Vinyl Shakes and Rain Screen

[Thomas404]

I'm in Northern Alabama and looking at vinyl shakes (Royal Designer) to DIY replace my deteriorating Masonite. Under the Masonite is 3/4" foil-covered foam board over studs and OSB at the house corners.

Would 15# felt be adquate, or would the rain screen concept make sense? I think I follow the logic, I just can't figure out if vertical furring will work for the product's short (~15"x48") panels ... even thought about horizontal furring (to make nailing easy) , but don't know if that accomplishes the same thing or not.

--Thomas

[RTF]

Does the manufacturer have requirements or suggestions for this product? If you are going to do all that furring wouldn't a layer of plywood/osb work? I'd tear off the masonite, add a layer of 1/2" OSB, install housewrap, install the new siding and be done with it.

[Thomas404]

Here's what they say

1. Royal Designer Shake should only be installed on a smooth, flat surface. Thereare 3 options in re-siding older homes:
A) Remove old siding and install Royal Designer Shake over the original sheathing. Before installing Royal Designer Shake panels, make sure the sheathing is leveled.
B) Install a sheathing board, such as Form-Cor, over the old siding to form a smooth,flat surface. If a foil-faced sheathing is used, the foil side should be facing in towards the house.
C) If strapping is used, sheathing must be used over the strapping before the Royal Designer Shake is installed.

I guess I was trying to get some airflow behind it.