Tyvek lifespan

[SGKent]

in 2004 I replaced siding in increments and put Tyvek on this 1400 sq ft single story 1979 home. I put Tyvek on the main house and gable ends of the attic. T1-11 Siding was painted on both sides before putting new pieces up. Because code allows a few pieces at a time without a permit I did a couple pieces at a time over a summer. The Tyvek on both the S and N gable ends was exposed to sun for maybe 2 to 3 days as I did the work. All was taped properly between sheets. I was in the attic the other day when the HVAC guys were here and noticed that the Tyvek on both gable ends is torn, starting to fall down in places. There is very little light in the attic, and certainly no direct light on the gable ends. There is ample ventilation so the temps are not usually more than 120 F on the hottest days. Anyone have a similar experience, know the cause, or even suspect one. I know the Tyvek was intact back about 2010 when I was last up there. No evidence that critters have been up there either.

I am also wondering if the loss is even material because it is an attic but could have the gable ends insulated if it is.

 

[matt_i]

Is it Dupont Logo Tyvek or a similar brand? I see all kinds of logos stamped on that product across this region, and have had the thought that they all might not be built to the same standard.

My experience, and I don't live in the same climate obviously, is that I had parts of it open for better than a half of a year with no apparent degredation. I do have the Dupont logo if it matters. The screwy orange cap nails seem to be the weak point as the caps rot quickly under UV attack. The tyvek in the original part of my shop, no approaching 22 years old seems to be fine, from the area I can see around the gable end vent.

 

[Kaizen]

Do you not have any sheathing in the walls?? Just t111 over tyvex staples to studs?


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[chaosracing]

Is it Dupont Logo Tyvek or a similar brand? I see all kinds of logos stamped on that product across this region, and have had the thought that they all might not be built to the same standard.

Yup, thats for sure.

House wrap life span depends on brand, exposure, installation. But if it wasnt torn before you installed the siding, there really is no reason why it should have torn afterwards. Now being that its in an attic, did you put the house wrap over substrait or just over the studs? Guessing that if you can see it, just over the studs. You have to remember that the attic will see air currents moving through all the time, especially on windy days. So on those windy days, the house wrap will be moving due to air flow. Eventually it will tear from the fastener and then rip from that failure. House wrap was meant to go over plywood/osb substrait.

 

[larry_g]

Yup, thats for sure.

House wrap life span depends on brand, exposure, installation. But if it wasnt torn before you installed the siding, there really is no reason why it should have torn afterwards. Now being that its in an attic, did you put the house wrap over substrait or just over the studs? Guessing that if you can see it, just over the studs. You have to remember that the attic will see air currents moving through all the time, especially on windy days. So on those windy days, the house wrap will be moving due to air flow. Eventually it will tear from the fastener and then rip from that failure. House wrap was meant to go over plywood/osb substrait.

My first thought also. If you can see the Tyvac after it is installed then something is wrong...

lg
no neat sig line

 

[SGKent]

It was big blue and white TYVEK brand. Used TYVEK brand tape on it. It is open on the backside, no sheathing. The attic is vented with eave vents on the sides that aren't gable, and there are gable end vents, but the amount of light up there is negligible. The vents all vent outside the house, and I've never found any signs of moisture in the attic. Our temperature range here is 27F to 108F in a typical year. I thought I was permanently sealing the house in an envelope of TYVEK but apparently that isn't the case.

 

[Kaizen]

It was big blue and white TYVEK brand. Used TYVEK brand tape on it. It is open on the backside, no sheathing. The attic is vented with eave vents on the sides that aren't gable, and there are gable end vents, but the amount of light up there is negligible. The vents all vent outside the house, and I've never found any signs of moisture in the attic. Our temperature range here is 27F to 108F in a typical year. I thought I was permanently sealing the house in an envelope of TYVEK but apparently that isn't the case.

I was going to say I thought it should only be stapled to sheathing but r&r uses it on pole barns so who knows. My guess is it was ripped when installing the t111. I had it outside on sheathing for two years and it never deteriorated


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[SGKent]

I was going to say I thought it should only be stapled to sheathing but r&r uses it on pole barns so who knows. My guess is it was ripped when installing the t111. I had it outside on sheathing for two years and it never deteriorated


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it was good even 6 years after install so it can't be from at the time of installation. Something degraded it. If it can only be used on sheathing then it would require sheathing the house, Tyveking it and then putting on the T1-11 over both.

From Dupont Tyvek site:

DuPont™ Tyvek® weather barriers can be used either over or under sheathing. When Tyvek® is used under sheathing, it functions only as an air barrier, and does not protect the sheathing as a secondary weather barrier. Tyvek® has been used directly over studs where there is no sheathing, ...