When a McDonald’s restaurant in Rocky River, Ohio was ready to do a complete overhaul of the existing 1982 building, the goal was to create an environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient structure that would last for many decades. In 2012, the city decided it was best to demolish the old building and replace it with a new structure, full of “green” features. The building’s smaller footprint saves on energy needs by reducing the interior space by 1,500 square feet. Along with LED lighting and LEED-specified rooftop ventilation units, the building envelope design had ample insulation to increase energy efficiency.
To prevent the moisture issues that can accompany an airtight building envelope, the wall design incorporated Keene Building Products’ Driwall Rainscreen drainage mat. Driwall Rainscreen 020-1 provides an airspace between the sheathing and exterior veneer to allow for drainage and ventilation of the wall system.
This quarter-inch drainage and ventilation mat was installed between the weather-resistive barrier, and the wire lath. Driwall Rainscreen will provide an airspace
for any incidental moisture penetration that gets behind the stone, which will happen due to wind driven rain, etc., to drain to the exterior. Also, Driwall Rainscreen will provide ventilation. When the stone gets wet, it will have the capacity to properly dry. Draining and drying are two extremely important aspects for the proper life span of manufactured stone, and Driwall Rainscreen provides that in one product.
By including Driwall Rainscreen 020-1 into this new McDonald’s, the mason ensured that the manufactured stone can properly drain and ventilate.
