House Wrap

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by homebild

Not unless Code specifically overrules the maufacturer's installation instructions....I have not seen the Code supercede the Manufactures installation yet, not after all the Political, ANSI, ASTM, gruelling Standards that they have to meet before there Marketing Priveliages.

Most manufacturer's installation instruction defer to local code requirements.Only when it becomes an Ancillary product phase like the Gas Code or Mechanical and NEC Codes subject and in most cases it is upgraded by any particular Jurisdiction.

Builder and Code Inspector in Pennsylvania, Mr Haggarty.

Pennsylvania makes this 'ugly' by exempting vinyl and aluminum siding (on existing structures) from code compliance in the Commonwealth.

In such cases, the manufacturer's installation instruction would rule and it becomes an issue between the homeowner and the builder alone.

In other cases, the PA UCC would take precedence, and one would have the power of the law to assist in enforcing compliance.

In Pa, it becomes a municipality by municipality thing, and a manufacturer by manufacturer thing on existing structures.

All new construction siding in Pa as of 1-1-07 must have a water resistive barrier behind it...period.

PS: I am aquainted with one of your HouseMaster Inspectors in my region and we typically refer to one another.

I've been impressed with HouseMaster in regards to their training.... 4/1/07 5:07 PM
This seems contradictory to your previous post.

Appears like an ambiguous assesment and interpetation of the Codes.

I like to note what I see at an inspection and write it as hard as I can. I will leave the interpretation of Codes to the ones that don't have to inspect the condition of a building.
Code Compliance can and will be left to the one's holding that title.

The interpretation might not always be accurate, but I can live with that just like I can live with someone interpreting the specifications on what I build.
I just hope they did their homework. Sometimes they will discover that their specification writer took some short cuts and a boiler plate specification is born. I have always said that commen sense will go a long ways. Building paper is been under siding material of any kind for as far back as I can remember. That was not last year. And If I need too, I can access material from my teacher that goes back to 1933 in the Contruction trade.

Marcel




















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[homebild]

Marcel R Cyr said:

"I have not seen the Code supercede the Manufactures installation yet..."

That is unfortunate for you....

Here is one such example:

Certainteed vinyl siding installation instructions DO NOT require housewrap or felt paper under any of its vinyl siding products for either new construction or remodeling applications.....

The manufacturer's installation instructions only require that the structure be "watertight":

http://www.certainteed.com/NR/rdonly.../0/cts205b.pdf

Watertightness of a structure can be achieved in many ways that do not include housewraps, building papers, or any other type of secondary weather resistive membranes.

The 2006 IRC, however, requires a "water resistive barrier"...a requirement that actually goes BEYOND what the manufacturer's installation instructions require.

See Table R703.4 and sections R703.2 & R703.6.3 where you will find that the 2006 International Residential Code is actually more restrictive than the manufacturer's installation instructions (MIIs)....and where the Code takes precedence over the MIIs....

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Using the link that you provided...........

http://www.certainteed.com/NR/rdonlyres/732CB081-EE5F-4768-9374-D7C9BAC8BA02/0/cts205b.pdf

"Vinyl siding is an exterior cladding; it is not a complete
weather resistant barrier. Before applying siding, make
certain the substrate is

watertight. In order to be protected
from precipitation, the substrate may need to be properly
flashed around areas such as windows, doors, other openings
and corners so as to shed water to the exterior. The siding
alone is not meant to be a watertight barrier."

You suggest " Watertightness of a structure can be achieved in many ways that do not include housewraps, building papers, or any other type of secondary weather resistive membranes."

Examples?

[homebild]

Sure.

T1-11 siding using Z-flashing is considered 'watertight'...

Board and batten siding is considered 'watertight'....

Clapboard siding is considered 'watertight'...

You could go over any of these existing wall coverings in a remodeling application without the use of housewraps or felt paper and still meet Certainteed's MIIs...


For new construction, you could actually seal all joints in the sheathing using caulks and/or waterpoof self-adhereing flashings and still meet the MIIs without housewrap or felt paper for Certainteed Vinyl siding.

Rigid foam sheathing with taped joints would also meet Certainteed's MII requirements for 'watertight' new construction.

The 2003 International Residential Code recognized the fact that 'watertightness' could be achieved in many ways which is why, in part, the 2003 IRC did not require a "water resistive barrier" under vinyl siding.

The 2006 IRC, however, went a step beyond even many MIIs by requiring a 'water resistive barrier' where even the manufacturer requires none.

Currently, as in the case of Certainteed Vinyl Siding, the IRC 2006 overrules the MIIs and is more restrictive than the MIIs.
------------------------------------------------

Certainteed is a prime example where the MIIs are actually LESS restrictive than prevailing codes.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

It is unfortunate that some do not understand why and how Codes are written.
Ceertainteed may not require a building wrap under their Product, and this is mainly due to the fact, they do not need a weather barrier to warranty their product one way or the other.

