House wrap - 30lb. felt vs Synthetic(Tyvek type stuff)

[Cropduster172]

Narrowed down quotes to get our beach house resided. Of the 5 or so quotes, none included the actual Tyvek brand. It was the CertainTeed version synthetic wrap.
In fact 2 of the contractors stated they simply won't use Tyvek brand
One of the quotes and likely the one we're going to choose recommends 30lb felt/ tar paper. Says he's torn siding off of hundreds of houses and in almost every case, the tar paper looks new and the seating underneath does too. Said he's seen failures of 10 years old synthetic wrap.

I'm leaning towards 30 lb felt. I think they're probably both ok and correct installation is likely more important than the wrap itself and I believe the felt is easier for them to work with so the likelihood of solid installation is greater.

 

[Rand]

I think you have that backwards tyvek is easier to install, lighter, more durable, and harder to mess up.
Tar paper is the cheap budget option that has no advantages except price.

 

[Cropduster172]

I think you have that backwards tyvek is easier to install, lighter, more durable, and harder to mess up.
Tar paper is the cheap budget option that has no advantages except price.

No. What several of the contractors told me was the synthetic is difficult to work with because it's so lightweight it blows around with minimal breeze. They were OK with synthetic as long as wasn't Tyvek brand. Neighbor there owns a commercial construction company, he says they use 30 lb felt for projects like marinas. Guy that's going to get the job has been doing roofing and siding for 30+ years. He likes the 30lb felt for siding jobs over synthetic too. It's not a cost difference thing either. As long as windows, doors, vents get flashed properly and the felt is underlapped 6", it's good.

 

[Donald]

House wrap is an old way of doing things when building a house. The better way is zip board or similar.

 

[Cropduster172]

House wrap is an old way of doing things when building a house. The better way is zip board or similar.

For new construction perhaps. But you don't resheath an existing home just because you're getting new siding.
Also, the Zip system has a way to go before exceeding the reliability of plywood, OSB and house wrap...tar paper or synthetic.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Narrowed down quotes to get our beach house resided. Of the 5 or so quotes, none included the actual Tyvek brand. It was the CertainTeed version synthetic wrap.
In fact 2 of the contractors stated they simply won't use Tyvek brand
One of the quotes and likely the one we're going to choose recommends 30lb felt/ tar paper. Says he's torn siding off of hundreds of houses and in almost every case, the tar paper looks new and the seating underneath does too. Said he's seen failures of 10 years old synthetic wrap.

I'm leaning towards 30 lb felt. I think they're probably both ok and correct installation is likely more important than the wrap itself and I believe the felt is easier for them to work with so the likelihood of solid installation is greater.

Tyvek was the original and their patent expired years ago so others have their own product. I've seen a failure from off a builder lable brand but it could've easily been due to improper flashing around windows. For siding on a beach house I would build out a rain screen but that's expensive. The second option would be Tyvek drain wrap. The crinkles allow for bulk water to drain and you can tape the seams to reduce the amount of air entering the walls.

30 lb tar paper works fine with regards to keeping bulk water out but less so as an air barrier. However, since the walls are going to be stripped down to the sheathing you could tape the seams of the sheathing (ex, ZIP TAPE), and the sheathing would become your air barrier.

 

[Cropduster172]

Tyvek was the original and their patent expired years ago so others have their own product. I've seen a failure from off a builder lable brand but it could've easily been due to improper flashing around windows. For siding on a beach house I would build out a rain screen but that's expensive. The second option would be Tyvek drain wrap. The crinkles allow for bulk water to drain and you can tape the seams to reduce the amount of air entering the walls.

30 lb tar paper works fine with regards to keeping bulk water out but less so as an air barrier. However, since the walls are going to be stripped down to the sheathing you could tape the seams of the sheathing (ex, ZIP TAPE), and the sheathing would become your air barrier.

I went with 30lb tar paper. They flash tape all windows and doors and vent/wall openings. CertainTeed Carolina Beaded siding and we decided to go with a new roof too. $34,500 all in.

 

[thastinger]

House wrap is an old way of doing things when building a house. The better way is zip board or similar.

He already has sheathing on the house.

 

[walterjay]

I'm not recommending one over the other, but I have seen older homes stripped down that had tar paper underlayment and the wood beneath looked like new.

