Is your siding’s water-resistive barrier doing its job?
Feb 16, 2017
No matter how expertly your home’s siding is installed, there’s always a chance it might leak. To prevent damage to your home, you need a wall sheathing known as a water-resistive barrier (WRB), that provides a plane for draining off any water that seeps past the siding. Tyvek, for example, is a common WRB.
You also need an air barrier, which prevents that prevents the flow of air to boost energy efficiency. Air leaks can occur at seams and edges, and basement rim joist areas, to name a few.
James Hardie, the leader in fiber cement siding, developed HardieWrap®, a weather barrier that functions as both a water resistive barrier and an air barrier. This protective layer prevents air leakage while letting vapor escape and keeping water away from your home’s interior surface.
Climate has a significant impact on the effectiveness of the WRB and air barrier, so HardieWrap is engineered to accommodate those differences, indicated by HardieZone® regions. HZ5® is designed for the cold and wet climates that prevail in the northern states of the U.S. HZ10® is used in the hot and humid regions located in the southern states.
Johnson County Siding & Window Company specializes in fiber cement siding, which is recognized for its exceptional appearance, durability, and low maintenance. If you live in the Kansas City area and want to explore the advantages of James Hardie fiber cement siding, please contact us.
