I’m about to take on one of the last projects of the summer for me. This was the summer of the Treehouse as my wife puts it. We have been enjoying the new addition to our back yard very much. It is transforming into a nice office and dinner area. However, it is not very protected from the elements on the outside. Plywood mainly. So I had a palet of shingles delivered this morning and the guy said to me they must have forgot the Tyvek. And I told him I didn’t order any. Was this a mistake? Should I go get a few rolls of it? If so why?
Are you referring to siding shingles (on the walls) or roofing shingles (on the roof)? Siding needs tyvek (or tar paper) on the walls before the outer layer. Shingles or siding is not a waterproof, windproof layer. You need a barrier over the plywood or moisture will seep in, soak the plywood and eventually destroy it. Similar with roofing. On the roof you usually use tar paper but in snow areas, the area next to the eaves is usually covered with an ice shield material which is more like plastic for extra moisture protection.
Oh yes. Siding shingles. I got a palet of cedar shingles. The roof is weather proofed to the hilts. I will get a fair amount of snow on it but it should slough off if everything goes right. It’s the siding I’m concerned about. I think I should go get some tyvek.
If you have a fully enclosed building, then you could use tyvek for the extra protection from drafts and moisture, but if it’s an open structure, it wouldn’t really serve it’s purpose as that last 10% of sealing power you need to cut drafts and save utilities.
Tyvek is a pretty good product until you have to cut it on site.
I’m not sure exactly what you are planning, but if it is for use on a roof or a wall with openings (cutting around windows), Tyvek can become a bit of a nightmare to use. It is fantastic though for straight, flat areas. Even the manufacturer / supplier of Tyvek in the UK don’t recommend using their product when there is cutting or folding to be worked on site.
If you are just putting timber shingles onto an external wall, you will need some form of breathable vapour barrier to prevent moisture ingress and allow excess moisture out. Don’t use asphalt impregnated felt or any other non-breathable product. Tyvek (or a similar product) is definitely required below the battens you are fixing the shingles to.
Of course, just reading the other posts in this thread makes me think that building practice in the US may be so far different than in the UK that my post may be completely redundant.
You use Tyvek to stop draughts?
Tyvek themselves even call the generic term for their stuff Housewrap. I think you may be thinking of their fanfold rigid foam insulation Aro, in which case, I’d agree. Truly a pain in the arse. The Tyvek we’re talking about is almost like high mil plastic, which is used as a vapor barrier. Tyvek is popular because it is a one-way breathable membrane, which is better than plastic due to concerns about condensation. Here in Minnesota, where extreme weather is normal, cold winters, hot humid summers, many municipalities require a Tyvek type housewrap in their building code. I think it would be wise to go with it **Phlosphr
**.
I just got back from the hardware store. Got a roll of Tyvek. I’m tackling this this weekend. It should be easy with a staple gun. There is a porch around the entire structure so I won’t need a scaffold. I just hope we can get it done all in one day.