Siding in Vancouver
On this coast, cladding is not primarily decorative. It is the first layer of a system for managing an enormous amount of wind-driven rain, and how that system handles the water that inevitably gets past it decides whether your walls stay sound.
Why rainscreen matters here
A rainscreen is a deliberate ventilated cavity between the cladding and the sheathing behind it. The principle is that no cladding is perfectly watertight, so rather than trying to seal water out entirely, the assembly gives any water that penetrates somewhere to drain and airflow to dry the wall.
In a dry climate you can get away without it. In the Lower Mainland, where wind-driven rain is sustained for months, a wall assembly with no drainage path holds moisture against the sheathing, and that is how rot begins out of sight.
Leaky condo history and lessons
The building envelope failures across BC in the 1980s and 90s were, at root, wall assemblies that trapped water with no way to drain or dry. The remediation cost owners enormous sums and reshaped how buildings here are constructed.
The practical lesson for a homeowner is that details matter more than materials. Good cladding installed without drainage, flashing and ventilation will fail; ordinary cladding installed with them will not.
Material comparison for coastal rain
Fibre cement is stable, holds paint well and resists moisture, at the cost of being heavy and slower to install. Vinyl is inexpensive and low-maintenance but less forgiving of impact. Cedar suits the character of many local homes and looks superb, but it needs ongoing maintenance to stay that way in this climate.
Any of these performs well over a properly built assembly, and any of them will disappoint over a poor one. Choose on appearance, budget and how much maintenance you want — then spend the attention on what goes behind it.
Signs of moisture behind cladding
Watch for paint failing in patches rather than uniformly, staining that reappears after being painted over, soft or spongy areas when pressed, and a musty smell inside near an exterior wall. Fungal growth at the base of a wall is a clear warning.
By the time damage is visible from outside it has usually been developing for some time. If you see several of these signs, an inspection that opens up a small area is far cheaper than continuing to paint over the symptom.
What this costs
Repairs $1,200–$4,500 · full re-clad $45,000–$120,000
Spot repair is only honest pricing when the water ingress is genuinely local. We open it up and show you before quoting either way.
Materials are always separate from labour and passed on at cost. Quotes are free and written, and the full rate card is published rather than given out on request.
Common questions
What is a rainscreen and do I need one?
A ventilated cavity behind the cladding that lets water drain and the wall dry. In this climate it is the difference between a wall that sheds sustained rain and one that holds moisture against the sheathing.
Which siding lasts longest in Vancouver rain?
Fibre cement performs very well with modest maintenance, and vinyl is durable if not impacted. But installation detail matters more than material choice — good cladding over a poor assembly still fails.
How do I tell if water is getting behind my siding?
Patchy paint failure, staining that returns after painting, soft spots when pressed, musty smells near exterior walls, or growth at the base of a wall. Several of these together warrant opening up a small area to look.