When temperatures drop, water becomes your home’s biggest threat. Snowmelt, freeze-thaw cycles, and heavy winter rains can all lead to structural damage if your home’s drainage systems aren’t prepared.
At Keene Building Products, we design solutions that protect your building envelope—from the foundation to the roof—keeping water moving where it belongs: away from the structure.
1. The Cold-Weather Drainage Challenge
Winter moisture isn’t just inconvenient—it’s destructive. Water that seeps into walls or foundations expands as it freezes, causing cracks, leaks, and long-term damage. Proper drainage systems prevent that by giving moisture a clear path to exit and by maintaining ventilation behind walls, claddings, and waterproofing membranes.
2. Where Cold-Weather Drainage Fails
- Trapped moisture behind siding or masonry leads to mold, rot, and energy loss.
- Blocked drainage paths cause hydrostatic pressure buildup at the foundation.
- Ice dams and snowmelt overload waterproofing systems not designed for freeze-thaw cycles.
These issues are preventable—with a well-detailed drainage strategy built around proven materials.
3. Keene Solutions for Cold-Season Resilience
Driwall™ Rainscreen Series
The Driwall™ Rainscreen line creates a dedicated drainage and ventilation plane behind exterior cladding systems. This gap allows moisture that gets behind the siding to drain and dry quickly—critical in cold weather when trapped water can freeze and damage the assembly.
Ideal for fiber cement, wood, and open-joint cladding systems. Available in Driwall™ Rainscreen, Driwall™ Rainscreen UV, and Driwall™ Drainable Housewrap for varied aesthetic and performance needs.
TriDent™ Dimple Drain Series
Foundations are at the front line of winter water management. The TriDent™ Dimple Drain 025 and 050 relieve hydrostatic pressure and direct water away from below-grade walls.
High compressive strength resists soil and ice movement and is compatible with waterproofing membranes for full protection.
Driwall™ Prefabricated Composite Drain
For more complex below-grade assemblies, this system combines drainage, protection, and filtration in one easy-to-install product—perfect for cold climates where water movement slows and soil expansion increases.
Driwall™ Membrane Waterproofing Systems
Available in 40-mil and 60-mil options, Keene’s Driwall™ Membrane systems protect the foundation wall itself, forming a watertight barrier that complements drainage mats like TriDent™.
ViperVent® Roof Drainage
Proper drainage doesn’t stop at the foundation—your roof needs protection too. ViperVent® CDR and ViperVent® Ridge systems provide continuous airflow at the roof ridge, preventing ice damming and condensation buildup in attics during freeze-thaw cycles.
4. A Complete System from Foundation to Roof
What makes Keene unique is our system approach. Our rainscreen, waterproofing, and drainage products are designed to work together, creating a continuous path for moisture to escape while maintaining air circulation across the entire building envelope.
This integration means your structure can handle the toughest winter weather—protecting it from water intrusion, mold, and freeze-thaw damage.
5. Prepare Before the Snow Falls
Before winter hits, make sure your home’s moisture management system is ready:
- Inspect grading and gutters to ensure water flows away from the house.
- Check that your wall assemblies include a drainage and ventilation gap like Driwall™ Rainscreen.
- Confirm your foundation has a functioning below-grade drainage mat like TriDent™ Dimple Drain.
- Protect your roof with proper venting using ViperVent®.
Build with Confidence. Build with Keene.
With decades of experience developing high-performance building envelope systems, Keene Building Products offers the drainage, waterproofing, and ventilation solutions your home needs to withstand the cold season—and every season after.
From the foundation to the ridge, Keene keeps water moving.
