IN DEPTH: Insulation and Housewrap

ZIP System R-sheathingZIP System R-sheathing from Huber Building Products provides an all-in-one exterior sheathing system that provides R-value while reducing air leakage and moisture penetration. The nailable engineered-wood base sheathing has an advanced resin technology to provide moisture protection, eliminating the need for housewrap and reducing the risk of water entrapment.

Adds Huber’s Sealock, “Moisture scares builders the most of any concern with a home. Moisture issues are the #1 factor that gets them into trouble legally and generates owner callbacks. New building products are becoming available to help with moisture control, which helps raise awareness of products that may help reduce risks during and after construction. But builders don’t make changes to their processes easily, so they have to be made aware of any significant value provided by a new product before they adopt a new approach.”

In fact, creating breathable walls may not be the best approach, says Dow’s Parsons. “Most management systems tend toward breathable walls, because it makes sense to let vapor escape and dry out. But we’ve found that homes are better off with an impermeable outside layer and by improving insulation outbound of the home.”

Breathable layers that do not provide insulation allow the wall’s outer portion to get cold while the inner parts warm, he explains. That increases relative humidity at the outermost part, creating condensation and high wood-moisture content that can harm wood. “With an insulation layer, the wall is a more consistent temperature that provides reduced humidity in the wall. Our research has been extensive, and it points to exterior insulation walls, even if impermeable, work better.”

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Fire resistance is becoming a larger factor too, says MFM’s Delcoma. “A Class A fire rating is rearing its head all over, and builders are looking for products that can meet that code requirement. It’s mostly in California right now, but they’re often ahead of the curve and not an isolated situation.” The 2015 code has stipulations for fire ratings, he notes. “More are going in that direction, so it’s definitely coming. It’s a trend for the future.” MFM is investigating a variety of fire-retardant products, he notes. “That’s kind of where the market is going.”

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