Best Waterproof House Wrap | Comparison of Top 5 House Wraps
Whether you are renovating your current home or building a new one, there are many issues you need to be prepared for. Among them, checking moisture permeation is the most important.
Water can penetrate your walls through snow and rain causing widespread damage throughout your house. One way to deal with this issue is to employ waterproof house wrap.
House wrap (also known as a home wrap) in general denotes a lightweight synthetic material that is fitted underneath the siding of a house.
List of Top Waterproof House Wraps
Why is Waterproof House Wrap Required?
While it may appear like a superfluous and time-consuming addendum to your house, every home needs a waterproof house wrap regardless of the climate the home is in.
This is because your home’s exterior and interior walls are vulnerable to harboring moisture, even if your climate is dry.
Waterproof house wrap is essential because it will help stop water from infiltrating through the exterior walls and into the inside of your house, which ultimately helps to ensure a comfortable and healthy indoor environment.
Note that house wrap serves as a wetness barrier but it is not invulnerable to water. If you directly expose it to water for prolonged periods, the water may seep through.
Nevertheless, given that your house wrap is installed under the external siding of your house, being one hundred percent waterproof is not essential.
With that said, how can you select the best waterproof house wrap when there are numerous options to consider? Keep reading to find out.
Top 5 Best Waterproof House Wraps [Specifications, Pros & Cons]
1. Barricade House Wrap Plus 3′ x 150′ Roll
Best Permeability Rating
This house wrap is waterproof, breathable, and durable – all reasons why it sits atop this list. If moisture creeps into your wall system, it could cause many issues and you may end up having a lot of repairs to do.
Barricade House Wrap Plus comes with a distinctive, micro-porous breathable, membrane that restricts incoming moisture whilst permitting unwanted moisture to seep out of your wall system.
Its permeability rating is 11 US Perms meaning that it is not susceptible to shutting in moisture inside the wall cavity.
The product also scores high when it comes to resisting bulk water and its high surfactant resistance means that it is not affected by job site chemicals, detergents, or sugars from wood sidings and tree sap.
It comes with exclusive ultraviolet stabilizers that shield the product from the unforgiving sun’s rays.
Barricade Wrap Plus delivers outstanding strength thanks to its non-perforated and non-woven polyolefin makeup. Heavy winds can cause severe damage to your home wrap while it is being installed.
Owing to its tear-resistant construction, this Barricade house wrap model provides remarkable tear and wind resistance so you can rest easy knowing that your precious wrap will not get damaged during installation.
The product is semi-transparent so the sheeting surface and studs can be seen during application.
The product is also lightweight, simple to handle, and offered in several widths and lengths to suit the requirements of any construction undertaking. All these can only mean that Barricade is not difficult to install.
Specifications
- Non-perforated membrane
- 16 US permeability rating
- UV light resistance: 9 months
- Tensile strength per ASTM D-5034: 63.3 Ibs/Inch MD
- Weight: 10.84 pounds
- 10-year limited system warranty
- Drainage efficiency: ASTM 2273 – Pass
Benefits
- High UV exposure rating
- Easy to setup
- High tensile strength for enhanced durability
- Superior temperature resistance
- Vapor permeable
- Offers admirable waterproof protection
- Surfactant resistance against job site chemicals
- Resists bulk water
Drawbacks
- Somewhat pricey
2. Typar DrainableWrap
Best Durability
Regardless of where you install this house wrap from Typar, you are assured to have the utmost protection against moisture infiltration.
Typar DrainableWrap has passed the AATCC 127 benchmark, which means its waterproof performance rating is enough to safeguard your walls against moisture, rot, and mold.
The unique thing about this impressive home wrap is that its ability to shed bulk water is greater compared to that of conventional home wraps.
The wrap is fitted with a layer of arbitrarily oriented layers that helps it discard excess water quickly. This makes it exceptionally good for use in high moisture localities.
Plus, the material construction of the product allows for a multidirectional flow. It stops water and air from seeping in from the exterior and allows moisture inside your wall system to escape.
When selecting a home wrap, you must consider its surfactant resistance capability. Typar DrainableWrap is specially crafted using a specialized veneer that resists surfactants.
