I need house wrap recommendations

[BungeeII]

Here are some excellent videos on the building envelope...

Code College Online Training

Housewrap videos are near the end.

 

[CharlieTR]

I remember reading the Tyvek web page section that talked about installation when building my house.
You may want to may want to look at it. It said to only install the wrap before the window installation, and use nails with plastic rings not staples.

 

[Pilot]

Our builder insisted on tar paper because of moisture concerns. Given your location, I would certainly be concerned about moisture.

Ignore what the builders are using--they don't see their homes 30 years later. They may use what they use because it may be either cheaper to buy or to install. In any case, the builders haven't any idea of how the house will hold up in regard to the moisture barrier. All they know is what the sales people say.

I suggest you talk to remodelers and see what they find. And if LP siding was a problem in your area, the folks who replace siding may have some good info also.

And is there any warranty? Remember LP siding? Because of the way LP treated it's customers when other outfits covered the total cost of siding replacement & LP covered just a fraction, I will never buy another LP product. It cost us $15,000 to re-side our house. What would it cost to fix a house with major structural rot?

 

[Diesel-ME]

My house was built in 1980, I have owned it for 4 years. I have discovered that there is NO moisture barrier (house wrap) under the clapboards!! I am getting ready to remove the all the clapboards (half are rotting anyway), upgrade the windows, replace the fibrous sheathing with plywood and I want to add some sort of house wrap to keep wind and water out, then cover with cement board siding. I have had recommendations of Typar, TyVek and good old tar paper. One contractor recommended Typar over the tarpaper. I am not getting any consistant answers from local contractors... what does the wisdom here have to say?

"local contractors", just like the rest of us will steer you away from what they don't know and have not used and steer you towards their comfort zone

Tyvek and Typar are both designed to allow vapor out while blocking larger water (rain) dropplets from coming in, while also blocking wind infiltration. Personally I'd use Tyvek and religeously tape ALL seems with the (expensive) Tyvek tape. Then apply the fiber cement siding to it.

Most of this sort of wrap also has lines 16" on center so if your house has studs every 16" then line up the wrap accordingly. Then be sure to nail the fiber cement into studs wherever possible - something to think about when butt joints are in the middle of an open space.

Also be SURE to caulk all butt joints and install in accordance with the manufacturer's spec. One thing about fiber cement is that it is impervious to moisture that may be coming out from the inside. Therefore it holds paint really well. But if your house does not have a decent vapor barrier then you may want to eventually re-do inside sheetrock over a new/tight vapor barrier.

My opinions are made with your location in mind BTW. In other parts of the country my recommendations may not apply...?....

~paul