When should you use house wrap?

Author: Lee Quitzon  |  Last update: Wednesday, March 12, 2025

It's Not Just for Construction: Most owners have seen house wrap only during construction, leading to the common misconception that it is only necessary to protect materials from the elements while the building is being built. As discussed in number one, house wrap protects the walls both during and after construction.

What is the point of a house wrap?

A home's first defense against air leaks and water infiltration is the siding or cladding. House wrap is a home's secondary defense against air and water penetration and is the backup barrier that keeps water off the framing and structural sheathing and stops air movement through the wall cavity.

What happens if you don't use house wrap?

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.

Is house wrap necessary under vinyl siding?

So the correct answer is, that housewrap is not required under vinyl siding as a secondary weather barrier but is required as an air barrier if the owner has not sealed all joints between sheathing and studs and other framing members to restrict air flow.

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.

3 Reasons You Need To Use House Wrap

Do I really need house wrap?

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.

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.

When to use Tyvek house wrap?

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.

Is house wrap required by code?

But is housewrap required by code? The short answer? Yes. A weather resistive barrier has been a part of the International Residential Code since 2006 and has been widely accepted in local codes since then.

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.

How long does a house wrap last?

The longevity of a vinyl wrap depends on several factors such as the quality of the vinyl, the installation technique, and the environmental conditions the wrap is exposed to. Generally, a high-quality vinyl wrap installed by a professional can last up to 5-7 years or even longer with proper care.

When did house wrap become code?

4 between the 2003 version and the 2006 version that governed (along with a couple other sections) which siding materials must have a WRB. For homes built under the 2003 IRC most siding did not require a WRB. Homes built under the 2006 IRC and later versions, most siding is requires a WRB.

What is the best house wrap?

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.

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.

Is it worth wrapping your house?

Wrapping your home's external façade in insulation is a great way to boost the thermal efficiency. By insulating the outside walls you create the thermal barrier that will be felt in winter by keeping heat in but also in the summer by preventing overheating.

Do old houses have house wrap?

Usually, older homes don't have a house wrap because it wasn't used at that time.

Is house wrap a good idea?

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 use plastic sheeting instead of house wrap?

Well, "should" is too strong a term. You can use plastic if you put polyethylene between your drywall and the wall studs. This way, you should get a tighter wall without trapping moisture inside the exterior walls. If you are framing out a below-grade basement, however, do not use plastic as a vapor barrier.

What happens if you don't wrap a house?

The primary purpose of house wrap is to protect your home from air and moisture. The material is specially designed to prevent any water that may seep under your siding from getting into your home. It also creates a barrier against air.

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.

What is the difference between Tyvek and house wrap?

TYPAR® laminated house wrap relies on a fragile film to keep air and water out. The film can be scratched or torn during installation, allowing water to seep into exterior walls. With DuPont™ Tyvek® HomeWrap®, air and bulk water holdout is integral—built into the material itself.

Do windows go in before house wrap?

With proper flashing techniques and protection around the rough opening, you can install windows before adding the mechanically fastened water-resistive barrier (housewrap), and ensure they're just as well-protected from the weather.

What goes under house wrap?

Homeowners often ask if house wrap can be installed with foam insulation. The answer is yes. Combining these two products makes your home more insulated against wind and weather. When installing house wrap with rigid foam, it should typically go under the insulation.

Is there a better product than Tyvek?

FACT: Typar's tear strength is 5 times that of Tyvek's.

Grab strength is the preferred testing method for tear strength, and Typar performs at more than twice the industry standard. This helps better protect the integrity of your weather protection system, which keeps moisture from entering your wall cavity.

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.

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