If you're planning a build or a renovation, you really need to look into dorken delta dry before you start hanging any siding. It's one of those products that looks pretty simple—just a grey, dimpled sheet of plastic—but it actually handles one of the biggest headaches in construction: keeping the inside of your walls bone dry.
We've all seen what happens when water gets trapped behind siding. It's not pretty. You get mold, rot, and eventually, a very expensive repair bill. For a long time, the solution was just to slap some housewrap on and hope for the best. But as we've started building tighter, more energy-efficient homes, we've realized that "hoping for the best" isn't a great strategy. That's where a dedicated rainscreen like this comes into play.
What makes this stuff different?
Most people are used to standard housewraps. They're flat, they're thin, and they're supposed to let vapor out while keeping liquid water from getting in. The problem is that once you nail your siding tight against that flat wrap, there's nowhere for water to go if it sneaks past the exterior. It just sits there, sandwiched against the house.
What's cool about dorken delta dry is its physical shape. It's a 3D matrix made of high-density polyethylene. Because of those dimples, it creates a physical gap between the structural wall and the cladding. It isn't just a barrier; it's a ventilation system.
The real magic is that it provides two-sided drainage and ventilation. It has dimples facing the house and dimples facing the siding. This means air can circulate on both sides of the membrane. If moisture gets behind the siding, it drains down and dries out. If vapor migrates from inside the house toward the outside, it also has a path to escape. It's like giving your house a set of lungs that can actually breathe.
Why skip the wood furring strips?
In the old days—well, and still today for many—builders would create a rainscreen using wood furring strips. You'd nail vertical strips of wood over your housewrap and then nail your siding to those strips. It works, sure, but it's a massive pain in the neck.
First off, it takes forever to install all those individual strips. Second, wood can rot. If you're using wood to create a space meant to handle moisture, you're basically introducing a material that doesn't like being wet. Dorken delta dry replaces those strips entirely. You just roll it out, staple it up, and you're done. You get a continuous capillary break across the entire wall without the labor-intensive process of shimmying and leveling wooden slats.
Plus, it's a lot thinner than a 1x3 furring strip. This is a big deal when you're looking at window and door trim. You don't want your siding sticking out three-quarters of an inch further than it needs to, because then you have to mess with custom flashing and extra-thick trim boards. This product keeps the profile slim while still giving you the airflow you need.
Dealing with the "Scary" Claddings
If you're using fiber cement or vinyl siding, a rainscreen is a great idea. But if you're using stucco or manufactured stone, a rainscreen is practically a necessity. These materials are what we call "reservoir claddings." They're porous. When it rains, they soak up water like a sponge. When the sun comes out and hits that wet stone or stucco, it drives that moisture inward toward your wood framing.
I've seen houses where the OSB sheathing looked like mulch after only five years because the stucco was holding moisture against it. Using dorken delta dry behind stone or stucco creates a literal air space that prevents that solar-driven moisture from ever touching your sheathing. The water hits the membrane, hits the air gap, and either drains out the bottom or evaporates. It's basically insurance for your wall assembly.
How it feels to work with
From an installer's perspective, this stuff is pretty user-friendly. It's lightweight, so you aren't breaking your back carrying rolls up a ladder. It cuts easily with a utility knife or even a pair of heavy-duty snips.
One thing you'll notice is how tough it is. It doesn't tear like some of the cheaper wraps. You can walk on it if it's on a low-slope roof area (though it's meant for walls), and it won't crush under the pressure of your siding nails. That's important because if those dimples flattened out when you nailed your siding on, you'd lose the air gap that you paid for in the first place.
You do have to be a bit careful with the overlapping and the corners, but it's nothing a DIYer with some patience or a pro can't handle. You usually use the specialized DELTA-DRY tape for the seams to keep everything airtight and watertight. It's a system approach rather than just a "slap it on" approach.
Is it worth the extra cost?
I'll be honest—dorken delta dry is more expensive than a basic roll of plastic housewrap. If you're on a razor-thin budget, you might look at the price tag and hesitate. But you have to look at the long game.
Think about the cost of a mold remediation job. Think about the cost of ripping off all your siding in ten years because the plywood underneath has turned into mush. When you factor in the labor savings from not having to install wood furring strips, the price gap starts to shrink pretty quickly.
In my opinion, it's one of those "buy once, cry once" products. You spend a little more upfront to make sure you never have to think about your wall's structural integrity again. For a high-performance home, it's almost a no-brainer.
Common questions I get
People often ask if they still need a housewrap underneath it. The answer is usually no—dorken delta dry is the water-resistive barrier (WRB). However, you always want to check your local building codes and the specific manufacturer instructions for your siding.
Another thing people worry about is bugs. If there's a gap behind the siding, won't spiders and bees move in? That's why you use a bug screen at the top and bottom of the wall. It lets the air in but keeps the critters out. Dorken makes accessories for this, and it's a critical step you don't want to skip.
The Bottom Line
Building science has come a long way, and we've learned the hard way that walls need to dry out. Dorken delta dry is probably the most effective way to ensure that happens without making the construction process a nightmare. It's durable, it's fast to install, and it works with almost any siding material you can think of.
If you're building a home that you want to last for fifty or a hundred years, don't skimp on what's behind the walls. It might not be the prettiest part of the house—nobody's going to compliment your rainscreen at the housewarming party—but it's the part that keeps the rest of the house standing. At the end of the day, having that peace of mind when a rainstorm hits is worth every penny.