Benjamin Obdyke Renames Mortairvent as Home Slicker Stone & Stucco

Rainscreen Product Provides Drainage and Ventilation in Stone, Stucco, and Masonry Wall Assemblies

HORSHAM, Penn. - Jan. 8, 2009 - Benjamin Obdyke Incorporated, manufacturer of residential roof and wall products, has renamed Mortairvent(R)  as Home Slicker(R) Stone & Stucco and incorporated it into the Home Slicker family of products.  Building on the strength of the Home Slicker brand, Home Slicker Stone & Stucco alleviates moisture problems specifically in stone, stucco, and masonry applications by providing a continuous drainage and ventilation space in a rainscreen wall assembly. The patented, vertically-channeled matrix forms the air space while the breathable fabric blocks mortar from seeping into the newly formed cavity, allowing moisture to pass through.

Because masonry is a porous substance, moisture has the ability to penetrate masonry materials, usually through cracks in the mortar joints.  These hairline cracks can allow wind-driven rain to penetrate the mortar, which can create a breeding ground for mold growth.

Current construction designs call for manufactured stone to be applied directly against the metal lathe, which is placed against the plywood sheathing and water resistive barrier.  This technique allows any moisture that penetrates the exterior cladding to become trapped between the cladding and the interior sheathing.   Building science experts are now recommending a rainscreen system as the optimum method of wall construction in masonry applications to allow the trapped moisture to drain.  Rainscreen systems provide a continuous drainage and ventilation space and are especially effective in areas prone to excessive moisture, high temperatures, and humidity.

Home Slicker Stone & Stucco extends the service life of wall components by creating the necessary space in a rainscreen assembly that drains wind-driven rain from behind the cladding, and ventilates to remove moisture.  It reduces moisture problems by creating a pressure-equalized air space immediately behind exterior cladding in addition to employing a water resistive barrier.  Its patented, three-dimensional, vertically-channeled matrix not only manages water entry by allowing it to enter and exit, but also drains away bulk water that seeps in behind cladding.  At the same time, Home Slicker Stone & Stucco speeds drying of moisture that accumulates in the interior wall assembly by moving air in a convective fashion throughout the cavity. 

With each roll weighing only 15 lbs, Home Slicker Stone & Stucco installs quickly and easily.  It is 39 in. wide, 61.5 ft. long, and .25 in. thick, with a coverage area of 200 sq. ft.  Home Slicker Stone & Stucco features a UV exposure of 30 days (maximum) and comes with Benjamin Obdyke's 50-Year Limited Warranty.

For more information about Home Slicker Stone & Stucco and other Benjamin Obdyke roof and wall products, visit http://www.benjaminobdyke.com/, or call Benjamin Obdyke Customer Service at 800-346-7655.