[Greenbuilding] bugs behind b & b

[Russell, Richard]

With horizontal strips to provide an air gap behind vertical boards, how
will the rain that is driven behind the boards on the outside drain
downward? In other applications of horizontal strips for vertical
siding, gaps have been left in the strips for free water to run down
from strip to strip. That could be your bug freeway. Screens top and
bottom, as suggested, will stop them there. But what about the sides?
How are the horizontal air gaps behind the siding terminated? Think like
a bug trying to gain entry. Rough-sawn pine boards likely have myriad
bug-sized openings. If application of screening top, bottom, and any
obvious places on the sides won't keep the bugs out, you could go
extreme. Remove the boards, apply insect screening over the rainscreen
strips (over the whole wall), top, bottom, and sides stapled securely,
and refasten the siding.

Dick Russell

-----Original Message-----
> From: "Mike Forbes" <biodieselmike at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Greenbuilding] rain screen siding and bugs
> To:
> Hi all,
> just wondering if anyone has had this experience and what the general 
> thoughts are....
>
> what i have (inside to out):
> SIP walls
> inexpensive, non-conventional water-proof radiant barrier.
> 1/4" furring strips stapled horizontally
> 1x8 - 1x14" rough sawn blue pine boards with 2-1/4" battens no finish 
> on the boards
>
> my issue:
> ever since we've moved into the house we have an excess of bugs, 
> primarily box elder bugs and shield bugs.  Occasionally we have a 
> paper wasp as well.
> They aren't a real structural or safety concern just a nuisance...   
> The
> other day I pulled a batten off and noticed that my rainscreen gap 
> behind the siding is pretty much a miniature bug habitat.  I know this

> is a recommended way of installing siding but never thought about the 
> bug habitat issue.
>
> Anyone have any experience with this and any grand ideas of making it 
> not so appealing to the bugs?  Sealing it would be very impractical if

> not impossible.....
>
> thanks so much,
> mike
****Internet Email Confidentiality Footer****
Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this
message. If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or
responsible for delivery of the message to such person), you may
not copy or deliver this message to anyone. In such case, you
should destroy this message and notify the sender by reply email.
Please advise immediately if you or your employer do not consent to
Internet email for messages of this kind. Opinions, conclusions and
other information in this message that do not relate to the
official business of The Shaw Group Inc. or its subsidiaries shall
be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it.
______________________________________ The Shaw Group Inc.
http://www.shawgrp.com