If you can control the rain, you can control the mold and rot that grows in buildings. Of course, no one can control the rain—but you can use materials that reliably divert moisture down and away from a structure. Contractors can use water-resistive barriers (WRB), such as housewraps and drainwraps, to protect the structural integrity of their buildings and make them more livable.
What’s the Difference Between Housewrap and Drainwrap?
Housewraps are moisture-resistant barriers between the sheathing and exterior siding of the house. They are made of a variety of materials like synthetic propylene, laminated films, or spun fibers woven together. Whatever the composition, a housewrap’s main purpose is to prevent water infiltration.
Drainwraps provide enhanced drainage between the sheathing and cladding. They’re designed to channel rain and moisture away from the wall system with perforations or vertically grooved surfaces. For example, Barricade’s Building Wrap has perforations that have been designed with the angle, size, and direction that offer maximum performance to resist water and UV degradation.
Housewrap vs. Drainwrap – which to use?
While housewraps can get the job done depending on where you’re building, drainwraps are particularly good for rainy regions like the Midwest. With the right drain wrap, you can protect your buildings from water damage, provide air resistance, preserve insulation, and protect against mold and mildew. They’re also flexible enough to protect any unique architectural elements of your build, and they’re very easy to install.
If you’re opting for the advantages of fiber cement siding, such as James Hardie, the vertical ribs of drainwraps are ideal, because they’re designed to drain moisture, which fiber cement tends to retain. Housewraps, meanwhile, have flat surfaces—which can work if you’re in a place where rain evaporates quickly, but not so much if you’re dealing with a lot of humidity in addition to that moisture retention.
For these reasons, Barricade Drainage Wrap and James Hardie siding form a dynamic duo: two extremely high-quality brands that complement each other perfectly.
Barricade Hits the Sweet Spot
According to noted building scientist Joseph Lstiburek, the “sweet spot” for WRB permeance is between 10 and 20 perms. If it’s above 20, you risk too much moisture being driven into the wall cavity, and if it’s below 10, you make it harder for the wall cavity to dry out during the heating season.
Barricade Drainage Wrap is non-perforated and non-woven, and its perm rating is 12, right in the ideal zone for putting moisture exactly where it needs to go. Its engineered surface pattern prevents water from collecting in pressure points and sends it down to the flashing, which carries it away from the wall.
Of course, before you can worry about the moisture levels in the finished building, you need to make sure the wrap stands up to wind and UV rays. Barricade Drainage Wrap is designed to endure high winds and can resist UV rays for up to 4 months, giving you plenty of time to get everything installed.
Barricade and James Hardie: A Perfect Match
Fiber cement siding is extremely sturdy, making it a great value in the long-term. And James Hardie offers fiber cement siding that’s so tough, it can survive historic wildfires. But we’re talking about water, and while James Hardie’s fiber cement is warranted to not crack, split, or warp from water damage, it can still benefit from high-quality drainwrap.
According to James Hardie’s own Exterior Wall Drainage Requirements, builders in moist and marine climates like the Midwest need to use WRB with a drainage efficiency of at least 90% — and Barricade Drainage Wrap comes in at a comfortable 95.4%. This not only makes it an ideal combination, but it guarantees that you’ll comply with local building codes.
Get Barricade and James Hardie from BPI
Barricade and James Hardie are both BPI partners, which means that if your lumberyards buys from us, you can easily package their products together and lower your total cost of procurement. In fact, Job Packs are just one of many value-added services that we offer. Reach out to our team today to learn more about how Barricade and James Hardie can combine to make your next build your most waterproof one yet.
If you’re a builder looking for James Hardie siding or Barricade wrap, locate a dealer near you.
