Loading AI tools
Material used to protect buildings From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Housewrap (or house wrap), also known by the genericized trademark homewrap (or home wrap), generally denotes a modern synthetic material used to protect buildings. Housewrap functions as a weather-resistant barrier, preventing rain or other forms of moisture from getting into the wall assembly while allowing water vapor to pass to the exterior. If moisture from either direction is allowed to build up within stud or cavity walls, mold and rot can set in and fiberglass or cellulose insulation will lose its R-value because of the heat-conducting moisture. House wrap may also serve as an air barrier if it is sealed carefully at seams.[1]
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2008) |
Housewrap is a replacement for the older tar paper or asphalt saturated felt on walls. It is lighter in weight, available in much wider rolls, and both faster and easier to apply.
Housewrap is installed between the sheathing and the exterior siding, and is used behind vinyl, wood clapboards, shingles or shakes, brick, and other building materials. In all cases, the housewrap helps prevent water intrusion when moisture in any form gets past the siding and its trim and caulking.
As such, housewrap must be both water shedding and have a high moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) to be effective.[2] It must also withstand abuse during installation, and because housewrap is often left exposed for some time before being cladded-over, it must hold up to wind and resist UV. Some new designs must be installed carefully or they will slightly rip or tear during installation, possibly allowing for water infiltration at the damaged areas. Being both thin and inelastic, most newer designs do not "self-seal" well against nails or staples like asphalt products.
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
