Weather-Resistive Barriers & Wraps 2008

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Study Background
Weather-Resistive Barriers and Wraps will be one of the most in-depth studies ever conducted featuring this often overlooked building product category, and will quantify business growth opportunities.

The multi-billion dollar building wrap and weather-resistive barriers market includes engineered plastic housewraps, air barriers, drainage barriers and rainscreens.

These products are evolving to meet the changing performance needs of exterior cladding systems, the extremes of specific climates, mold prevention in wall cavities and the needs of demanding installers.

Today the industry faces stricter codes, particularly in coastal areas for protecting against wind, wind-driven water and flying debris. Barriers and wraps are beginning to have some retrofit applications for helping reduce costs and increase comfort.

Opportunities, Challenges, Drivers
Housewrap and weather-resistive barriers have become a distinct product category, along with companion products such as flashing tapes around window and door openings. These products provide both moisture management and “billboard” advertising opportunities for buildings under construction.

Over a dozen new brand owners (private labels) and manufacturers have emerged, including manufacturers in other industries, those from adjacent building product categories, LBM distributors, pro dealers and production homebuilders.

Key drivers of growth in demand include a renewed emphasis on moisture management and how it affects the interior environment, and building science guidance for residential and commercial construction.


Products in Focus

• Housewrap
• Building wrap
• Building paper
• Weather-resistive barrier
• Rainscreen
• Drainable housewrap
• Moisture barrier
• Vapor barrier
• Vapor retarder
• Air barrier
• Sheathing
• Flashing (peel-and-stick, mechanically fastened)

Materials in Focus

• Polypropylene
  • Spunbonded
  • Coated cross-woven
  • Cross-laminated
• Polyethylene
  • Flash spunbonded
  • Coated cross-woven
  • Cross-laminated
• Felt
• Kraft-based building paper
• Butyl
• Rubberized asphalt
• Fluid-applied foams
• Coated OSB

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