Avoid Cheap House Wrap
Perm rate measures how quickly a house wrap lets water vapor escape. Low‑cost wraps typically post a perm rating of just eight to 12, and that’s trouble—especially in cold‑climate or older homes lacking other moisture barriers. Vapor sneaks through the wall cavity, hits the wrap, condenses into frost, then melts, leaving damp sheathing and soggy insulation. Skip the budget roll and follow house wrap best practices: choose a high‑perm product such as Tyvek, rated around 54, to keep walls dry and energy‑efficient.
Why You Need to Use Cap Nails Now
The days of using a hammer tacker to install house wrap are gone. Today, most house wrap manufacturers require their product to be installed with cap nails or cap staples. This change definitely slows down the process, but on the upside, capped fasteners hold house wrap to the wall up to 25 times better than staples.
Using capped fasteners will ensure a good night’s sleep on those windy nights knowing the house wrap you installed last week is not blowing all over the neighborhood.
Install Capped Fasteners With the “Stinger”
Hand-nailing capped fasteners is effective, but it’s incredibly slow for any DIY house wrap project. Change the Stinger® Cap Staple Hammer for the hammer. Though it drives cap nails—just what today’s rules need for house wrap best practices—the tool works like a standard hammer-tacker. Although caps are more expensive and the equipment requires several practice shots to perfect, the quickness and consistent fastening make it a better option than driving each cap nail by hand.
Save Time—Buy 3-inch Tape
Back when DIY house‑wrap installation was simpler, you only taped vertical seams. Today, every joint needs a tight seal, and manufacturers insist at least 1 inch of tape bonds to each side. That’s nearly impossible with 2‑inch rolls. Therefore, grab 3‑inch seam tape so sealing house wrap seams is fast, code‑compliant and weather‑tight. If your supplier doesn’t carry 3‑inch rolls, have them order some—or source them online in minutes.
Cut House Wrap to Workable Sizes
A windy day can make house wrap installation a frustrating experience at best. So cut full rolls down to more manageable sizes with a circular saw. Most saws won’t cut all the way through a full roll, so cut as deep as you can, then twist the roll until the cut is complete. Smaller rolls means more tape on the horizontal seams, but the labor it saves is worth the extra trouble and expense.
Prime Wood Siding Before Installing House Wrap
Because house wrap sheds indoor moisture outward, condensation often forms on its surface. That water can wick into wood siding and peel the paint. For efficient setup and to learn common house wrap installation mistakes to avoid, always prime or seal the back of every siding board before hanging it. A quick coat adds pennies per square foot yet protects the finish for years.
Talk to Subcontractors About Installing House Wrap
If you’re the general contractor, make sure there’s an extra roll of house wrap at the job site for the framers, electricians and any other sub who’s going to be attaching objects to the wall. (Include instructions for installing it!) Soffit stringers, trim boards and electrical meters all need house wrap behind them.
Tack, Straighten, Fasten
Starting a new course of house wrap? Resist the urge to pin the entire vertical edge. For smooth, wrinkle‑free results in your DIY house‑wrap installation, position the roll, then tack a few capped fasteners in the center. Roll out several feet, slide the sheet up or down as needed, and only then secure the rest. Wrinkles aren’t just sloppy—they trap water, a classic house‑wrap installation mistake to avoid.
Don’t Cut Out Window Openings
The way we used to deal with window openings was to roll house wrap right over them, cut them out, then move on down the wall. It was quick, but there’s a much better way.
After the opening is covered, make one cut with your knife straight up and down in the center. Next, cut the house wrap flush at the top and bottom of the opening, creating two flaps. Wrap the flaps inside the building, past the jack stud, before cutting off the excess. At the top, slice several inches up and away at an angle, and hold the flap up with a piece of tape (it will be folded back down and taped after the window is installed).
The opening is now ready for pan flashing and a window. This method will meet the requirements of most window manufacturers, and best of all, the inspector will be happy.
For more information on this step, read our story on window installation.
Overlap 6 Inches or More
A golden rule in how to install house wrap: treat it like shingles. Beginning at the bottom, lap each new sheet over the one below by at least 6 inches—8 inches in high-wind zones. Proper sealing of house-wrap seams combined with this substantial overlap directs water securely outside and stops blow-backs.
Seal Existing Windows and Doors With Tape
If you’re installing house wrap around existing windows and doors, most building inspectors require those windows and doors to be sealed directly to the house wrap. This means you have to roll a butyl-style tape up onto the edge of the brick mold or window itself. This can be a tedious operation, especially if you’re working with a super-sticky tape. Here’s a suggestion: Don’t peel off the window tape backing all at once; do just one section at a time.
Every Wall Penetration Needs Tape
It’s not only seams that need taping—everything that penetrates a wall needs it too! Regular house wrap tape is usually sufficient.
Here’s how to deal with a pipe. Cut out around it as closely as you can, then make two angled cuts up and away from the top of the pipe. Tape the flap up to keep it out of the way and then, starting at the bottom, tape the pipe to the wall. Finally, fold down the flap and tape it up.
Simple Trick for Cutting House Wrap
A sharp utility knife slices house wrap easily—until the last inch of a small cutoff crumples the roll. Start your cut in the roll’s middle, slice one half, leave a 1-inch hinge, then cut the other half for a more seamless DIY house-wrap installation. Tear along the hinge for a smooth edge free of wrinkles—one less house-wrap installation error to avoid.
Pro tip: pre-measure and identify these off-cuts so you can get the precise length you need when sealing house-wrap seams around pipes, vents or tight corners. This little preparation step reduces wasted material and quickens the task.
How to Patch Large Holes and Tears
Inevitably you’ll have to deal with a tear in your beautiful handiwork. Small holes and tears can be repaired with tape, but larger ones require a patch. Here’s how to do it. Make a horizontal slice in the house wrap just above the damaged area and slide in a patch, making sure to cover the hole by 2 in. in every direction. Then, tape up the seams.
Why House Wrap is Essential for Building Protection
House wrap is like an invisible shield that protects a building from damage and makes sure it meets building codes. Installed between sheathing and siding, it prevents rot, mold and peeling finishes by blocking wind-driven rain while allowing interior vapor to escape. Without this barrier, air leaks can rob as much as 30% of a home’s conditioned air. Modern rules now need continuous wraps with taped seams. By following house wrap best practices—proper overlaps, cap fasteners and careful sealing of house-wrap seams—you produce a permeable envelope that reduces energy costs, maintains insulation value and prolongs siding life. Ignore it, and costly callbacks or moisture damage aren’t far behind.
FAQ
Can I install house wrap in cold or wet weather?
Certainly, provided the sheathing remains dry and winds remain below 15 mph. To prevent wrinkling and bad adhesion under harsh conditions, use low-temperature tapes, shorter lengths you can manage, and add additional cap fasteners—common house wrap installation errors.
How long can house wrap remain exposed before siding?
Most brands allow 30 to 180 days of exposure. Consult the datasheet. Beyond that, ultraviolet light degrades fibers and loosens fasteners. If there are delays, re-inspect, retape, and refasten; proactive maintenance is part of house wrap best practices to maintain the barrier intact.
Sources:
The post 14 Essential Tips For Installing House Wrap Correctly appeared first on Family Handyman.
Article source here: 14 Essential Tips For Installing House Wrap Correctly
No comments:
Post a Comment