House wrap is a thin, specially formulated plastic that is used instead of the traditional asphalt-impregnated building paper or felt in new housing construction. It lowers energy costs, keeps moisture from soaking into the structure and allows water vapor to exit (to prevent mold). House wrap works particularly well in coastal areas or humid climates with heavy rainfall.
Typical costs:
Depending on size, shape and location of the house, it can cost $250-$550 or more for labor and materials to install house wrap as part of the construction of a typical home. This includes using the installation tape recommended for the specific brand of house wrap being installed and plastic cap nails or cap screws that help prevent the house wrap from tearing in the wind while the house is under construction.
House wrap is the typically light-colored material stamped with brand names like "Tyvek" or "Typar" or sometimes the builder's name. It is often visible on the outside walls of an under-construction house, before the exterior siding, brick or stucco has been installed. It has been described as similar to a Gore-Tex jacket for a house, because it provides a relatively waterproof protective layer while still allowing the structure to "breathe" out water vapor so there isn't an interior buildup of moisture. The federal government provides a technical fact sheet[1] about the purposes and uses of house wrap.
Although house wrap is available in 3-foot-wide rolls, typically the rolls are 9 feet wide and installation requires two workers. House wrap is only installed as part of new construction, and should be "wrapped" around the house before the windows and doors are installed (and before any outer siding, bricks or stucco). Improper installation can cause problems with moisture, mold and rot. Installers should start from the bottom and work their way up; upper layers should always be lapped over lower layers; and all joints or seams should be lapped and taped with the correct house wrap tape for that specific brand of house wrap. BobVila.com provides a video demonstration of house wrap installation, and toolbelt.buildiq.com illustrates how house wrap should be installed around windows, doors, intersecting roofs and other obstacles.
Shopping for house wrap:
Because house wrap is a building material installed during construction of a new house or an addition, it is typically included as part of the larger construction project; talk to the general contractor about whether house wrap or traditional building paper/felt is better in the local climate. Fine Homebuilding magazine provides an overview of the house wrap choices[2] available.
The first house wrap on the market and still the most commonly used is Tyvek HomeWrap[3] by Dupont. There are many other house wrap products available, such as BreatheEZ[4] , ProWrap[5] and Typar[6] .
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