How Does House Wrap Work?

General Information

• House wrap is basically a specially-formulated plastic material that contractors wrap around a home during the building process. House wrap is a more contemporary material that's a substitute for the tar or felt paper builders previously placed under siding.
  
  

Uses

• House wrap provides a number of functions. It provides a protective barrier against water, which also helps prevent wood rot to your exterior. It also provides useful insulation as it prevents air from entering your home. House wrap creates a strong seal around your doors and windows and can reduce outside air leakage by 40 percent or more. It also increases the R-value, the home's rate of insulation efficiency.
  
  

Installation

• House wrap is installed by beginning at the bottom of the house and working your way up. The installation follows a shingle-type pattern in which each layer overlaps onto the previous layer. This helps to protect the walls from dripping water. Staples are placed every 16 to 24 inches to secure the wrap in place. Use seam tape on all of the corners to keep the house wrap in place and to provide an efficient border.
  
  

Challenges

• To be most effective, the house wrap must be installed with minimal opportunities for air to escape. Some architectural features may pose a challenge when wrapping your house. Gabled roofs must be fully covered to prevent any rain seepage into the attic. Windows and doors allow a lot of air into the home, so a tight barrier is vital to an efficient house wrap installation. Additional tape or staples near window sills and door frames can help form an efficient boundary. Caulking around the sills also helps.