In a cold climate wall, which layer sits at the exterior surface?

In a cold climate wall, which layer sits at the exterior surface?

• A. Interior finish
• B. Cladding
• C. Vapor barrier
• D. Insulation

Answer: (B)

The layer at the exterior surface is cladding. In a cold-climate wall, cladding is the outermost material that directly faces weather and provides the first line of defense against rain, wind, and snow. It shields the structural components and the insulation behind it, and is often paired with a rainscreen or weather barrier to manage moisture. The interior finish sits on the inside, the vapor barrier is typically placed toward the warm indoor side to control moisture diffusion, and insulation sits behind the interior finish between the studs. So the exterior surface layer is the cladding.

The layer at the exterior surface is cladding. In a cold-climate wall, cladding is the outermost material that directly faces weather and provides the first line of defense against rain, wind, and snow. It shields the structural components and the insulation behind it, and is often paired with a rainscreen or weather barrier to manage moisture. The interior finish sits on the inside, the vapor barrier is typically placed toward the warm indoor side to control moisture diffusion, and insulation sits behind the interior finish between the studs. So the exterior surface layer is the cladding.