A rainscreen is a vented gap behind the siding that lets the wall drain and dry. In a climate this wet, it's the upgrade that makes siding actually last. We install furring strips or a drainage mat over a proper weather barrier.
A rainscreen is a vented air gap between your siding and the weather-resistive barrier on the sheathing. We build it with vertical furring strips or a manufactured drainage mat, so there's a continuous channel for water and air to move. Some water always gets behind siding, especially in a place that gets about 35 inches of rain a year and stays damp for long stretches. The rainscreen gives that water a path to drain out the bottom and lets the wall dry from the back, instead of sitting against your sheathing.
This is the single thing cheap bidders skip, and it's the thing that decides whether your new siding lasts. Direct-applied siding (nailed straight to the sheathing with no gap) is exactly how the old T1-11 and hardboard on so many Bellingham homes trapped moisture and rotted the wall behind it. Bellingham and Whatcom County permit reviewers and the WA energy code keep pushing toward better water management, and most quality fiber cement and cedar installs here should be on a rainscreen.
What it actually costs.
Rainscreen, added to a re-side $3,500 to $9,000
House sizeMore wall area means more furring or mat
SystemSimple furring strips vs. a manufactured drainage mat
DetailingVented trim, insect screen at the bottom, flashing tie-ins
StoriesTall walls add staging time
Our four-step process.
Walkthrough & plan
We look at your walls and your siding plan and figure out the right rainscreen system, furring strips or a drainage mat, for your house and budget.
Weather barrier
We install or repair the weather-resistive barrier and lap it correctly so water sheds over each course below.
Furring or drainage mat
We fasten vertical furring strips (or roll out a drainage mat) to create the continuous vented gap, with insect screen at the bottom so the channel stays open.
Flashing tie-ins
We flash the windows, doors, and roof-to-wall joints into the rainscreen so water that gets behind the siding drains out, not in.
Why a rainscreen is worth it here.
Lets the wall drain and dry in our wet marine climate
The fix that actually makes new siding last decades
Works under fiber cement, cedar, and engineered wood
Lines up with WA energy code and county water-management expectations
Not an upsell, it's the part cheap siding jobs leave out
Frequently asked questions.
How much does a rainscreen cost in Bellingham?
A rainscreen usually adds $3,500 to $9,000 to a re-side in Bellingham, depending on the size of the house and whether we use furring strips or a manufactured drainage mat. It's almost always worth it here because it's what makes the new siding last.
What is a rainscreen and do I need one?
A rainscreen is a vented air gap behind the siding that lets the wall drain and dry. In Bellingham, where we get about 35 inches of rain a year and long damp stretches, it's worth it on almost any quality fiber cement or cedar install. It's the part cheap bidders skip.
Can you add a rainscreen to my existing siding?
Usually a rainscreen goes on during a re-side, after tear-off, because it sits behind the siding. If your siding is failing or you're already planning to replace it, that's the right time to add a rainscreen. We can look at your walls and tell you straight.
Ready for a free rainscreen quote?
Tell us about your project, we'll reply within 15 minutes during business hours.
We add rainscreen to re-sides across Bellingham and Whatcom County, and it earns its keep most on the damp, shaded walls in places like Sudden Valley, Cornwall Park, and Silver Beach. Pick your area: