Contractor Protects Home from Chilly Maine Weather

Improving upon residential construction

When owners of a Maine home found the cedar clapboard siding on their ranch was splitting and cracking, they turned to Michael Lapointe General Contracting. Not only did the homeowners need new siding, they also wanted to find a way to make their home more energy efficient. With new energy codes, traditional residential construction housewrap now requires tape at every wrap seam and cap nails or cap staples instead of regular staples, making its application increasingly time-consuming and costly. application increasingly time-consuming and costly.

Achieving energy efficiency while saving money

Simply using a better weather barrier would enable the contractor to help his customers realize energy savings without the need for additional insulation and its added cost. Fortunately, Michael Lapointe of Michael Lapointe General Contracting had just the solution in mind. Having been in the residential construction business for over 30 years applying housewrap to countless homes, he’d learned about a more energy efficient weather resistive barrier called VYCOR® enV™, a high performance fluid-applied product that protects against water and air intrusion.

Eliminating the hassles of housewrap

“VYCOR® enV™ replaces regular housewrap,” said Lapointe. “It envelops the whole house and makes a better bond, sealing the house without all the seams.”

The fully adhered VYCOR® enV™ system is easier to apply than traditional products. Sprayed or rolled on, VYCOR® enV™ completely covers all seams and fasteners, forming a seamless protective barrier throughout the home. The vapor permeable barrier breathes to prevent water vapor from building up inside while protecting against water intrusion, and acts as an air barrier to reduce energy costs.

Lapointe was pleased that he could roll on the product, eliminating the need to tape off all the windows during spraying. “Since it was a rehab job with all the windows and doors already in place, rolling the wrap around all these obstructions would have been very difficult,” added Lapointe. “Even when rolling housewrap on new construction, it tends to be a pain. But I found the VYCOR® enV™ really easy to work with.”

VYCOR® enV™ was applied throughout the residential construction project, VYCOR® enV™ tape was used to cover all the plywood sheathing joints, and VYCOR® Plus Flexible Flashing was installed around windows and doors where integration of the flashing to the weather resistant barrier is critical. 

GCP’s technical support team spent the first day on the job site to provide any needed guidance. The distributor and the local supplier also went to the job site to see the innovative product being quickly installed.

The result is a more energy efficient home, pleased homeowners, and a satisfied contractor with a new way to help his customers. “The homeowners got a far superior product with enV™,” said Lapointe. “I’m sold on the product and will continue to use it and keep recommending it to others.

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