Ventilated gap behind cladding lets any water that gets past the surface drain and dry rather than sit against the structure.
Cost
Medium
Upkeep
Occasional
Skill to build
Basic
Lifespan
Cladding material-dependent (see naturally durable or treated cladding); the drainage-gap detailing itself doesn't wear out separately
Embodied carbon
Medium
Space / material use
Low
Output timing
None
Skill to repair
Basic
Regulation (FR example)
Changing the external appearance of an existing building normally requires a prior declaration (declaration prealable) at the mairie; stricter rules and an architect consultation apply within a protected or heritage perimeter.
Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are rated against the other options for this same need, not in absolute terms.
Inputs
none
Outputs
none
What this page does not tell you
No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.