GreenGuard DC14 Drainage Mat

Is it OK to install the building wrap upside down, sideways, or with the printing facing the wall?

In the case of RainDrop® building wrap, the product must be installed with the correct side to the exterior and the drainage channels vertical, or at a slight angle from vertical, for the product to function properly. (Horizontal drainage channels do not really work.) Performance of flat wraps is not particularly affected by install direction, from a fabric perspective. However, installing wrap consistently indicates that you have followed guidelines to achieve a proper water-resistive barrier. Care should be taken to install the wrap in a shingling fashion (check local codes for overlap requirements). In addition, the appearance of the final job sends a message. You can guess what message a sloppy, inconsistent installation sends.

Should I install the fanfold or building wrap first?

Depends. If you are doing a full siding tear off and replacing the whole window units it is recommended to install the fanfold first and then the building wrap on top. You will then install the windows on top of these layers and flash accordingly. If you are keeping the existing windows, it is often easier to install the building wrap first to flash it to the existing window and then install the layer of fanfold on top.

Can you use house wraps under any exterior facade?

House wraps can be used under most exterior cladding materials. In fact, the International Building, Residential and Energy Codes require the use of water-resistive barriers (House wrap or felt building paper) in exterior walls. There are special requirements for some applications or systems, such as conventional stucco systems, which may require more than one layer of a water-resistive barrier when wood sheathing is used.

Why use a house wrap?

House wraps enhance the thermal performance of a wall system by reducing air leakage through the wall cavity, thus increasing the comfort level of a home or building.  They are also effective at protecting the wall system components from exposure to bulk water, which can have a negative effect on some building materials, leading to the potential for rot and degradation.

Can fanfold siding underlayment be used in place of building wrap?

GreenGuard siding underlayments are in compliance with the ICC-ES “Acceptance Criteria for Foam Plastic Sheathing Panels Used as Weather–resistive Barriers” (AC71). This means that GreenGuard fanfold siding underlayments may be used in either new or retrofit construction applications without an additional water-resistive barrier (felt building paper or building wrap), when they are installed in strict accordance with the installation instructions. 

Documents

1. Product Data Sheet
2. Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
3. Technical Bulletins
4. Installation Guides

Technical Info

• GreenGuard DC14 Drainage Mat can be used in the residential, commercial, etc. applications.
• GreenGuard is Extruded Polystyrene (XPS)
• Greenguard DC14 comes in multiple widths and lengths.

Code Compliance

• Code Compliance Research Reports: CCRR-1022