Timber Framers Guild Forums General General Forum Questions Insect guard for SIPs

I'm enclosing my timber frame with SIPs and I'm trying to decide on a termite/ant shield strategy to seal up the bottom of the panels. I've seen folks wrap metal flashing all the way around the bottom (down the back and up the front face) but I would be worried about water pooling in there. Does anybody have any input on an alternative method which would alow for water to drain properly and still keep insects out?

Thanks

Jon

Are you concerned about "water pooling" from inside the SIPS? If your concern is water from the outside then you might consider using one of the current generation of rain shield underlayments before you put on your finished siding. Check the March 2003 Journal of Light Construction - there was an article on "Water Managed Wall Systems".

One alternative might be to use very fine screening - but that would be still pretty easy to poke a hole in...

Are you using a dimensional lumber strip on the (inside) perimeter of your SIP?