What is so important about housewrap?

Many people do not even think to ask this question. They think that if the siding looks good on the outside, things must be good on the inside.

The truth is that wind and water are your homes worst enemies and the siding alone cannot keep all of the air and water out of your walls. That’s because every house has gaps and openings around windows, near plumbing and electrical penetrations, between building panels, etc. On a typical siding installation there are various points of entry for air and water. Window trims, any horizontal trim such as belly bands, electrical and plumbing outlets, joints between siding, and doors are some of these points. The “old school” thought was that caulking will keep the water out; the fact is that caulking will fail over time and only a properly installed weather barrier system will protect your home from the rain and wind so prevalent in the Pacific Northwest.

Olympic Siding offers a full line of weatherization services from installing Tyvek housewraps to the installation of windows on new construction and remodeling projects.

Olympic Siding is proud to use Dupont Tyvek Homewrap and the entire line of Tyvek wraps, tapes, and flashings. By using a properly installed weatherization system by Tyvek you will stop water infiltration and reduce air movement through your walls thereby maintaining the R-value of your insulation.

Properly installed windows including Tyvek Flexwrap pan on the window sill, tilted sill with shims to allow for drainage to the outside in case of window failure, caulking behind the nail fin on sides and top, and Tyvek Flashing tape on sides and top will ensure a leakproof window. Taking shortcuts and using inferior products will lead to this…

Preventing water from entering at plumbing and electrical outlets in accomplished by using Quickflash panels at all penetrations. Again, at Olympic Siding we take the time and effort to protect your home using the best products in the industry.

Wrong way/Right way Photos

So remember, your siding will keep the bulk of the water out of your walls, but it is the small percentage that will get through that has to be diverted through proper weatherization.