TYPAR® VS TYVEK® - Huttig Building Products

TYPAR®
VS TYVEK®
The facts and figures you need to make an informed decision.
There’s plenty of information (and misinformation) fl oating around
as it relates to weather-resistant barriers. As you can guess, Tyvek ®
makes a lot of claims as to the superiority of their product, but many
of their claims are just misleading.
Typar ® is a polypropylene nonwoven breathable weather membrane.
Its technologically advanced design reduces the risk of moisture
damage and mold growth in the wall cavity unlike any other product
on the market, and the facts support it.
FACT: Typar delivers the best balance of water holdout
and breathability.
• Yes, Tyvek delivers higher raw numbers for breathability—
it’s the balance of the water holdout and breathability that’s most
important. Tyvek claims that higher is better, which is not the case
in this particular instance.
• Typar technical experts insist that the true measure of a
housewrap’s effectiveness is the combined performance of
water holdout and breathability (perm rating). Typar offers the
best balance in the industry, which helps prevent moisture—
and the problems associated with moisture—in wall cavities.
• If breathability is too low, moisture vapor will not be able to
escape from the walls. If breathability is too high, moisture vapor
will be able to escape, but the housewrap’s ability to block water
from the outside decreases. Typar delivers a perm rating of 11.7,
which falls within the ideal range of 10–20.
Based on published
results according
to AATC-127 testing.
Based on published
results according to
ASTM D-5733 testing.
measured in perms
Based on published results
according to ASTM E-96-95
Procedure A testing.
*Source: Fiberweb, Inc.

FACT: Typar’s tear strength is 5 times that of Tyvek’s.
Tyvek would like you to believe that their product stands up to the rigors of the jobsite better than Typar.
But the facts prove Typar delivers tear strength that’s five times that of Tyvek. Grab strength is the preferred
testing method for tear strength, and Typar performs at more than twice the industry standard. This helps better
protect the integrity of your weather protection system, which keeps moisture from entering your wall cavity.
FACT: Tyvek has poor surfactant resistance. Typar holds up better over time.
Conveniently enough, Tyvek doesn’t even mention surfactant resistance in its literature. That’s because it’s another
area where their product falls short. Once the siding is up and final inspection is complete, housewrap still needs to
perform. Soaps from powerwashing and oils from cedar siding can degrade many housewraps. Tests prove that soap
degrades the surface of Tyvek. And once there’s a hole in the barrier, water can easily penetrate the wall cavity,
which can lead to all sorts of problems. Typar will not degrade over time, which helps keep your wall cavities dry.
FACT: Typar’s UV exposure rating is 50% longer than Tyvek’s.
Ultraviolet stability is vital to the performance of a weather barrier before it’s covered. Even limited exposure to
ultraviolet rays causes other weather barriers to deteriorate. UV inhibitors in Typar weather barriers’ coatings
and fibers provide the ultimate UV protection. In field and lab tests, Typar offers 180 days of UV protection
compared with Tyvek’s 120 days.
Properties Typar ® Tyvek ®* What it means
Water Penetration >800 cm 280 cm Both products pass minimum requirements
MVT 11.7 perms 58 perms Tyvek is outside ideal rating between 10–20
Trap Tear 33/33 lbs 6/6 lbs Typar is 5X stronger than Tyvek
UV Exposure Rating 180 days 120 days Typar offers 50% longer UV protection
*DuPont published performance specifications
Based on published results
for tear strength according to
ASTM D-5733-99 testing.
Now that you know the differences, which housewrap would you choose? The best known,
or the best performing housewrap system? Choose Typar.
For more information, call 800.284.2780 or visit www.typar.com
Building Wraps • Flashings • Construction Tape • Roof Wrap • Landscape Products • Geotextiles
Made in the U.S.A.
Fiberweb, Inc.
70 Old Hickory Blvd.
Old Hickory, TN 37138 USA
1-800-284-2780 • Fax: 615-847-7068
www.typar.com © 2009 Fiberweb, Inc.
Typar ® , Typar ® Weather Protection System, Typar ® HouseWrap, Typar ® Peel & Stick Flashing with Quick-Peel, Typar ® Flashing Flex and Typar ® Construction Tape are registered trademarks of Fiberweb, Inc.
Typar ® MetroWrap , Typar ® StormWrap, and Typar Flashing RA are trademarks of Fiberweb, Inc.
TYVEK is a registered trademark of E.I. DuPont.