TEKTON® VS TYVEK®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 mea-sure 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 ASTM E9695 Procedure A testing. *Source: Fiberweb, Inc.

Based on published results according to AATCC-127 testing.

Based on published results according to ASTM D5733 testing.

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 trap-ezoid 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 protec-tion system, which keeps moisture from entering your wall cavity.

HOuSEWrAP HOMEWrAP®

A Fiberweb Brand

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

Now that you know the differences, which housewrap would you choose? The best known, or the best performing, housewrap system? Choose TEKTON HouseWrap.

1Source: DuPont™ Tyvek® Building Science Bulletin, “understanding High Perm vs. Low Perm,” Nov. 2008.

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.

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.

*Fiberweb, Inc.**DuPont published performance specifications

Product Comparison

Bu i l d i n g Wra p s • F l a s h i n g s • C o n s t r u c t i o n T a p e • R o o f U n d e r l a y m e n t • L a n d s c a p e P r o d u c t s • G e o t e x t i l e s

Fiberweb, Inc. Americas Industrial Division 70 Old Hickory Boulevard

Old Hickory, TN 37138 USA +1 615-847-7000

www.tekton.com

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

AIR LEAKAGE (lower is better)measured in cubic ft/min

Air

Lea

kag

e C

FM @

50

pa

TEKTON® HOUSEWRAP

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0Homes with Varying Square Footage

TYVEK® HOMEWRAP

Based on published results according to ASTM E779 / 1827 testing.