House wrap and the exterior weather barrier
House wrap sits behind siding or other exterior cladding. DuPont™ Tyvek® HomeWrap® is a weather-resistive barrier designed to resist bulk water and air movement while allowing water vapour to pass through. Its performance depends on the installed assembly, including the connections around openings.
Good envelope work is about the connections as well as the coverage. Seams, corners and wall openings all contribute to a continuous weather barrier. We focus on this layer of the building, with Tyvek installation and window preparation forming the core of our work.
Window preparation and flashing connections
The wall membrane needs to connect with the details at windows and doors. Flashing helps direct water toward the exterior, while the air barrier connections help limit leakage. Those junctions deserve attention when planning the wrap and window installation together.
We offer window preparation alongside Tyvek installation. Let us know whether windows are already supplied or installed, which openings are involved and whether the project has flashing details. Include these drawings with the wider envelope scope so the work can be discussed together.
Planning a Tyvek installation with your contractor
For builders and general contractors, a useful enquiry includes elevations, the specified wrap, approximate wall area, opening details and the stage of construction. Flag the planned window and cladding dates, along with scaffolding or other access arrangements, so we can discuss the installation sequence and quote scope.
For homeowners, start with the property location, exterior photos and the work you are considering. Tell us whether this is new construction or an existing wall being opened up. You can contact us before every detail is settled; explain what is already decided and what still needs discussion.
See Tyvek HomeWrap in our projects
Our building envelope projects include multi-storey residential exteriors with Tyvek HomeWrap visible before the cladding is installed. The photographs show the relationship between wall coverage and window openings. View these projects alongside our window preparation photos when discussing a similar scope.
Questions about Tyvek installation
Is Tyvek a vapour barrier?
Tyvek HomeWrap is vapour-permeable: it lets water vapour pass through while resisting air and bulk water. It serves a different purpose from a vapour barrier. The appropriate layers and their placement depend on the wall design and specified products.
Is house wrap the same as a rainscreen?
House wrap is a membrane within the wall assembly. A rainscreen includes a drainage space behind the exterior cladding. The wrap, flashing and drainage details work together; the project drawings should identify each part of the assembly and the scope of each trade.
How much does Tyvek installation cost?
A useful quote needs more than the building's floor area. Share the approximate exterior wall area, number of openings, building height, access arrangements and specified materials. Existing wall conditions and the work included around windows also help define the scope. Contact us for a free project quote.