How To Protect Builds Against Rainy Climates

While many builders resort to flexible timing and weather contingency clauses to successfully navigate wet weather construction, they are still often at the mercy of the materials they use. This is why, at LP Building Solutions, we’ve been long committed to engineering building materials that stand up specifically to moisture-related challenges. From sub-flooring, air and water barriers to siding materials, our products are engineered to ensure that weather challenges don’t get in the way of your schedule—and protect your projects during and after construction.

From the Bottom Up

It all begins with our LP Legacy^® sub-flooring panels. While it’s important for the sub-flooring in new homes to handle heavy rain volume, it also must have sufficient time to dry during periods of intermittent drizzle. That’s why moisture resistance is one of the most important design features of LP Legacy panels. It’s a benefit that’s just as important as strength, stiffness and easy installation.

As Jeff Yelle, Director, OSB/EWP Technology at LP Building Solutions puts it: “If the Legacy panels get rained on during installation, they don’t have to be re-sanded—and that’s a very practical jobsite benefit that any builder can appreciate.” LP offers a unique Covered Until It’s Covered^® No-Sand Warranty and a Lifetime Limited Warranty that lasts as long as the home.

A similar level of innovation is present in the LP WeatherLogic^® Air & Water Barrier, which offers a continuous air and water barrier for a tight building envelope while allowing moisture vapor to escape. To help ensure its effectiveness, LP WeatherLogic panels are subjected to extremely harsh testing conditions so that they can stand up to moisture in some of the toughest settings.

"Water-resistive barrier systems help in the fight against moisture penetration," explains Brian St. Germain, Director, Technology at LP Building Solutions. "While the exterior cladding is designed to resist the weather, water can manage to find a way in. Water-resistive barriers provide the secondary line of defense against water intrusion into the wall."

From the Outside In

Speaking of exterior cladding, LP^® SmartSide^® Trim & Siding is engineered to help protect a home from moisture and rainfall-related events—largely thanks to its proprietary SmartGuard^® manufacturing process that helps the siding to hold up to long-term moisture exposure when properly maintained. Tested for more than 20 years in Hilo, Hawaii against high levels of humidity, LP SmartSide Trim & Siding is designed to face the toughest rainfall-related challenges.

Of course, there are many other ways to protect your builds in rainy climates—including the usage of protective tarps, rigorous drying/clean-up measures and proper protection of tools. But starting with the right sub-flooring and siding materials can go a long way to help you minimize your overall efforts and expenses—and keep your projects protected long after their completion date.

Building someplace hot? Check out resiliency considerations for warmer climates.