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Robin E. Snyder
Senior Member
Username: robin

Post Number: 62
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 07:39 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Has anyone ever heard of aluminum wall panel installations (aluco-bond type) as either "wet" or "dry"? With the "wet" having frequent joints w/ sealants and the "dry" being designed as a weathertight system without caulking every few feet?
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: wpegues

Post Number: 621
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 08:17 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Yes, there is a wet vs dry system.

I am not sure that it is in their literature. Though I think they do very well with their product, I really like the technical support that the Alpollic people give than anyone else.

William
Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: awhitacre

Post Number: 389
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 08:08 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

yes, the systems are referred to that way. the "dry" type are usually a rainscreen without wet sealants and designed to drain onto a drainage plane behind the panels. this is pretty common terminology in the industry and the manufacturer's sites often use it as well.
Wayne Yancey
Senior Member
Username: wyancey

Post Number: 179
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 11:45 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Wet seal is a face sealed system using elastomeric sealants.

Dry seal is a face sealed system using extruded shapes keyed into the joints.

Both are face sealed relying in sealant or extruded shapes to manage water infiltration. No redundancy with face sealed systems. If water gets in (and it will) there is no venting, drainage, and drying as offered by the rainscreen systems (pressure equalized or otherwise).

Wayne
John Hunter
Senior Member
Username: johnhunter

Post Number: 9
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 02:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

In addition, note that the manufacturers only make ACM panels - it is the fabricator/ installers who assemble the system, including attachments, sealants, flashings, clips, etc. and are usually the best source for information about performance and price issues in your particular region. In Northern California, we've talked to Alumawall (alumawall.com) and found them to have a well-developed system and to be helpful.

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