Housewraps, or insulation wrap for homes, have been a common practice in construction to help insulate the home and help reduce energy costs. In recent years, however, housewraps have also proven themselves as an essential part of green building due to their exceptional thermal efficiency.
What Is A Housewrap?
Have you ever been puzzled as to why homes under construction have a tendency to look like a wrapped Christmas present? Fact is, it’s really a housewrap, a common sight during home construction, though most people aren’t quite sure what it is.
Housewrap is a synthetic, lightweight material that goes over the sheathing and behind the siding such as vinyl, wood, stucco, brick or composite. A home’s initial defense against air leaks and water penetration is the siding or cladding. Housewrap is a home’s secondary defense to air and water infiltration and is the backup barricade that keeps water away from the framing and structural sheathing and thwarts air movement through the wall cavity. Housewraps also helps reduce heating and cooling costs by acting as an additional form of insulation.
Types Of Housewrap
1) Asphalt-impregnated paper
This option, also known as felt paper, used to be the most commonly used, though it’s less used in today’s homes.
Micro-perforated, cross-lapped films. These housewraps ensure there are “micro-holes” in the product enabling air permeation for a healthy respiration rate for the home.
2) Micro-perforated, cross-lapped films
These housewraps ensure there are “micro-holes” in the product enabling air permeation for a healthy respiration rate for the home.
3) Films laminated to spun-bound non-wovens
This type of wrap is designed to withstand water infiltration while allowing water vapor to pass through. It’s generally the most stable type of housewrap to help the house steer clear of long-term degradation.
4) Films laminated or coated to polypropylene wovens; supercalendered, wet-laid polyethylene fibril non-woven.
Tyvek, the most common and highly popular housewrap, is made from this material. No doubt, you’ve spotted the word Tyvek on housewraps during a home’s construction.
5) Drainable housewraps
Engineered to offer a continuous drainage gap, this wrap makes sure that water won’t be trapped behind the wrap. It will permit water to escape if infiltration does occur quickly.
What are the Benefits of Housewrap?
- Minimizes wind and air leaks that produce hot or cold zones in living areas.
- Minimizes water and moisture penetration.
- Is vapor-transmissible, reducing the prospect for condensation and, in so doing, cutting the risk of mold growth and wood rot.
- Stays flexible at low temperatures.
- Boosts the efficiency of HVAC systems, significantly reducing total energy needs and improving year-round comfort.
As we’ve just noted, there are a few important benefits to using housewraps on a home, but the most significant benefit is that it makes your house more energy efficient. Housewraps cost much less than installing insulation, and they pay for themselves over time by lowering your monthly utility bills. So, if you want to save money and reduce your carbon footprint, installing housewraps is an excellent idea.