The key here is Commen Sense and the fact that the weather barrier is there to protect the building wall assembly and not the siding.

Would it not make sense to notice that is why the code was re-written to provide a weather barrier to protect what is under the siding material whatever that might be?

Marcel
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[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Originally Posted by homebild

Sure.

T1-11 siding using Z-flashing is considered 'watertight'...

Board and batten siding is considered 'watertight'....

Clapboard siding is considered 'watertight'...

You could go over any of these existing wall coverings in a remodeling application without the use of housewraps or felt paper and still meet Certainteed's MIIs...

In these cases it would be an exterior siding over a pre-existing exterior siding.

Originally Posted by homebild

For new construction, you could actually seal all joints in the sheathing using caulks and/or waterpoof self-adhereing flashings and still meet the MIIs without housewrap or felt paper for Certainteed Vinyl siding.

Would bare OSB under the vinyl siding be considered a water tight substrate?

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Building Code Requirements
I am very respectful of building code development and the enforcement process, but I don't think building codes provide clear direction in this case. Basically, all Model codes agree on the need for a weather-resistant barrier paper (usually specified as #15 felt or Grade D Kraft paper) behind stucco, brick, stone and other porous veneers. The paper requirement is typically omitted for other types of siding when they're installed over rated structural sheathing. Alone among the codes, BOCA, in its 1998 supplement, requires a layer of #15 felt over the sheathing regardless of the siding type. BOCA has also beefed up its flashing requirements, spelling out nine areas needing flashing, and getting rid of an earlier exception for "leakproof" caulking (apparently in recognition that no caulking is leakproof for long. (See BOCA 1405.3.6 and 1405.3.10)

Marcel

[homebild]

Joseph Haggerty asked:

"Would bare OSB under the vinyl siding be considered a water tight substrate?"

No. Not in and of itself.

OSB or plywood could be considered watertight, however, if every seam was caulked and sealed and flashed in a manner to make the structure watertight.

Housewrap or felt paper are two ways to make the structure watertight.

They are just not the only way...
--

[homebild]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Building Code Requirements
I am very respectful of building code development and the enforcement process, but I don't think building codes provide clear direction in this case. Basically, all Model codes agree on the need for a weather-resistant barrier paper (usually specified as #15 felt or Grade D Kraft paper) behind stucco, brick, stone and other porous veneers. The paper requirement is typically omitted for other types of siding when they're installed over rated structural sheathing. Alone among the codes, BOCA, in its 1998 supplement, requires a layer of #15 felt over the sheathing regardless of the siding type. BOCA has also beefed up its flashing requirements, spelling out nine areas needing flashing, and getting rid of an earlier exception for "leakproof" caulking (apparently in recognition that no caulking is leakproof for long. (See BOCA 1405.3.6 and 1405.3.10)

Marcel

The BOCA Codes no longer exist and haven't since 1999.

BOCA was merged with other model code agencies to form the International Codes Council at that time.

Nearly all US States now use the ICC codes exclusively.....including Maine.

Under the current IRC 2006 version, ALL exterior wall coverings require the use of a 'water resistant barrier' which can be in the form of housewrap, felt paper or other approved methods.

It is clear from my example above that the current Code has taken a stricter position than even the manufacturer's installation instructions and is quite clear in it's mandatory requirements for a universal water resistant barrier and appropriate flashing under all wall covering types.

[poliner]

These items although sponsored explain the science behind (Tyvek) houewrap.

http://216.211.130.165:8081/code_college/Air_Barrier_OverviewO.wmv

http://216.211.130.165:8081/code_college/Air_Barrier_InstallationO.wmv

http://216.211.130.165:8081/code_college/Air_Barrier_Flashing_WindowO.wmv

http://216.211.130.165:8081/code_college/cc_thermawrap_overview.wmv

[homebild]

It is also important to note, that not all 'housewraps' are designed to be airbarriers or waterbarriers exclusively. Housewraps can be airbarriers, moisturebarriers, both or neither depending upon the material.

Not all 'housewraps' are deisgned the same.

You need to consult the technical data sheet for each 'housewrap' product to determine just what you should expect in performance in a "housewrap", and also the local building code and under which the product was installed to determine whether there is a problem or not.

Here are some helpful links:

http://www.umass.edu/bmatwt/search/f..._moisture.html

http://www.umass.edu/bmatwt/publicat...ousewraps.html

http://www.umass.edu/bmatwt/publicat...ght_walls.html

http://www.umass.edu/bmatwt/publicat..._barriers.html

[Peter W. Bennett]

Joe, your link does not work.
Here's an updated one: http://www.vinylsiding.org/publicati...07Manual%2Epdf