The abundance of choice is evident in today’s landscape of commercial coating materials. From metal and brick to stone, to Exterior Insulation Finishing System (EIFS) and fiber cement, architects and building owners can align their aesthetic visions in a number of ways to create beautiful finished buildings. with a mixture of coating types. However, the preservation of the integrity of these mixed facades largely depends on what goes on behind the walls. With the variety of siding materials available today and designers’ penchant for combining styles and textures, it is essential to specify building envelope orders that are compatible with multiple siding types. It is in this balance between aesthetic preferences and air and moisture management that Gypsum Integrated Water Resistant Air Barrier Air Barrier Coatings (WRB-AB) shine.

These integrated materials streamline the entire construction process when different coating selections are specified. Multi-component wall assemblies with separate WRB and AB layers require prior work on the part of designers who must determine the proper fasteners for wall assemblies, as well as maintaining a single plane of insulation and weather protection. for different coating thicknesses. Separate protective layers (that is to say WRB and AB) turn into additional levels of complexity for design and construction. Opting for an integrated sheathing system offers simplification and continuity of the air barrier.

This article appears in a collection in Modern exterior design practices, a free downloadable resource. To get your pdf or digital copy, visit www.constructionspecifier.com/ebook/georgia-pacific-modern-exterior-design-practices-e-book.