HydroGap Housewrap
HydroGap is apolypropylene housewrap with three-dimensional plastic nubbins that help maintain a gap of 1mm to encourage water to drain downward
Many housewrap manufacturers offer wrinkled, crinkled, or bumpy housewraps designed to encourage drainage. The latest such product is HydroGap from Benjamin Obdyke.
HydroGap is a polypropylene housewrap with three-dimensional plastic nubbins. These nubbins help to maintain a gap of 1 mm (from 1/32-in. to 3/4-in.) to encourage water to drain downward. One advantage of using nubbins instead of parallel grooves is that the housewrap drains in all orientations, even when installed diagonally.
HydroGap is a little thicker than Tyvek Stucco Wrap, but it’s thinner (and therefore cheaper and easier to install) than meshlike plastic drainage mats like Home Slicker Plus Typar. It’s worth noting that feedback from installers has raised some question about the compression of the soft nubbins on HydroGap and similar products, which may reduce the product’s effective drainage gap when covered with certain types of siding.
The main purpose of HydroGap is to perform as a water-resistive barrier, and it has a vapor permeance of 14 perms. If the product’s seams are taped and penetrations are sealed, it can also serve as an air barrier. The product is sold in 500-sq.-ft. rolls for about 17¢ per sq. ft.
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