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Healthy
Wall Solutions
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Your building’s exterior envelope is its only line of defense against the elements.
W.J. Higgins & Associates can be your ally in that battle.
Armed with a wealth of first-hand field experience and access to the most current technological resources available, W.J. Higgins & Associates provides innovative solutions for exterior wall and rainscreen design services. Their unparalleled expertise ensure the results you want:
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Greater design freedom
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Greater construction scheduling flexibility
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Increased longevity with a virtually maintenance-free exterior
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Greatest building value for your dollar
Keeping Your Defenses Strong
Your building envelope needs to stand up to a lot of opposition. To maintain optimum performance, your walls need to remain healthy and free of moisture, which when left unattended causes mold, mildew, corrosion and compromised insulation performance.
Conventional construction methods attempt to seal wall cavities from sources of water. This approach exacerbates the problem since water vapor naturally occurs within the wall cavity. With more aggressive use of veneer joint sealants and interior vapor barriers, condensation that forms within the wall is not allowed to evaporate and/or migrate quickly, and accelerates internal wall deterioration.
Rainscreen, when properly designed and applied, solves these problems. It provides an uninterrupted, impermeable air barrier, allowing wall cavities to remain dry and healthy.
| Traditional Construction | Rainscreen |
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Sealed joints:
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Open joints:
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| Veneer must act as weather barrier, placing some restrictions on design possibilities | Veneer is independent from weather barrier, allowing design flexibility without compromising weathertightness |
| Vapor barrier is interrupted at various interfaces (windows, floors, columns, etc.), compromising effectiveness | Non-permeable air barrier interfaces with window assemblies for 100% weathertightness |
| Dewpoint within batt insulation compromises R-value, deteriorates insulation in unvented cavity | If dewpoint occurs, it falls within insulation and exterior of the weather barrier and is ventilated to allow for quick evaporation |
| Scheduling: Since exterior veneer is the weather barrier, this must be completed before interior finish work can safely proceed | Scheduling: Construction can proceed on all interior finishes before exterior veneer is in place |
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Maintenance costs:
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Maintenance costs:
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