It also has a high UV exposure rating as it can be left exposed to UV light for up to 6 months without getting degraded. The product also scores high concerning tensile strength. The wrap’s tear strength is 5 times greater compared to that of the competition.
If you plan to build within a wet coastline climate, DrainableWrap from Typar should top your list of home wrap options.
Specifications
- UV light resistance: 6 months
- Drainage efficiency per E2273: 94.8%
- Hydrostatic pressure resistance per AATCC 127: 500 cm
- Basis Weight per D5261: 3.04 oz/yd2
- Tensile strength per D5034: 67 ibs MD
- Moisture Vapor Transmission rating per E96-95 A: 11.7 perms
Benefits
- Easy installation
- Remarkable surfactant resistance
- Highly durable due to its high tensile strength
- Exceptional ability to stop water intrusion
- High drain rate compared to regular wraps
- Outstanding breathability
Drawbacks
- A few users say the house wrap is not so effective at resisting wind pressure
3. DuPont Tyvek HomeWrap
Best Breathable
The DuPont Tyvek HomeWrap offers great value for money due to its impressive waterproof performance rating plus other great features. The product is made by DuPont – a leading name in the home building industry.
The wrap is produced using olefin sheets that are made from high-density polyethylene threads. The nonwoven house wrap is specially crafted to prevent moisture including wind-driven rain from infiltrating your wall cavities and sheathing.
Its vapor-permeable membrane will let your wall cavity breathe thus ensuring that water vapor within your house can escape to the outside.
Though other house wraps on this list can also do this, the DuPont Tyvek Homewrap delivers superior performance in this regard. Aside from preventing moisture from creeping into your wall cavities, the product has superlative wind-blocking capabilities as well.
The wrap also has a lightweight construction, which means it is easy to handle and install.
If you are looking for a house wrap that provides the perfect balance between moisture vapor breathability and water intrusion protection, the DuPont Tyvek HomeWrap may be your best bet.
Specifications
- Water Penetration resistance per ASTCC 127 method: 250 cm
- Vapor permeability rating: 56 US perms
- Tensile strength per ASTM D882 method: 30/30
- Basis weight per TAPPI T-410 method: 1.8
- UV rating: 4 months (120 days)
Benefits
- Highly durable
- Lightweight
- Excellent breathability and waterproof rating
- Easy to handle
- Distinct nonwoven structure
- Fast and simple installation
- Cost-effective
- Decreases home energy bills
Drawbacks
- A 4-months UV rating is comparatively low
- Poor surfactant resistance
- Pricey
4. Prime Wrap PR-4575 Woven Polyethylene House Wrap
Best Price
The most appealing feature of this house wrap is its completely woven and coated polyethylene structure that gives it a high degree of waterproof performance. Thanks to this feature, you will get adequate protection against outdoor moisture and drafts.
Another fantastic thing that the wrap has going for it is its high tensile strength plus tear resistance. With this attribute, you can be certain the product can withstand the force of high winds or rigors associated with installation and use.
The product’s vapor permeance rating falls in the range of 5 – 15 per ASTM E-96-A testing.
This perm rating is just enough to let vapor escape from behind your house wrap during cool weather whilst decreasing the quantity of vapor that can seep into the wall during warm weather.
Prime Wrap also offers a high degree of resistance against ultraviolet rays with its 12 months UV light resistance rating.
Prime Wrap installation around corners and edges presents no hassles owing to its high flexibility. The product is offered in different lengths & widths and complies with ICC Acceptance Criteria 38.
Specifications
- Woven polyethylene fabric
- Tensile strength per ASTM D-882: 50 Ibs/Inch MD
- Water Resistance per ASTM D-779-94: Pass
- Water vapor Permeance per ASTM E-96-A: 91.9 perms
- UV light resistance: 12 months
- Weight: 9.75 pounds
Benefits
- Lightweight yet sturdy
- Easy to handle
- Great value for money
- Offers reliable waterproof protection
- High UV light resistance rating
- Translucent for easy installation
Drawbacks
- Comes with micro-perforations
5. MFM SubSeal40 Waterproof House Wrap
Value for Money
This fantastic house wrap is self-adhering with a waterproof membrane that comprises a polymer film along with a rubberized asphalt adhesive layer.
