Why Is Tyvek Used Under Vinyl Siding

The wood that goes under residential siding exterior sheathing performs several functions.

Why is tyvek used under vinyl siding.

I just finished removing some vinyl siding installed in 1987. What type of wood is used under siding. On all walls and all exposure conditions there were large areas of the tyvek which were deteriorated to the point of tissue paper. They were built in the 1950s and 60s the felt was in perfect condition.

It seems that we have two options. Several areas where the tyvek had shrunk and torn mainly at window corners. I ll stick with tried and true felt paper. To sum it up house wrap is a lightweight paper like material that is most often used to completely cover the house directly on top of the sheathing and behind the vinyl siding.

I ve opened up houses built less than 5 years previous and the tyvek was shreaded like old newspaper. Its primary purpose is to prevent air and water leaks that may have seeped past the vinyl exterior. On the other hand brick stucco and other masonry based sidings can be used with house wrap but your builder will need to use the right type. I saw a new house with felt paper under the siding rather than tyvek.

I have seen literally hundreds of houses stripped of asbestos siding that had 15 felt under it. Faq s acronym s terminology to tyvek or not to tyvek that is the question. Vinyl siding can be installed directly over wall sheathing wood siding or stucco. Builder omits house wrap under siding.

I want to replace the tar paper but i can t find it at homedepot or lowes. Use tyvek over building felt under siding. By doing so however you miss out on the opportunity to add add energy savings to the project. Vinyl siding is not water proof is not intended to be water proof and i don t know a siding manufacturer that claims it to be anything more than a cladding.

One would be to remove the siding wrap the house and then reside it. Siding that s assembled from large panels such as vinyl or aluminum cladding also makes a good candidate too since water can enter through cracks where the pieces are joined. It adds insulation waterproofing and structural support. During a recent repair to our siding we found that the house had no building wrap tyvek under the siding.

This explains why the house does not retain heat. If you ve ever taken vinyl siding off a house the day after a good rain it s all wet back there anyways which is why we insist on tyvek.