What Housewrap Should I Choose?

When water gets behind exterior cladding - and it will - it should hit a reliable weather-resistive barrier. In most homes, that barrier is housewrap. Choose the wrong one, and you could be inviting long-term moisture problems, callbacks, and durability issues.

So what’s the difference?

Most synthetic housewraps are made from polyolefin, and they come in two main types: woven and nonwoven. Woven wraps use long interlaced strands, similar to cheesecloth. Nonwoven wraps use shorter, randomly arranged fibers, similar to OSB.

This structural difference matters. Woven wraps are more prone to tearing. A small snag can “run,” especially when exposed to wind during construction. Nonwoven wraps, with their random fiber pattern, resist tearing and are easier to patch. The modest added cost (often just a couple hundred dollars per home) is cheap insurance.

Permeability is even more important. A quality nonwoven wrap is engineered to allow water vapor to pass through while blocking bulk water like rain. Many woven wraps rely on surface perforations to achieve permeability, but those holes can also let liquid water in.

Climate should guide your choice. In dry regions, perforated woven wraps may perform adequately, whereas in humid or rainy climates, a nonwoven, non-perforated, vapor-permeable wrap is typically the safer choice. Cladding type matters, too. Vinyl siding naturally sheds water, so a flat wrap often works well. More rigid sidings like fiber cement can trap water, making a textured drainage wrap a smart upgrade.

No matter what you choose, installation is critical: proper laps, shingle-style flashing, taped seams, and button-cap fasteners are non-negotiable. When it comes to water management, cutting corners is never worth the risk.