Any of several spun-fiber polyolefin rolled sheet goods for wrapping the exterior of the building envelope. Touted as an air barrier that can "breathe" with respect to water in the vapor phase but repel water in the liquid state, its properties do NOT include uni-directional vapor permeability, and its properties in comparison to traditional asphalt-impregnated building paper must be carefully considered when designing exterior wall profiles.
Housewrap is a sheet of plastic, often fiber-reinforced, that is used to reduce air leakage in new homes. These sheets are wrapped around the outside of a house during construction. Builders must seal the housewrap at all joints and seams to create a truly continuous, effective air retarder.
Any of the numerous spun-fiber polyolefin rolled sheet goods, or perforated plastic films designed to function as drainage planes.
Sometimes called building paper or infiltration barrier or Tyvek, this material wraps the cold side of a wall and is intended to substantially eliminate passage of air and moisture.
RELATIVELY NEW TECHNOLOGY INVOLVING THE FRAME OF A HOME BEING WRAPPED WITH A MATERIAL DESIGNED TO LET WATER VAPOR OUT AND STOP WIND FROM COMING IN, THEREBY KEEPING INSULATION DRY AND MAKING THE HOME SNUG AS A BUG.
Housewrap defines all synthetic replacement materials for sheathing tar paper or asphalt paper. These materials are all lighter in weight and usually wider than asphalt designs, so contractors can apply the material much faster to a house shell. Housewrap functions as a moisture barrier, preventing rain from getting into the stud wall construction while allowing moisture vapor to pass out from the house's interior living space to the exterior.