The Viking Clip and Viking Clip 2 Rain Screen Siding Systems
The Viking Clip hidden fastener installs wood 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 rainscreens, which have withstood the tests of time. Vertical furring strips create an air cavity behind the cladding, allowing ventilation about the entire board. Our new VC2 No-batten clips are mounted directly to the building envelope as a sturdy fastening option where furring strips are not possible.
The Viking Clip and Viking Clip 2 No-Batten Hidden Fastening Systems
Do you want a rain screen siding system that makes good sense?
Specialty Lumber Solutions introduces the best hidden fastening system available: The Viking Clip. Viking Clip and VC2 No-Batten are the most affordable and highest-quality clips on the market. Made in KCMO, USA: Viking Clip installs easily, and it looks fantastic once it’s on the wall. Viking Clip is a winner for both your installation and pocketbook.
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 the original Viking Clip system, and it’s a great option in an open-jointed installation. Our research and experience in the field determines that it’s the most time-tested and surest 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 to the wall before hidden fasteners were available for market, and the fastener is visible. Face fastening is therefore an option although we believe the Viking Clip and the VC2 No-Batten 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, therefore, Viking Clip allows a clean, fastener-free, and open-jointed installation across each wall.
Rain Screen Siding Installation
Closed-Jointed Rain Screen
The siding planks have no gaps in a closed-joint system. Shiplap and/or tongue and groove profiles install directly over the vapor barrier. Furring strips also create a series of cavities. These cavities provide space to drain water away. 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 this variety of products for your project. 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 |