Covering Zip after 180 days – GreenBuildingAdvisor

Hey All,

CZ 6. I know I’ve seen this question come up before but have a slightly different consideration. Like many, our zip sheathing is just about to hit 150+ days of being uncovered without sheathing. I’d say 220 or so days will pass before we get to siding it. 

We plan on adding a rain screen before siding (vertical wood siding). Originally it was going to be furring strips, but with the need to cover the zip now, I figure we can be strategic and use a 3D mesh product to check two boxes at once — cover the zip and provide a rain screen for drainage. Currently looking at the Mortair Vent product. 

So the questions would be:

1. Does this seem like a smart way to provide a rain screen gap while also covering the zip from exposure? It’s attractive because it’s one trip around the house. Or would it be better to add something like house wrap and then go back and add furring strips later on?

2. Anyone used the Mortair product? Does it have a large enough drainage gap? We’re in Eastern Idaho with annual precip of 18″ average. 

Last — the 180 days of exposure will have occurred for us during the winter season (Nov – April). As such, our polar North facing wall really will have never seen the sun/UV exposure. Would it be fine to skip adding another layer of material on this wall since it hasn’t seen UV? Or better to cover it as well?

Thanks,