Grip-Rite® introduced Grip-Rite ProWrap™-SA in 2024 to help builders create efficiencies in the construction process. Because it is so easy to apply, our new house wrap is quicker to install and requires less labor than before. The building products industry is an ever-evolving space that thrives on innovative solutions to sticky problems. Even small efficiencies can have an outsized impact when spread across thousands of large and small building projects.
As the industry trends towards creating eco-friendly structures, products promoting energy efficiency are a key component. In recent years, the focus has turned to the building envelope to encourage builders to pay closer attention to what goes outside the structural layer of their projects.
Today, we’re exploring the building envelope’s role in promoting a healthy indoor environment. Each part brings something to the equation, and the right products can have a massive impact, from the foundation to the roof. Making the best choices for your project helps create the right balance of protection and breathability.
The building envelope comprises many components and systems that create a physical barrier between the outside and inside. A well-designed building envelope protects the interior space from changes in the outside environment. It typically includes everything from the foundation to exterior walls, roof, windows, and doors.
Functions of the building envelope are generally broken down into three categories. A support layer provides strength and rigidity and is usually considered load-bearing. Its design must meet local building codes and provide structural support against internal and external loads.
Next, the control layer mediates the exchange of moisture, air, and heat between a building’s interior and exterior. This layer of the building envelope allows your project to breathe, moving unwanted humidity from inside to outside. Additionally, it protects your structural layer from outside moisture, preventing rot, mold, and other forms of water damage.
The final layer is what most people are familiar with as the outside of a structure. While it’s easy to assume it only serves an aesthetic function, it also supports and protects. Designed correctly, it also plays a role in controlling heat and humidity in your building. Your project’s finish will also need to meet the local requirements and needs of your client.
Taken together, the support, control, and finish layers form the skin of your building projects. Just like skin, the complex sub-systems functioning underneath the surface can have an impact on the health of your building.
One of the primary considerations in the modern building envelope is how much more airtight our structures are designed to be.
In the past, architects and designers allowed for gaps in the building envelope to promote breathability. You might see gaps around doors and windows, in the attic, and around the eaves. These spaces allowed for exterior and interior air to flow but also forced HVAC systems to work harder.
As climates shift, more designers are creating tighter buildings to allow for more control over the interior environment. Many workers and students spend their entire days in settings where very little natural airflow exists. Properly calibrated systems keep humidity and dust at bay. However, there are plenty of instances where the equilibrium is off balance, and moisture and dust build-up.
An ineffective building envelope isn’t always easy to see at first glance. They require regular inspections during and after construction to ensure proper function. During inspection, you may notice some of the following problems that require further investigation:
Many of these issues may result from problems in the finish layer, which is the first line of defense against the elements. Depending on where your crew comes in during the building process, the control layer is the best place to ward off these issues before they arise.
Weather resistive barriers (WRBs) are an integral part of the contemporary control layer in the building envelope. They protect against moisture penetrating the finish layer, usually shedding it down to the ground. Manufacturers use poly sheeting, builder’s foil, foam board, and other products to create different types of WRBs.
More advanced products also function as vapor-permeable skin that provides proper ventilation of the interior space. Humidity can get out, but it can’t get in. Without breathability, moisture trapped in the structure can cause mold and rot in the wall.
WRBs are part of a structure’s secondary water management system, ensuring that the elements are kept outside. Every region is different, so your needs will reflect that when it comes to overall performance.
Typically, there are four different application methods you’ll see:
PTIA 2024 award-winning Grip-Rite ProWrap™-SA makes protecting your building simple by streamlining your process. Without mechanical attachment, messy rollers, or one-size-fits-all integrated panels, you can get exactly what you need for your project. Primerless installation means that peel-and-stick is the only step to applying Grip-Rite ProWrap™-SA.
With best-in-class performance in protection and breathability, its durable 5-layer construction withstands the elements. An over 60 perm permeability rating makes this product stand out against competitors.
Apply at temperatures down to 20° F with no reduction in performance. Our spun bonded polypropylene fabric [PDF] has a remarkable 180-day exposure time after application with no degradation.
Grip-Rite ProWrap™ has over 90 percent drainage efficiency, directing water away from your structure. It’s also proven not to leak. Combined with our Butyl and Flashing tapes, you’ve got a WRB system you can count on.
The Grip-Rite ProWrap™ Warranty PROtection System ensures your installation and project are covered. Use at least one of our WRB, Flashing/Tape, and Adhesive products on your build for a 15-year limited warranty.
When protecting your building projects, we take our role seriously. Meeting and exceeding international standards from ASTM and ICC are integral to our product development process. With proven performance from a trusted brand, Grip-Rite ProWrap™ proves that innovation is here to stay. Simple application and best-in-class performance join to form a house wrap you can count on.
Find out more about Grip-Rite ProWrap™-SA and where you can buy it today!
