Simple Self-Adhered Protection
Protecto Wall VP self-adhered water-resistive barrier uses a synthetic butyl adhesive tape rather than the typical acrylic, allowing installation in a wider temperature range and without the need for a primer.
Self-adhered (SA) water-resistive barriers (WRBs) are gaining traction in construction, and while they’re more challenging to install than mechanically fastened options, their superior performance makes them worth the extra effort. I’ve installed several different self-adhered products, all of which use an acrylic-based adhesive. Protecto Wrap recently developed an SA WRB called Protecto Wall VP that instead uses a synthetic butyl adhesive called Super Stick.
Protecto Wrap claims that Protecto Wall VP can be applied in temperatures as low as –20°F (–28°C) and as high as 125°F (52°C), without the need for a primer. This sets it apart from other SA WRBs, which typically have higher temperature limits and often require a primer.
Other benefits of Protecto Wall VP include a 180-day UV-exposure rating and a vapor permeance of 43.5 perms. The manufacturer also claims that its better-than-average drainage efficiency moves water away from the building more effectively than conventional housewrap.
I recently had the chance to work with Protecto Wall VP. I like that the release film has more than one split. Whereas most SA WRBs have one split down the center of the roll, the VP product has a split down the center and also at the 6-in. marks at the top and bottom of the roll. Adhering only a small section makes it much easier to adjust if needed.
Other SA WRBs I’ve used are very difficult to separate when the adhesive side contacts itself, which often means discarding chunks of expensive product. I found that the butyl adhesive used in this product was much easier to release, at least at the 70°F temperature I was working in. I’m unsure if this is due to the butyl adhesive itself or the way the adhesive is applied in strips rather than covering the entire surface of the WRB as it is with products from other manufacturers.
I prefer to use a complete system of products from one manufacturer to ensure that the sealants and tapes needed to achieve a weathertight enclosure are compatible and to maintain warranty coverage. Protecto Wrap offers sealants (Protecto Sealant 25XL and Protecto LM Liquid Membrane) and tapes (Protecto Wrap Super Stick butyl tape) as part of its WRB system. Protecto Wall VP is backed by a 10-year warranty and is available in 40-in. by 120-ft. or 12-in. by 120-ft. rolls. It costs less than $1 per ft. and is available at select building-supply retailers across the United States.
— Randy Williams; home energy auditor and contractor in Grand Rapids, Minn. Photos by the author.
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