 

[Cropduster172]

I'm not recommending one over the other, but I have seen older homes stripped down that had tar paper underlayment and the wood beneath looked like new.

That's exactly what the contractor I went with said.

 

[alarmguy]

Im partial for myself to house wrap to seal out air infiltration but tar paper is ok too depending on how you look at it, tar paper will allow the house to breathe and not hold in moisture.
Bottom line, it depends on who does the installation. Because if the wrap isnt done right the whole thing is pointless moisture can trap behind it if water gets in, if its done right it will be more energy efficient. Tar paper will be a little more forgiving is my thought.

 

[JTK]

.... I've seen a failure from off a builder lable brand but it could've easily been due to improper flashing around windows.

That would be my thoughts on that as well.

I doubt the actual product fails. The failure is in the installation.

 

[alarmguy]

That would be my thoughts on that as well.

I doubt the actual product fails. The failure is in the installation.

You guys would die seeing what goes on with some builders and house wrap. Every day of our lives we are surrounded by new homes construction. Some do real well with the wrap and then at other times, if the siding isn't delivered in time. The house sits there with the wrap exposed. I saw one home (as well as others) last fall with a wrapped house that took WEEKS to side and the wind kept ripping the wrap off the house. I said to my wife, they have to rewrap the house before siding as I saw them re-nail it many times over those weeks.
Nope. final re-nail right before the siding went on. I mean at one point some sheets were just hanging off the house, torn from those nail fasteners with the plastic type washers at the end.

Besides the warp, my faith in the "tape" flashing around windows and doors would be non-existent. Some do it sloppy to begin with, never mind the wind ripping the stuff off.
BTW- this same issue can happen with Zip Board. Some homes sit for a while before siding. MANY times the tape job is sloppy at best and not properly done if ever. A big issue with Zip Board too. Even a careful contractor can have areas of loose not well adhered tape between seems

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

You guys would die seeing what goes on with some builders and house wrap. Every day of our lives we are surrounded by new homes construction. Some do real well with the wrap and then at other times, if the siding isn't delivered in time. The house sits there with the wrap exposed. I saw one home (as well as others) last fall with a wrapped house that took WEEKS to side and the wind kept ripping the wrap off the house. I said to my wife, they have to rewrap the house before siding as I saw them re-nail it many times over those weeks.
Nope. final re-nail right before the siding went on. I mean at one point some sheets were just hanging off the house, torn from those nail fasteners with the plastic type washers at the end.

Besides the warp, my faith in the "tape" flashing around windows and doors would be non-existent. Some do it sloppy to begin with, never mind the wind ripping the stuff off.
BTW- this same issue can happen with Zip Board. Some homes sit for a while before siding. MANY times the tape job is sloppy at best and not properly done if ever. A big issue with Zip Board too. Even a careful contractor can have areas of loose not well adhered tape between seems

Installer error is almost always the problem. They should tape the tears and taping the seams would hlep keep the wrb from billowing and tearing. A big issue with ZIP occurs when the framers haven't been trained to not overdrive the nails but smudge of liquid flashing will cover the holes just fine.

FWIW Tyvek has an exposure time of 4 months. I imagine others are similar.
Zip System is 6 months.

 

[Cropduster172]

The preferred materials for new construction where our beach house is Zip System more and more but still plenty of OSB and occasionally plywood. Synthetic wrap but still tar paper maybe 25%. Almost always HardiePlank. Black windows are popular lately too.

 

[tbm5690]

Black windows are popular lately too.

That is a trend that everyone will regret in about a decade.

 

[4WD]

My house was built in 1970. Cut the brick 4 years ago putting in French doors. Tarpaper looked new. Pulled perfectly good 20 year old off the roof only bcs they all bid the new type for 30 year shingles

 

[nthach]

I think you have that backwards tyvek is easier to install, lighter, more durable, and harder to mess up.
Tar paper is the cheap budget option that has no advantages except price.

The same thing in roofing too - woven polypropylene is the preferred choice vs. 15-30lb felt. For the same reasons and it’s textured/coated to assist with traction on the roof deck.

Around here, Tyvek or house wrap is used. Tar paper/felt is more for stucco.