Is it worth wrapping a house with insulation?

Author: Jayme Orn  |  Last update: Saturday, September 6, 2025

Despite this fact, when applied correctly, house wrap can play a major role in completely sealing your home's building envelope. This sealing lowers the overall energy use to heat and cool the structure. It is worth noting that house wrap in itself does not replace the need for adequate, high-quality insulation.

Is house wrap worth the money?

While your area may not legally require house wrap, the benefits often outweigh the initial cost and installation effort for most homeowners. The added protection against water damage, improved insulation, and mold prevention can contribute significantly to a home's longevity and energy efficiency.

Does house wrap help with insulation?

House wrap acts as a barrier between your home and the outside elements, helping to keep air out during winter months and heat out during summer months. This helps improve energy efficiency by keeping conditioned air from escaping through the walls of your home or building. This means improved insulation all year long.

How long will a house wrap last?

Generally, a high-quality vinyl wrap installed by a professional can last up to 5-7 years or even longer with proper care. I think it forms a vapor barrier, so that humidity inside the house stays inside and so that moisture outside stays outside.

Does insulating your house add value?

Moreover, homes with proper insulation also tend to have higher resale values, providing a potential return on investment in the long run. This can be especially advantageous for buyers who may want to sell their home in the future.

External Wall Insulation ~ The Ugly Truth?

What is the downside of insulation?

Irritation to skin and respiratory system

Wall insulation solutions like Rockwool are made of ultra-fine fibres. While thermally efficient, they can cause skin and respiratory irritation.

What actually increases the value of a home?

Homes are valued and priced by the livable square feet they contain, and the more livable square feet, the better, says Benjamin Ross, a Realtor and real estate investor based in Corpus Christi, Texas. Adding a bathroom, a great room or another needed space to a home can increase function and add value.

What happens if you don't wrap a house?

Primarily, a house wrap prevents water and moisture from seeping through the wall cavity of the home. By installing a house wrap before your siding installation, you can reduce the likelihood of wood rot, mold growth and moisture infiltration in your home.

What type of house wrap is best?

Tyvek®HomeWrap® exhibited nearly four times the vapor permeability of perforated house wrap, which can only allow vapor to pass through punched holes. The superior vapor permeability of Tyvek® HomeWrap® correlates to decreased wall cavity drying times, and a reduced potential for mold and wood damage.

Does house wrap prevent mold?

House wraps, also known as building wraps or weather resistive barriers, can help you protect your investment or family home from mold and help your building envelope function properly.

What goes on first house wrap or insulation?

Yes, House Wrap Does Come First!

Often, those installing foam insulation ask, “Do I put house wrap on first or second?” Whether you're installing James Hardie siding or not, house wrap is always applied first. The experts place the material in the proper orientation to achieve maximum insulation.

What is an alternative to house wrap?

One of the most significant alternatives to housewrap that addresses weaknesses is integrated vapour-permeable overlays for OSB sheathing boards, such as Arctek® Dryshell™. The proprietary layer is bonded to OSB, creating a product that is moisture resistant and vapour permeable.

Does Tyvek make your house warmer?

Tyvek® HomeWrap® can also reduce home energy bills by controlling air flow and water intrusion, which helps insulation work better, allowing the HVAC system to work more efficiently. It's a house wrap engineered to keep homes cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and dry all year round.

What are the disadvantages of Tyvek?

Tyvek® House Wrap has a tensile strength of only 30/30 lb/in. So, after installation, but before the exterior cladding and final fasteners, Tyvek® House Wrap may be susceptible to damage due to high winds and moisture exposure.

Should house wrap be stapled?

Plastic cap nails or plastic cap staples are highly recommended for fastening the building wrap. Simply put, the use of caps seals holes made by the penetration of the fasteners.

What happens after house wrap?

Once the home is framed and wrapped and the mechanicals have been installed, the sheetrock is put in place to form the walls. Now you can see your new home coming to life!

What are the cons of house wrap?

Before you buy it for your home, consider the drawbacks below.
  • Vulnerability to UV Radiation. Tyvek house wrap is notoriously sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. ...
  • Mold and Moisture Concerns. While Tyvek manages moisture, it's not immune to all moisture-related problems. ...
  • Prone to Damage During Installation.

How long does house wrap last?

After Installation, How Long Does House Wrap Last? Since house wrap goes under the siding, it will last almost as long as your home itself. There's never any need to change or replace house wrap unless there was a fire or some other type of structural damage.

What are two popular house wraps on the market today?

The most common non-woven housewrap on the market is the standard Tyvek HomeWrap, however if you want to BuildBetter with an Obdyke alternative (we highly suggest this), our BenWrap would be the one to choose.

Does Tyvek cause mold?

At the same time, DuPont Tyvek® WB is made with unique material science, to allow moisture that does get into walls to escape as vapor. This combination can help prevent moisture-related problems, such as rot, corrosion, mold, and mildew.

Is it code to wrap a house before siding?

House wrap is indeed considered a necessity by the majority of contractors as well as housing authorities, including local building and planning departments.

Can you put Tyvek over Tyvek?

Yes, DuPont Tyvek can be installed over old house wrap as long as the existing house wrap is Tyvek.

What adds the biggest value to a house?

Projects That Boost Your Home's Value
  • Boost the bathrooms. ...
  • Remodel the attic or basement. ...
  • Get decked out. ...
  • Boost curb appeal. ...
  • Improve energy efficiency. ...
  • Swimming Pools. ...
  • Luxury Upgrades. ...
  • Garage Conversions. Converting garages can add square footage to your home's living area, but most buyers want garages.

What state has the most overpriced housing market?

The most overvalued markets to purchase a home tend to be located in high-priced vacation home markets in Hawaii, in both coastal and inland California markets, Seattle and New York City, as well as still-competitive “Zoomtowns,” including Greeley and Fort Collins in Colorado and Boise, Idaho.

How to increase home value by $50,000?

Adding $50K in Value to Your Home: Top Strategies for Sellers
  1. Curb Appeal Matters. First impressions count. ...
  2. Upgrade the Kitchen. The kitchen is often the heart of the home. ...
  3. Bathroom Remodel. Bathrooms also hold great value. ...
  4. Energy Efficiency Improvements. ...
  5. Fresh Paint and Flooring. ...
  6. Professional Staging. ...
  7. Proper Pricing Strategy.

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