Ease of Installation—A Critical Issue

Proper installation is critical to the long-term success of any exterior building envelope system. Integrated sheathing and tape systems have a labor-saving edge over traditional building wraps with a straightforward, all-in-one installation process versus the labor-intensive two-step installation process required by traditional building wrap systems. In systems where the protective layer is permanently fused to each panel, the sheathing and tape can streamline the process, eliminating many of the problems of windy day installations, and rips or tears from weather or mishandling.

Special tapes can quickly seal the panel seams, and some can also be used for flashing applications, creating a permanent bond that provides a cohesive, weather-resistive barrier. Using high-performance panel sheathing with integrated WRB minimizes exposure to the elements by providing quicker dry-in and shortens construction cycle times. Rough dry-in keeps the elements away from unprotected wood framing, a key concern as wood products degrade with prolonged exposure to moisture and ultraviolet rays. Unlike loose layered building wrap systems, integrated WRB products do not require as many steps of application to create a weather-resistant barrier, so as soon as high-performance panels are installed and taped, other trades can begin work.

Third-party testing demonstrates the labor efficiency of integrated WRB panel and tape systems. Under observation by Home Innovation Research Labs, a professional framing crew was tasked with completing full-scale installations of both an integrated WRB sheathing/tape system and a traditional sheathing/building wrap taped system. To ensure equivalent comparison, a three-man framing crew with in-the-field experience in the proper installation techniques of both systems was recruited to install both systems on a two-story mock-up of a 1,300-square-foot typical residential house. Recognizing that building site and weather conditions vary by location, testing was conducted in a controlled indoor environment to ensure that the two products were installed under similar conditions, as recommended by the manufacturer's instructions, with limited environmental influences. To reflect the typical mix of inside and outside wall corners of a new American home, the test structure featured 12 windows, two door openings, and walls with and without openings, alcoves, and bump-outs. The Home Innovation Research Labs third-party test confirmed that the integrated WRB sheathing/tape system installs faster than a traditional sheathing/building wrap taped system.

While sheathing systems and traditional OSB install at a similar pace, the full-scale test found that significant time savings are gained in the time required to create a weather-resistive barrier: an integrated WRB sheathing/tape system installed more than 40 percent faster than a traditional sheathing/building wrap taped system. In addition to the overall labor savings found by Home Innovation Research Labs, the testing also found that installing windows and head flashing was easier with sheathing and tape than with traditional building wrap, requiring fewer steps and less time.

Faster, simplified installation is essential in today's cost-conscious construction environment. Because labor costs are so high and the shortage of skilled workers so great, contractors are continually looking at ways to streamline their construction process and reduce the number of workers needed on site. Some residential experts estimate that the labor deficit has added 30 percent to the average time it takes to build a home.⁵ Easy-to-install building materials are part of their solution. Sheathing and tape systems are a two-step process—install the panels, tape the seams—that results in faster installation when compared with traditional building wrap or building paper. Details are sometimes difficult to implement on site, sometimes creating problems like reverse flashing; building wrap tucked into the building; improperly flashed penetrations; and flashing tape that doesn't stick.