TEKTON® VS TYVEK® - TEKTON® - A Fiberweb Brand

TEKTON®
VS TYVEK®
HOuSEWrAP HOMEWrAP ®
The facts and figures you need to make an informed decision.
There is plenty of information (and misinformation) floating around
as it relates to weather-resistant barriers. Tyvek ® HomeWrap ®
makes a lot of claims as to the superiority of their product. We’d
like to substantiate the benefits of TEKTON ® HouseWrap.
TEKTON HouseWrap is a polypropylene nonwoven breathable
weather membrane. Engineered for superior performance, it 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: TEKTON HouseWrap delivers the best balance of
water holdout and breathability.
• Yes, Tyvek HomeWrap delivers higher raw numbers for
breathability, and claims that higher is better. 1 However, that is
not the case in this particular instance. The balance of the water
holdout and breathability is most important.
• TEKTON HouseWrap technical experts insist that the true measure
of a housewrap’s effectiveness is the combined performance
of water holdout and breathability (perm rating). TEKTON House-
Wrap 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 vapour will not be able to
escape from the walls. If breathability is too high, moisture vapour
will be able to escape, but the housewrap’s ability to block water
from the outside decreases. TEKTON HouseWrap delivers a
perm rating that falls within the ideal range of 10–20.
Based on published
results according
to AATCC-127 testing.
Based on published
results according to
ASTM D5733 testing.
Based on published results
according to ASTM E9695
Procedure A testing.
*Source: Fiberweb, Inc.
Based on published
results for tear
strength according
to ASTM D5733-99
testing.
FACT: The tear strength of TEKTON
HouseWrap is five times that of
Tyvek HomeWrap.
Tyvek HomeWrap would like you to believe that
their product stands up to rigours of the jobsite
better than TEKTON HouseWrap. But the facts
prove TEKTON HouseWrap delivers trapezoid
strength that is five times that of Tyvek
HomeWrap. Grab strength is the preferred
testing method for tear strength, and TEKTON
HouseWrap performs at more than twice the
industry standard than Tyvek HomeWrap. This helps
better protect the integrity of your weather protection
system, which keeps moisture from entering
your wall cavity.
A Fiberweb Brand

FACT: Tyvek ® HomeWrap ® has poor surfactant resistance. TEKTON ® HouseWrap holds up better over time.
Once the siding is up and final inspection is complete, housewrap still needs to perform. Soaps from powerwashing and the
oils from cedar siding can degrade many housewraps. Tests prove that soap degrades the surface of Tyvek HomeWrap. Once
there is a hole in the barrier, water can easily penetrate the wall cavity, which can lead to all sorts of problems. Surfactants,
oils and tannins will not degrade TEKTON HouseWrap over time.
FACT: The ultraviolet exposure rating of TEKTON HouseWrap is 50 percent longer than that of Tyvek
HomeWrap.
ultraviolet stability is vital to the performance of a weather barrier before it is covered. In field and lab tests, ultraviolet
inhibitors in TEKTON HouseWrap weather barriers’ coatings and fibers provide the ultimate ultraviolet protection. TEKTON
HouseWrap offers 180 days of ultraviolet protection compared with Tyvek HomeWrap’s 120 days.
Product Comparison
Properties
TEKTON ®
HouseWrap* Tyvek®
HomeWrap**
What It Means
Water Penetration >800 cm 280 cm Both products pass minimum requirements
Moisture Vapour
Transmission
11.7 perms 58 perms Tyvek HomeWrap is outside the ideal rating (between 10–20)
Trapezoid Tear 33/33 lbs 6/6 lbs TEKTON HouseWrap is 5 times stronger than Tyvek HomeWrap
ultraviolet Exposure rating 180 days 120 days TEKTON HouseWrap offers 50 percent longer
ultraviolet protection
*Fiberweb, Inc.
**DuPont published performance specifications
FACT: Regarding the air tightness of homes, TEKTON HouseWrap performs 20 percent better
than Tyvek HomeWrap.
When a top quality home builder conducted an independent blower door test, findings indicated that the homes wrapped in
TEKTON HouseWrap were 20 percent more air tight, on average, than homes wrapped in Tyvek HomeWrap. A tighter home
increases indoor air quality, in addition to reducing energy consumption and moisture condensation, plus it eliminates unwanted
drafts from outside.
1400
Air Leakage CFM @ 50 pa
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
AIR LEAKAGE (lower is better)
measured in cubic ft/min
Homes with Varying Square Footage
Now that you know the differences, which housewrap would you choose?
The best known, or the best performing, housewrap system?
Choose TEKTON HouseWrap.
1 Source: DuPont Tyvek ® Building Science Bulletin, “understanding High Perm vs. Low Perm,” Nov. 2008.
Building Wr aps • Flashings • Construction Tape • Roof Underlayment • Landscape Products • Geotextiles
Fiberweb, Inc. Americas Industrial Division
70 Old Hickory Boulevard
Old Hickory, TN 37138 USA
+1 615-847-7000
www.tekton.com
TEKTON ® HOUSEWRAP
TYVEK ® HOMEWRAP
Based on published results
according to ASTM E779 /
1827 testing.
Made in the U.S.A.
TEKTON, ® and TEKTON ® MetroWrap
are trademarks of Fiberweb, Inc.
Tyvek ® HomeWrap ® is a registered trademark
of E.I. DuPont.
© 2009 Fiberweb, Inc.
TEKTON 10002 12/09