...dedicated to the science that unites aesthetic purity, structural integrity and functionality... 715.848.8677 Photo Courtesy of City of Chicago O’Hare Airport, Chicago, Illinois Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, Minnesota Healthy Wall Solutions Rainscreen 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: · Greater design freedom · Greater construction scheduling flexibility · Increased longevity with a virtually maintenance-free exterior · Greatest building value for your dollar Keeping Your Defense 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.