layer: This layer is vital to the performance of the whole rainscreen system. As a well-ventilated cavity, air circulates throughout, picking up any moisture and venting it outside, all while deterring moisture away from the air and vapour barrier. Top tip: this cavity should be a minimum of 20-50mm deep, and metal flashing must be installed for the system to work properly.
- Air and vapour barrier: Completing the rainscreen cladding system is the air and vapour barrier, whose job it is to stop moisture from penetrating the building walls. For this to work properly, you have to make sure that any holes and punctures are well and truly sealed.
What is a Curtain Walling System?
Now that you’re familiar with the rainscreen cladding system, let’s take a look at its counterpart. A curtain wall is a thin, aluminium-framed wall that contains panels of glass, metal, or thin stone. They’re non-structural cladding systems that are most often used on large, multi-story buildings. They’re not load-bearing, except for that of their own weight but do offer some thermal and weather protection.
There are two categories of curtain walling:
- Stick systems: This system is assembled piece by piece directly onto the structure of the building.
- Unitised/modular systems: When it comes to a modular system, the curtain wall is made up of large panels, assembled and glazed in a factory before being installed on the building.
There are also three different system types of curtain wall systems to consider:
- Face-sealed: These curtain wall systems are considered the least reliable option as they depend on continuous, perfect seals between panels and the frame – basically, long-term reliability is unlikely to be achieved.
- Pressure equalised: This system is praised as the most reliable and functional, blocking forces that drive water and moisture across the barrier. How does it work? Between the exterior rain screen and the interior air barrier a pressure-equalization chamber is formed, reducing water penetration by equalising the pressure difference across the rain screen.
- Water managed: These systems are designed to handle water by incorporating drains to prevent water from entering the building, and weep holes to drain water from the glazing pockets. They don’t, however, create air barriers so a larger amount of water is forced into the system, which is then drained away.
What System Should You Choose?
So, what’s the better option? Whether you go with curtain walling or rainscreen cladding depends on the specifics of your design, functionality needs, and even the climate where the building is located – while they’re similar in many ways, the choice ultimately comes down to the particular needs of your project!
Cladding and Rainscreen Support Systems at Kladworx
Here at Kladworx, we’re known as the cladding specialists, offering high-quality cladding and rainscreen support systems that’ll help elevate the design and functionality of your project with ease.
Need a little guidance? No problem! Get in touch with us today, and we’ll help you find the perfect solution for your build. We offer tailored advice and, for those based in London or the South East, we can arrange a site survey to make sure you’re getting the right materials for the job. Let’s make your project a success!
