The Viking Clip Rain Screen Siding System
The Viking Clip hidden fastener mounts rain screen siding permanently and beautifully to commercial and residential projects. The rain screen siding system dates to around the 12th Century. Norwegians and Japanese built the first known rain screens. Vertical furring strips create an air cavity behind the siding and allow ventilation about the whole plank. Rain screens remain popular today, and have already stood the tests of time.
The Viking Clip Hidden Fastening System
So you want a rain screen siding system that makes sense?
Specialty Lumber Solutions introduces the best hidden fastener: The Viking Clip. Viking Clip is the most affordable high quality clip on the market today. Viking Clip installs easily, and it looks fantastic once on the wall. Consequently, Viking Clip is a winner from both practical and financial perspectives.
Viking Clip Rain Screen System is the easiest, sturdiest, and most affordable hidden fastening system on the market. Viking Clip accommodates a variety of species and profiles offered by Specialty Lumber Solutions. The Viking Clip fastens with a marine-grade aluminum clip and stainless steel screw. These high-quality materials add simple and sturdy elegance to any variety of designs. We believe in high quality lumber, and it follows that we believe in high quality fasteners. Combine these two, and the conclusion is a winning project from start to finish.
Viking Clip provides a lasting strength and beauty to your rain screen design. Viking Clip performs as well or better than any clip available today. Additionally, Viking Clip is the most affordable of the many hidden fasteners available on the market.
A furring strip is used in this system, as we believe this is the best option in an open-jointed installation. Our research and observation in the field determines that it’s the most time-tested and ablest of approaches. Please visit our Rain Screen Siding Principles Page for further discussion of this issue.
Open-Jointed Rain Screen Systems
Nails and screws held the screen together before hidden fasteners were available for market, and the fastener is obviously seen. Face fastening remains an available option although we believe the Viking Clip to be superior. S4S (square four sides), E4E (eased four edges) are common alternative styles. This installation retains all the benefits of rain screen siding. However, Viking Clip allows a clean installation across each wall.
Rain Screen Siding Installation
Closed-Jointed Rain Screen
The siding planks have no gaps in a closed-joint system. Closed-jointed profiles are commonly shiplap and/or T/G. Shiplap and/or toungue and groove profiles install directly over the vapor barrier. Furring strips create a series of cavities. These cavities provide space to drain water infiltration. However, air flow constricts and is directional, when compared to the open-jointed system. Vents provide air flow at the top and bottom of the wall through this cavity in a series of stacks. Therefore, this “stacking” method ventilates somewhat differently than that of the open-jointed method.
Species Options–Hardwood and Softwood Siding
Specialty Lumber Solutions sources a large selection of species. We will locate the species to match your job and design specs. Few clip suppliers source the myriad of products for your project, therefore, it makes good sense to call before selecting an alternate species. Below are just a few of the many options available. Please give us a call if there is a species not listed below. We will locate and source it for you.
| Ipe | Western Red Cedar |
| Cumaru | Redwood |
| Massaranduba | Cypress |
| Garapa | Cambia (Torrified Poplar) |
| Mahogany | Torrified Ash |
| Teak | Torrified Maple |
| Sapele | African Mahogany |