Mitten distributes a complete line of building envelope products designed to defend against wind, moisture and energy loss.

1. Product Knowledge Course
Introductory Level
HOUSEWRAP 101

2. Builders and remodelers understand the
importance of installing a Weather-
Resistive Barrier (WRB) behind siding.
WRB is installed to protect against air
infiltration and water that may penetrate the
exterior cladding.
Ply Gem distributes a complete line of
building envelope products designed to
defend against wind, moisture and energy
loss.
Housewrap 101
Objectives
______________________________
By the end of this course, you will
understand:
1. What is a WRB?
2. How does it function?
3. Where does air leak from a home?
4. Consequences of air leakage
5. Types of weather restrictive barriers
6. Product lines
7. Housewrap product comparison
8. Ordering and Support

3. To understand these two primary functions,
we need to examine the basic principles at work:
Deflection
• Proper shingling
to deflect water
away from the wall
Drainage
• Provide path for
bulk water to exit
the wall and prevent
potential damage
Drying
• Vapour-permeable
(high perm) building
wraps promote
drying
Durability
• Material resists on-
site damage and
performs against
the elements
Properly installed WRBs function in two ways:
1. Controls Moisture
2. Reduces Air Flow
The building envelope is a home’s first line of defense against wind, moisture and
energy loss.
What is Weather Restrictive Barrier?
WRB

4. The average household creates up to six GALLONS of moisture every day
from cooking, showering, even breathing.
Moisture must be able to escape the wall cavities of a building before
becoming condensation. If condensation is allowed to form in the wall
cavities, mold, rot, or rust could develop.
Where does air leak from a home?

5. Thermal
Comfort
Indoor Air
Quality
Moisture
Damage
Convective
Loops
HVAC
“Wind
Washing”
Indoor
Environment
Envelope
Durability
Energy
Efficiency
Wet
Insulation
A 2500 sqft home has more than ½ mile of cracks and crevices, which are open to wind and
wind-driven rain.
A properly installed Housewrap system will vastly improve the overall thermal efficiency and
performance of the building’s wall system.
Consequences of Leakage

6. There are several types of WRBs found in the building
industry:
• Polymeric Housewrap
• Grade D Building Paper
• Asphalt Felt
• Liquid-Applied WRBs
• Rigid Foam
• Zip Sheathing – Integrated OSB/foam sheathing
A WRB can be vapor-permeable
or vapor-impermeable, like a foil-faced product.
As long as the wall assembly is designed to dry out
when it gets wet, either vapor-permeable or vapor-
impermeable WRBs work well.
Types of Weather Restrictive Barriers

7. Tyvek
HomeGuard
HAL 20 30 60 Min
Building Paper
Housewrap Product Lines

8. Product Lines
8
Every square foot of Tyvek® weather
resistive barriers contains millions of
microscopic pores that resist bulk water and
air penetration while allowing vapour to pass
through them.
That means drier walls, less risk of mold and
water damage, improved insulation
performance and better heating/cooling
efficiency.
Engineered from fine,
high-density
polyethylene (HDPE)
fibers that are fused
together to create a
uniform web.
Tyvek® HomeWrap®

9. 9
Engineered with vertical grooves to provide enhanced drainage behind claddings
such as primed wood, fiber cement siding, stucco and foam board, while allowing
moisture vapour to pass through to promote drying in wall systems.
Engineered with
vertical grooves to
promote drainage in
wall systems by
helping channel water
safely to the outside
Breathable structure
allows water vapour
to pass through the
bulk water moisture
barrier:
• Promotes drying
in wall systems
Unique non-woven
fiber structure:
• Helps stop air
movement through
the walls
• Contributes to a
more energy
efficient home
Helps enhance
drainage behind
tight fitting cladding
and foam board
Tyvek® DrainWrap™
Product Lines

10. HomeGuard Housewrap
HomeGuard HP Plus Housewrap is a non-woven, non-perforated, high-quality
polyolefin material designed to be used as a secondary weather resistive barrier. The Claf
Fabric helps create an effective drainage plan while offering superior tear resistance. The
micro-porous film resists air and water, yet allows moisture as a vapor to pass through.
HomeGuard Housewrap is an engineered, woven, micro-perforated high-quality
polyolefin material designed to be used as a secondary weather resistive barrier. The
strong woven fabric ensures jobsite durability. Micro-perforations allow moisture as a
vapor to escape while shedding bulk water.
Product Lines

11. Grade D Building Paper or “black paper” is made from Kraft paper which has been
saturated with waterproofing asphalt.
Asphalt is a stable petroleum-based material and is the same product used in asphalt
pavement to bind aggregate together, and in asphalt roofing. Asphalt is very resistant to a
wet environment.
The use of two layers of building paper has become a standard detail under many types of
siding. The outer layer of paper can become damp from wet cladding; however the inner
layer keeps the wood wall separated from direct contact with this dampness. The outer
layer can take the abuses of numerous wet and dry cycles in the wall, while the inner layer
remains unaffected over time.
Many Grade D manufacturers choose to exceed the minimum water-resistance rating,
producing 20-minute, 30-minute, or 60-minute papers, and those are available through
Mitten.
HAL 20 30 60 Min Building Paper
Product Lines

12. How does housewrap differ from Grade D building paper?
Most commercially available polymeric housewraps are highly moisture-resistant and
therefore do not absorb water like typical Grade D or felt building papers.
Polyolefin housewraps are typically stronger than Grade D or felt building papers, thus
they tend to have better durability than conventional (paper-based) building paper.
HAL 20 30 60 Min Building Paper
Product Lines

13. Housewrap Product Lines Comparison

14. Ordering and Support
To order, contact Mitten’s customer service department at
1-888-MITTEN4.

15. Ordering and Support
To order, contact Mitten’s customer service department
at 1-888-MITTEN4.
Quiz
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