What is House Wrap?
A synthetic, thin covering called “house wrap” is placed over the sheathing and under the siding (vinyl, wood, stucco, brick, or composite). The siding or cladding of a house acts as its first line of defense against air leaks and water intrusion. It is a home’s backup barrier that prevents air and water from entering the wall cavity as well as the primary barrier that keeps moisture off the frame and structural sheathing. In addition to producing a high-performing home, installing wrap aids in the building’s compliance with the International Building Codes (IBC) minimum criteria for external walls.
IBC 1403.2 states that outside walls must provide the building a weather-resistant outer wall envelope. This includes a way to prevent water from building up within the wall assembly by putting up a water-resistive barrier underneath the exterior veneer. A home is protected from air and water invasions when house wrap is placed appropriately. A home that has been wrapped with insulation is cozy, healthful, and energy-efficient.
Why Every Home Needs House Wrap?
By establishing an air and moisture barrier, house wrap increases a home’s energy efficiency and fosters a cozy, healthful interior atmosphere. A weatherization membrane is house wrap. It forms a barrier that prevents air and moisture from entering the wall cavities. It is dangerous when moisture collects in a home’s wall cavities because it may cause expensive repairs and fungus-induced wood damage.
High moisture levels may also promote the formation of mold, which is harmful to the home’s residents. Unchecked air infiltration degrades a home’s air quality and energy efficiency while also lowering the effective R-value1 of the wall assembly. Every home must include house wrap in the design in order to reduce air penetration and avoid moisture buildup inside the wall assembly.
Steps to Install House Wrap
The effectiveness of housing wrap depends on proper installation. To install the wrap, property owners have to engage a specialist. A home’s ventilation may be hampered by improper installation, which may also cause moisture to accumulate in the wall cavities. Additionally, house wrap may photodegrade, discolor, lose its tensile strength, and become water-repellent if it is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays at a project site for an extended period of time. A specialist is more likely to guarantee prompt siding installation after installing the wrap. When putting house wrap, knowledgeable installers do many crucial steps:
- Typically, house wrap is put from the bottom of the house up, overhanging the horizontal and vertical joints by a minimum of six inches and twelve inches, respectively.
- Place the house wrap at least two inches above the top of the footing.
- Every 12 to 18 inches, the house wrap is fastened using special stapling nails or nails designed to hold down the wrap cloth.
- Use tape suggested by the manufacturer to seal all seams.
- A Y-cut is made from corner to corner in the apertures to install the wrap around the door or window openings. The extra fabric is then folded through the gaps and fastened firmly.
- A home becomes healthier and more pleasant when house wrap is properly put because it improves energy efficiency, stops mold growth and wood rot, stops air leaks, offers some insulation value, and eliminates air leaks. House wrap that has been improperly put will create more issues than it would fix. Have a professional install the house wrap for you to assure all of its advantages.
Steps to Evaluate House Wrap
There are seven characteristics to take into account, which are often specified by the manufacturers;
- Water Resistance: Three tests are performed to evaluate the water resistance of a house wrap.
- Air Resistance: The air resistance of house covers should be strong.
- Drainage: A house wrap has to drain water well.
- UV Inhibitors: When choosing the wrap, it’s crucial to take into account how long it can withstand exposure to the sun before getting harmed.
- Tear Strength: The tests evaluate a material’s tensile strength or resistance to tearing. Superior strength and a tear-stop design are features of a wrap.
- Temperature resistance: The material won’t break at low temperatures, according to Cold Mandrel Bend Test.
- Vapor Permeability: The test for vapor permeability determines how much water vapor may travel through a material in a day. The minimum need for house wrap is five perms.
A house with wrap installed will consume less energy and money. Additionally, it will provide a cozy and healthful interior atmosphere.
The amount of airflow resistance in a wall assembly is indicated by its effective R-value. The drywall, studs, fiberglass batts, plywood or sheathing, water control plane, and siding are all included in the building’s effective R-value. A wall assembly is more sensitive to air infiltration the lower the R-value, the greater the conductivities of the wall assembly, and the lower.