Moisture Drainage & Ventilation

Keene Building Products™ manufactures 3-dimensional products for moisture control. These products work in wall, masonry, foundation and plaza applications to eliminate moisture problems. This Polymer filament mat can be sandwiched between different materials to “space” components and create isolation, ventilation or drainage in many aspects of a roof, floor or wall.

Driwall™ products’ range of solutions for masonry applications include weep vents, mortar collection devices and full wall Rainscreen applications. In some masonry applications the thickness of the cavity is not sufficient and mortar jams the cavity. This is especially problematic in thin applications of 1.0” or less. Driwall™ Masonry Vents create vertical channels and connect to Driwall™ weep vents to create a path for wall ventilation.


                           
Driwall Mortar Deflection 2.0-160            Driwall Rainscreen 075-1


Problems with Roofing and Siding
What do we know about siding and roofing?

We know things leak!  Certain places can’t have a wet spot. The building industry today has come face to face with a mounting issue. Moisture is present in parts of construction that cause significant problems. Moldy problems, rotting problems and if unchecked even structural problems are occurring with greater frequency. Legal issues have followed.
Driwall™ Rainscreen 020-1

Driwall™ Rainscreen 040

Driwall™ Rainscreen 10 MM  (Canada)

Driwall™ Rainscreen 075

Driwall™ Rainscreen 075-1

Driwall™ Rainscreen 075-1 MC

Driwall™ Mortar Deflection 0.5-040

Driwall™ Mortar Deflection 1.0-075
Driwall™ Mortar Deflection 2.0-160

Driwall™ Weep Screed

Driwall™ Weep Vents 025

Driwall™ Prefabricated Composite Drain 10-025
What has changed?
Construction techniques have made buildings tight to stop the air infiltration that creates thermal leaks. That tightening has helped to create moisture problems in the same cavity space.

What steps will help?
Install a rainscreen system behind exterior siding. That system will provide the ventilation space and the drainage space required to vent all types of siding from Masonry and Stone to cement boards, vinyl and just about every other type of siding. Driwall™ Rainscreen offers many different systems from furring with a 3-dimensional mat to full wall applications. Ask some questions and Keene Building Products™ will provide the right product for your new construction or retrofit project. Keene Building Products™ creates the “creative space” your project needs to assure a long life, no moisture problems and no efflorescence. One or the other must occur. Either the excess mortar must be prevented from entering the cavity or if it does enter, it must be provided with “safe” location to accumulate.

The Brick Institute Requires a Cavity for a Reason
Certain places can’t have a wet spot.

The Brick Institute has a lot more experience with masonry structures then just about anyone. That’s why for years the institute has specified a cavity to allow for the drainage of the incidental moisture that passes through masonry. Brick is porous and the mortar that holds the brick together is just as porous (if not more) than the brick. Stone, cultured stone and block have the same characteristics, THEY ALL LET MOISTURE PASS THROUGH. Having a clear path for that moisture to drain is the answer. Cavities are specified by the Brick Institute to be 2.0 inches (5 cm) in thickness. Having a clear path with no mortar dams and no bridging of mortar is the owners assurance of NO problems later in the life of the building. Remember, masonry buildings are meant to last and brick and stone are selected for their longevity. Providing a long term solution to moisture problems is what Driwall™ Rainscreen and Driwall™ Mortar Deflection are designed to accomplish.