Due to its strong waterproof capability, the product can be used to seal everything within your wall system be it interior or exterior.
The wrap’s rubberized asphalt adhesive layer means the product can stick to most surfaces including wood vinyl, metal, ICF foundations, masonry, as well as rigid insulation boards.
The product’s temperature range is very wide thus it allows for easy installation be it in cold or hot weather. MFM SubSeal40 is highly flexible and you can easily cut it into any shape you desire during installation.
For best results, SubSeal can also be installed by rolling the whole surface using a hand roller.
The product has a UV light resistance rating of 90 days so the membrane should be covered up within 90 days following application. The manufacturers have backed up their product with an incredible 10-year limited warranty.
Specifications
- Water Resistance per ASTM D 779: Pass
- Tensile strength per ASTmd 882: 21 ibs/in MD
- Vapor Permeance per ASTME 96: 0.02 g/m2 in 24h max
- UV exposure rating: 90 days
- Nail sealability per ASTMD 1970: Pass
Benefits
- Adheres easily to any clean & dry surface
- Self-seals around fasteners like screws, nails, and staples
- Easy and fast installation
- Highly durable
- Provides superior waterproof protection
Drawbacks
- A few users have complained about the product’s adhesion performance
Buying Guide to Select the Best Waterproof House Wrap
1. Waterproof Performance Rating
A house wrap is primarily designed to provide a moisture barrier to your home’s wall structure. But how can you tell whether the house wrap you are considering can get the job done?
Different testing techniques are employed to test any house wraps’ waterproof performance, however, the commonly used ones are hydrostatic pressure test and water ponding test.
The hydrostatic pressure test also referred to as AATCC 127, involves exerting a high degree of pressure on the test material (the house wrap) via a column of water. This water column is typically 55 cm or higher in size.
The water-ponding test, otherwise known as CCMC 07102, assesses the products’ resistance to a ‘pond’ of 1″ water.
The result is noted after two hours. Before you settle for a particular house wrap, you should check these ratings to verify whether the product is waterproof enough to protect your walls against water ingress.
2. Vapor Permeability
This is another key consideration. If liquid water reaches behind the house wrap from the exterior or water vapor flows out of the interior conditioned room, the house wrap’s permeability helps protect the sheathing.
Vapor permeability refers to the ability of the house wrap to pass water vapor over a particular time, decreasing the likelihood of water vapor accumulation. The optimum permeance range for house wraps is generally regarded as between 10 and 20.
3. Tear resistance and Tensile strength
When installing your home wrap, sometimes things can go wrong which may result in the wrap getting damaged and compromising its waterproof performance. To prevent this, you should choose a wrap with a high tear resistance and tensile strength.
4. Surfactant resistance
The materials used in home construction are covered in substances known as surfactants, which are typical compounds like oils and detergent.
These contaminants can decrease the waterproof property of your house wrap after prolonged exposure. Therefore, ensure you choose a home wrap with high surfactant resistance.
Comparison of Top 5 Waterproof House Wraps
If you are not able to decide yet, we brought you the comparison summary of  top 5 waterproof house wraps. Check below details and select the house wrap that suits best for your needs.
| Waterproof | Vapor permeability | Construction | UV light resistance | Tensile strength | |
| Barricade House Wrap Plus | Yes | 16 perms | Non-woven | 9 months | 63.3 lbs/in MD |
| Typar DrainableWrap | Yes | 11.7 perms | Non-woven | 6 months | 67 lbs/in MD |
| DuPont Tyvek HomeWrap | Yes | 56 perms | Non-woven | 4 months | 30lbs/30in |
| Prime Wrap PR-4575 Woven Polyethylene House Wrap | Yes | 91.9 perms | woven | 12 months | 50 lbs/in MD |
| MFM SubSeal40 Waterproof House Wrap | Yes | 50 perms | Non-woven | 90 days | 21 lbs/in MD |
Final Words:
Those are our top recommendations for the best waterproof house wrap to stop moisture from seeping into your wall system.
With the products highlighted in this guide along with our detailed buyers’ guide, choosing the appropriate house wrap for your needs should no longer be a problem.
Remember, installing waterproof house wrap on your home will not only save you energy and money but will also create a comfortable and healthy indoor environment.
