Home Slicker is a product that creates the necessary air space in a rainscreen wall assembly. A rainscreen is a technique for controlling rain entry in an exterior wall that involves incorporating an airspace immediately behind the exterior cladding in addition to employing a water resistive barrier. The rainscreen system promotes drainage and ventilation behind the cladding, therefore reducing the chance of mold, mildew or other moisture related problems that occur.

Leading building scientists recommend rainscreen systems be used in areas prone to wind-driven rain and/or areas that have an average annual rainfall of 40 inches or more. Refer to our Whitepaper, Managing Moisture in Residential Building Envelopes, that can be found in the Tips and Training section of our Building Professionals area.

Wind-driven rain from the outside and moisture vapor from the home’s interior, often remain trapped in the sidewall assembly. Left alone, this moisture can promote the growth of mold and undermine the structural integrity of the sheer wall. Prior to the introduction of Home Slicker, furring strips were installed vertically under cladding to help alleviate the potential for moisture problems. Home Slicker was designed to provide an easy-to-install, continuous ventilation and drainage space that is easier and faster than furring strips.

No. Home Slicker is used in conjunction with a high quality housewrap or building paper as part of a comprehensive approach to moisture management.

Home Slicker Plus Typar is a cost effective, labor and material saving, product that contains the patented Home Slicker three-dimensional matrix bonded to Typar, the premium residential and commercial grade housewrap. This simple design allows you to install double the sidewall protection in half the time.

1. Home Slicker is faster and easier to install, cutting labor costs.

2. Home Slicker provides a continuous vented airspace over the entire surface area of the wall, providing greater drainage and more effective drying than wood strapping which only vents approximately 85% of the wall. (1x3 strapping installed 16 inches on center leaves 15% of the wall unventilated.)

3. Unlike wood furring that is subject to saturation and decomposition in a relatively short period of time, Home Slicker is plastic so it won’t decompose over time and it comes with a 50 year warranty.

Home Slicker solves the moisture problem by effectively draining and venting moisture from behind various cladding systems, including: wood shingles, shakes and clad-boards, and fiber-cement siding.

1. Drainable housewraps are only adequate in regions where wind-driven rain is not a concern and in areas that receive less than 40 inches of rain a year. However, structures being constructed in areas that do receive 40+ inches of rain a year, or are susceptible to wind-driven rain, should use Home Slicker® to create a rainscreen system.

2. Drainable housewraps are only 18 mils thick at the highest point. Because water can span gaps up to a 1/8 inch [125 mils], drainable housewraps do not provide the necessary capillary break needed to prevent water from bridging at the back of the cladding onto the housewrap. Only a true rainscreen system can accomplish this.

Home Slicker is specifically designed for sidewall applications. Its vertical channels are designed for optimal drainage and drying.

Cedar Breather was developed for roof assemblies and specific use under cedar shingles and shakes. The matrix is conical in shape to promote air circulation and optimize drying needed to prolong the life of cedar shakes and shingles.

Due to the variety of window profiles, please refer to our Application and Architectural Drawings.

Home Slicker can be installed behind the window and door trim as well as the corner boards to provide drainage and ventilation.

Although you will not receive the benefit of a fully ventilated rainscreen assembly, Home Slicker will still dramatically enhance the drainage and drying capability of the entire wall assembly when compared to a wall that is not ventilated with a rainscreen.

Generally, an ordinary hammer-tacker is used to install Home Slicker. It can also be installed using roofing nails and a hammer.