Tyvek HomeWrap Weather Barrier System
Drive by almost any construction site, and you're probably going to see buildings being wrapped with Tyvek house wrap. House wrap has become so ubiquitous that it's almost taken for granted; but what is it used for? For builders of any home, especially a green home, there are very good reasons why builders use Tyvek.
The Tyvek Weatherization System
For over 25 years, Tyvek has been the first choice for house wrapping on millions of homes. The reason? Effective yet affordable protection against the elements.
Moisture Control:
Moisture is a home interiors' enemy. The Tyvek home wrap, applied to the homes' exterior underneath the exterior siding, seals off the building envelope. Water from outside is kept outside and away from interior walls, where it can break down insulation and contribute to unhealthy mold growth.
Reduces Air Infiltration:
A Tyvek-wrapped home also significantly reduces air infiltration into the building envelope. An airtight structure is an energy-efficient structure: heated or cooled air is kept inside, and outside air is kept out. It's a simple equation, but it was harder to achieve in a home than many would think possible, until the introduction of Tyvek HomeWrap.
By protecting a home against wind and rain, Tyvek HomeWrap works with the other wall components (siding, insulation, etc.) to reduce energy bills, keeping a home cooler in summertime, warmer in the winter, and safely dry all the time. Data provided by DuPont, the maker of Tyvek, indicates that the use of Tyvek HomeWrap on a home can reduce annual energy costs by up to 20% compared to the same house without a weatherization barrier.
How Tyvek HomeWrap Works
Tyvek HomeWraps' unique composition allows it to keep a home safe and comfortable; its' exclusive non-woven structure blocks outside water completely. Tyvek is also breathable, which is crucial. While it excels at keeping moisture from infiltrating into the wall, it also 'breathes,' allowing trapped moisture vapor inside the wall to pass through to the exterior. This important feature works to keep the wall structure dry, further preventing mold growth and reducing wood or metal degradation.
While Tyvek HomeWrap is breathable to control moisture, the non-woven structure blocks air movement from entering the wall structure. It acts like a giant wind-breaker jacket for the entire home, keeping wind from moving through the wall structure into the home.
Tyvek HomeWrap and Your Green Home
A green, energy-efficient home requires all of its components to work together to achieve significant energy reductions. Tyvek HomeWrap is an important part of the team. By reducing air and water infiltration into the home while allowing interior moisture to escape, Tyvek helps to increase energy-efficiency.Tyvek works with the walls' insulation to maintain the walls' installed R-Value. All of this performance means the homes' HVAC works less, allows for a proper-sized HVAC system, and saves energy (and money) year-round.
For homeowners hoping to achieve a green certification for their home (such as LEED and NAHB Green Building Certification), Tyvek HomeWrap will help that certification become a reality.
LEED Certification
For all of its' advantages stated above, Tyvek HomeWrap contributes LEED points toward a homes' certification in several categories, demonstrating its' multiple green attributes. These categories include:
Energy & Atmosphere
Indoor Environmental Air Quality
Materials & Resources (All adhesives and sealants used in Tyvek are low-VOC)
NAHB Green Building Certification
Tyvek HomeWrap also contributes significant points (up to 17 points) toward certification in the NAHB Green Building Certification Program by protecting the home from bulk water intrusion and air infiltration.
Tyvek HomeWrap will help a home meet the criteria for these and any other green building certification program. Whether an owner chooses green certification or not, the result is the same: a more energy-efficient, comfortable, and money-saving home.
Related Tyvek Products
Tyvek HomeWrap is the perfect weatherization barrier for walls; DuPont also offers products for roofing and attic areas, which also help a home be as energy-efficient and safe as possible.
Tyvek ThermaWrap: Tyvek HomeWrap with an additional consisting of a low-emissivity metallized surface designed to manage radiant heat flow through wall systems for additional energy efficiency in hot and cold weather.
DuPont RoofLiner: A lightweight roof underlayment offering superior tear and UV resistance, waterproofing, and resistance to mold growth.
Tyvek AtticWrap: Tyvek AtticWrap is a breathable membrane with a metallized surface to reflect heat away from a homes' attic space and creating a sealed attic system by reducing air leakage and energy loss through the roof.
To visit the Tyvek HomeWrap website, click HERE.
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