Prevent WRB Tears at Corners
A piece of bevel wood siding pushes housewrap tightly into the corner without tearing.
Siding leaks are most common where horizontal siding meets vertical trim. The water-resistive barrier (WRB) beneath the siding should block water that seeps into these joints, but damage to the WRB can let water reach the sheathing and framing. Inside corners are especially vulnerable, as sharp-edged siding and trim can tear sheets of mechanically installed WRB.
To prevent this, I make a simple tool from a 2-ft.- to 3-ft.-long piece of bevel wood siding fastened to a short 1×3 handle. The narrow top edge of the siding pushes the WRB tightly into the corner without tearing it. I also round off the corners to avoid puncturing the WRB as I slide the tool up and down the inside corner.
— Mike Guertin; East Greenwich, R.I.
RELATED STORIES
- WRB FAQ (That’s Water-Resistive Barrier)
- Water-Resistive Barriers
- The Complicated Role of a Water-Resistive Barrier
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