Tyvek vs Zip - Is Zip a Failure Waiting to Happen? CONTROVERSIAL VIDEO

Tyvek vs Zip is a question I get all the time. In this episode of the Build Show I’m going to break down a video that seems to show a pretty leaky Zip System installation. Let’s see which system is the best and if either one is a failure waiting to happen!

Huge thanks to our Show sponsors Polywall, Huber, Dorken Delta, Prosoco, Rockwool & Viewrail for helping to make these videos possible! These are all trusted companies that Matt has worked with for years and trusts their products in the homes he builds. We would highly encourage you to check out their websites for more info.

[goodselections]

It is repugnant to see industry sponsored studies; DuPont, I believe, like many other industry sponsored studies will lie to our faces; they really undermine our intelligence and trust. We need to always ask ourselves who is sponsoring a particular study and if there is a conflict of interest; We should not have the airplane builders tell us the airplane is safe just because they say so. Or pharmaceutical company test their own drugs and claim they are safe an effective without a truthful independent study. This is another great episode by Matt. Thanks.

[drsdan]

Matt this is PRE siding. The siders show up and drive 200x the fasteners right through either product.
Sometimes missing the framing and pulling the nail. Hole, right through the "watertight" system.
This is a good discussion but has to include the finished product.
I wanna see the shooting range test to simulate the Detroit abandoned suburbs to see if zip or tyvek wins.

[shanejohnson]

Absolutely love that you address "Ad Issues" that happen on your videos. Shows how much you care about your followers and their leaning of the products you use.

[bb]

Matt you are a true asset to the building industry, old school talent & integrity combined with open minded forward thinking in modern materials & techniques. And the fact you are willing to share this with us, a true gentleman you are, much thanks!

[lewisclark]

Matt, I’m 70, a still active carpenter (with a lot of experience in several other trades, of course) -and have either general contracted or completely built with my own labor about 40 houses. Your videos are- hands down- the best entertaining, edited, informative, intelligent and just plain likable ones I have ever seen regarding construction, architecture and inside tips on house construction. I have great respect for what you do here. Amazing. Thank you.

[johnclark]

ZIP is less forgiving when it comes to install and you must use their branded (3M) tape. Consequently it's why you almost never see production builders use it. Production builders want the cheapest code min OSB and housewrap they can get.

Also the nailing schedule for ZIP-R is just crazy because the interior facing foam causes it to lose racking resistance

[GrandmasFolly]

After years of watching the Build Show, I just used Tayvek commercial D with cap fasteners to wrap my home addition. I was concerned with leaking fasteners so I tooled a dab of window sealant over every single cap. It’s time consuming but it’s given me a little piece of mind.

[viviangirard]

Great video as always. As someone mentioned in a earlier comment, applying the siding will create many more holes in the sheathing. What's not mentioned anywhere in the video or comments is the importance of a proper rainscreen; a small air gap between the housewrap and the siding to allow any water that gets past the siding to drain down quickly, and ideally some air circulation to allow quick drying. This is even important than the choice of a (properly applied) housewrap and there is a strong consensus about the need for rainscreens among building scientist.


Most houses I see built in my area (New England) these days involve fibercement nailed directly over the sheathing without any gap for the water to drain or dry. In airtight and well insulated modern homes (a good thing), that's a recipe for failure.

[goldengunsu]

The zip tape is awesome. One guy used it to patch rust holes on his truck and it's still stuck fast after years. Used it to patch ripped pants one day on the job. Even after working the whole day and sending it through the washer it still held up

[ste]

Well done Matt, addressing every issue that was misleading in the slander add.
Love your videos!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[shokie]

Thanks Matt! Because of your videos, I just met with a rep from Huber this week! I actually mentioned your videos to the rep when he asked where I was seeing this product being used. Thanks for clearing up this issue. I have seen the attack adds lately and was beginning to feel uncertain about using the zip system. I have been building for about 13 years and your videos have changed the way I view my responsibility as a builder. Keep up the great work sir!

[ThePeachyCarpenter]

I’ve never used zip but been curious about the differences since the crew I run with uses tyvec. I feel like I saw a lot of negative tyvec videos but seeing this makes me realize that it is a somewhat level playing field. Thanks for the video. This really helped split the differences for me.

[jrod]

As a builder, carpenter, and framer for over 30 years, I see that most people are standing the wall sheating in the vertical direction instead of the horizontal position. 6:24. No one sheats a floor or a roof in this direction because the strength axis of ply and osb is perpendicular to the framing members. A wall is both stronger laterally, winds shear wise, and earth quake wise when the walls are sheathed with the plywood laid horizontally and staggered, not dissimilar to brick bonding. It should also be laid in a way that ties in floors and walls together. No 1 foot strip at floor/rim section. Plus, the plywood should definitely have a 1/8 inch gap between the horizontal rows for expansion. When you stand them up on a long wall, you run the chance of running out of stud, or if laid tight, having a couple of buckles at some point in the plywood.
Either way, laying sheets horizontally on the wall is more correct and a far superior than the other way around.

[brandonreed]

I love your content and completely agree the Tyvek lab test was obviously unfair. That said, I think you could stand to specifically call out your Huber sponsorship once or twice during this video. Not saying you aren't upfront about it, as it's always in the description. Just saying some extra emphasis would lend even more credibility to what is clearly a solid argument.

[shaneeastman]

Matt, I am really surprised you do not have more subscribers. Your videos are high quality with top notch information. I have been in the industry on and off my whole life around the nation and your advise has always been sound. You final product (homes) is one of perfection.

[ShuasiBjorlen]

I renovate and rehab houses in Philadelphia and often remove incredibly old facades to reveal what has to be at least 75 year old tar paper that is in perfect condition and still functioning as it should with no failures. I sometimes wonder why we don’t still use such a simple and effective material and application (I will still use it in situations where I am replicating the previous construction for historical purposes). I would love to see a comparison of traditional tar paper to the new materials to see how it stacks up against the modern applications. Thx for the great video, as usual.

[amyrobert]

Always rainscreen. That airgap allows everything to dry out.

[LuberdskiTV]

In Canada, almost all that I see being used is Tyvek, and they just staple it on. I have yet to see any Zip Systems in Edmonton, and I hope to secure a job that will allow me to do it and start using such a fantastic system. I started my own company a year ago and have yet to land a large client, but your videos have so far taught me more than my apprenticeship training ever had. I am always spreading the word about these tips and tricks and products to my colleagues, and they are just as astounded as I am as to why we aren't using them.

I recently renovated a house for a friend and added some exterior insulation to it and the difference in that thermal bridging is just amazing. I can go into the house when it is plus 32 degrees celsius or 98 for you, and the house is cold without an air conditioner. And I thought it was funny because in your video recently, I think, you say that northern parts of the US require exterior insulation on top of the interior. In Canada, we don't require exterior insulation at all. I feel like our zero degrees weather would be much more manageable with exterior insulation.

I appreciate your hard work and sharing the lessons that you've learned along the way. I hope to meet you one day and talk more in-depth about really anything haha.

Keep it up!

[ardenthebibliophile]

For what it's worth I've not seen any of those ads before your videos. Also, your channel has led me to learn about building science including the Building Science Podcast where I can get even MORE information. Keep up the good work my man, I hope to own a home that would make you proud!

[johnnyhimburg]

Matt,
Thank you for the video very helpful. I'm still preaching for guys around here to watch your video.A lot builder's around here think the tyvek is a complete water proof system. Thanks again keep the video's coming please!