From: tbasc@bellsouth.net (Tom Baker)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house alt.building.construction alt.home.repair alt.construction
Subject: Re: no housewrap...
Date: 18 May 2004 14:27:06 -0700

"3D Peruna"  wrote in message news:<10ak8tdob42n084@corp.supernews.com>...
> "Jeff Six"  wrote in message
> news:d0e79197.0405180637.5bab32d1@posting.google.com...
> > I have recently discovered that my house (I've been there a little
> > over two years) does not have housewrap underneath the vinyl siding.
> > Underneath is OSB sheathing and the vinyl is installed right on top of
> > the OSB.  This is true of all of the houses in my development.  After
> > looking around the newsgroups, I find the while housewraps are
> > recommended, there appear to be tons of houses that have this same
> > situation - vinyl siding installed directly over the wood/OSB
> > sheathing.  After some rain, I've popped the siding a little so I can
> > see under and don't see any rain or moisture on the OSB.
> > Nevertheless, the paranoid in me is concerned.
> >
> > I'm really looking for some reassurance here that this situation,
> > while not the best in the world, is OK.  Little help?  Thanks.
> 
> Did you buy the house new?  Used?  Did you have it built?  What was your
> purchase situation?  Can't help with suggested remedies until we know more.
> 
> As for not having a weather barrier between the siding and house -- that's
> huge no-no.  Even out west were the air is mostly dry, it's a huge no-no.
> Every siding needs to be looked at as "thick paint."  In other words, the
> purpose of the siding is to protect the weather barrier from the elements,
> most particularly the sun (which deteriorates just about every known weather
> barrier--tyvek or building paper).  Siding will keep most of the water out,
> but you have to approach it from the viewpoint that, as one building
> scientist puts it, "things will get wet."  If you assume that the siding
> won't keep all the water out, then you can properly manage the water that
> does get in.  Leaving the tyvek, or building paper, or any other weather
> barrier off is not acceptable--at least not for me.

In my opinion, "thick paint" is overstating the protection given by vinyl siding.

I worked on a house with OSB and vinyl siding and no weather barrier.
That arrangement had been in place for about three years.
I could, without effort, push my hand through the OSB.
Tom Baker