[kwikfishron]

I am just using the house wrap as a rain shield.

Then go with the #30 tar paper (and you don't need to half lap it, half lap is for roofs). That's all I've ever used unless instructed otherwise.

For a few years in the 90's most of what I was doing was replacing LP siding that failed as homeowners were finally getting their settlements from the class action.

I did at least 60-70 of these re-sides and just about all of them with Tyvek were wet behind the wrap and many with serious rot issues. I didn't see that with houses covered in felt unless there was some install screw up directing water behind the paper.

And to be fair to Tyvek this was all in Coastal Oregon, a place that's wet 10 months out of the year and if you're in an area that doesn't get much or any sun things never really do get dried out.

I have no issues with Tyvek in dryer climates.

During that time is when Typar hit the scene and as I'm showing the reps what a fail Tyvek was in our wet climate they tried to sell me on that Typar was the fix for that.

At that time Typar was the newest, latest, greatest thing but I didn't bite. Why should I when tar paper has been time tested and at that time was about 1/3 the price.

 

[kwikfishron]

Just keep in mind that "the best" is whatever a sales rep is selling at the time.

Every year there's a new "the best".

I've ripped into SO many old homes that had no sticky tape type flashings, door pans and in some cases no flashings at all that were solid as a rock underneath it all.

I'm not saying to skip flashings but just saying...

Tar paper has been around since the 1800's and is still on the self today (well at least today's version of it). That should tell you something.

It used to be called 15lb and 30lb felt because a 2sq (200 sq ft) roll of 30lb weighed 60 lbs (30 lbs per 100 sq ft of coverage).

Today a 2 sq roll of 30 only weighs about 30 lbs so it's now about what 15 lb was back in the day.

It's also why they don't label it as 15 or 30 lb anymore instead these days they call it #15 and #30.

 

[kwikfishron]

Exactly what I wanted to know!


So, #30 tar paper it is.


Just FYI ...just checked the price at HD ... almost exactly the same Tyvek or #30 ... about $.10 per sq ft.



One last question ... single or double layer?


If I need a double layer then I am twice the cost of Tyvek!


I am reading double lay but I think they are referring to putting it under stucco.



Thanks so much again .... Mike

You don't need double coverage (half lap) on a wall for siding (stucco, yes). Just overlap to the first line printed on the paper. (about 3").

Also (if you can) let the rolls bake in the sun for a while to soften them up. It makes working with it a whole lot easier.

 

[kwikfishron]

They want double here, are you sure it is not code.

A rainscreen is code where you're at but not here.

Location, location, location, without that all you can do is advise what is done in your hood and that may or may not apply anywhere else.