Fluid-applied WRBs
I think I have consumed all the articles out there on the fluid applied WRB’s, but I was wondering if they have caught on with any of the GBA community. I know Hammer and Hand use them. They would appear to be a very good solution, but perhaps their cost keeps them from being deployed more often in residential construction. The STPE materials would seem to be the best when all factors considered(other than cost!). Has anyone used any of the following?
Polyguard Airlok
Polywall BlueBarrier
Dupont Tyvek Flluid Applied
Henry Air-Bloc (though they don’t have roll or spray product for whole wall)
Prosoco R-Guard Cat5
GCP Applied Technologies Perm-A-Barrier VPL 50
When Tyvek comes in at $.10/sf and Solitex Mento 1000 at $.26/sf, it becomes a tough nut to swallow something like Prosoco R-Guard Cat5 at over $5/sf. I couldn’t find pricing on any of the other STPE products. I did see a Tyvek fluid applied comparison that pegged their installed cost at $3/sf, though it was a few years old. Does anyone have pricing on some of the other products?
Would appreciate anyone sharing their experiences, pricing, install, effectiveness, etc.
Thanks
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Replies
Kevin,
I have never used one of these products (although I've conducted backyard testing).
The two big issues with these products are:
1. The price is high.
2. Verifying installed thickness is difficult.
Oops--sorry. I made a mistake in pricing. The Prosoco Cat5 would be somewhere between $1 and $2/sf. depending on the substrate. They specify coverage at 50-100sf/gallon, and a 5 gallon canister can be found online for about $535.
It wasn't on your list, but I did my own house with the Stoguard system from STO Corp. The decision to use a liquid applied WRB was based on some concerns unique to my project (full-thickness masonry over SIP.) My energy rater at the time (2013) told me it was the future of WRBs, since it integrated all the rough openings and other flashings with one system. After getting a quote for the liquid Tyvek, which could only be installed by factory-trained technicians, I decided to go with the DIY option. Labor is obviously the boogieman here, but with supervision, the bulk of it can be unskilled. Martin also mentioned application thickness--they included a gauge, but the roughness of OSB made it tough to get a confident reading.
Over OSB, it's like a homemade ZIP system, but without the tape.
I'd use it again, but I'm not sure I could ever convince a client to pay the premium.
Andy--thanks for the info. I only included the STPE formulations in my original post. I couldn't find anything that would indicate Stoguard was of that type, so I left it off. Luckily, in this case, I am the client, so i could be convinced to pay the premium. This area has a booming construction market, and as I look at all the Zip with overdriven nails and chips and drooping tape, or the Tyvek flapping in the breeze or tacked down with thousands of staples, I can see the benefit of fluid applied. Applied over plywood, it just might be the best solution.
Kevin, how are the STPE-based products superior? I wasn't examining to that level of detail when I chose the StoCorp products, and in a quick look back over the technical materials I don't see what exactly it was composed of.
https://youtu.be/yzRPoTArUJY?t=1355
Here's a good video from an RDH presentation looking at STPE and other fluid applied membranes' performance on window sill stress tests (2" of water).
If the link gets rejected, search "Window Sill Pan Flashings, Are Liquid Membranes Suitable" on youtube
Since you revived this old thread…
I think STPE products are great, but not necessarily worth the cost premium. For example, here are some other sources showing other elastomeric fluid-applied coatings performing quite well:
Walsh Construction Wingnut Testing: https://www.walshconstruction.com/wp-content/uploads/WCC_Sealant-Study-Report_2013rev2014.pdf
UT Durability Lab: https://www.jlconline.com/how-to/exteriors/nail-sealability-tests_o
(Tremco ExoAir was the only sealant to pass, it’s not STPE).
David Nicastro, the founder of the Durability Lab, thinks that final dried thickness is one of the primary drivers of long-term durability from this Build Show Podcast: https://buildshownetwork.com/contents/Podcast_05.
Most of the STPE products I’ve researched are 20-25 mils wet. Tremco ExoAir 230 is 25 mils dry, for example. It also allows for a lower horsepower paint sprayer to apply.
STPE benefits:
low VOC
highly weather resistant
adheres well to many substrates with no primer
cures quickly
moisture cured--can be applied to wet substrates in a wide range of temps
self sealing with fasteners
elastic, does not require mesh over gaps
vapor permeable
almost 100% solids so no shrinkage
good UV resistance
I am on the verge of going with a fluid applied WRB. I have gotten quotes on pricing. I have settled on the new formulation of the Tyvek WB+ over plywood sheathing. It is actually more reasonably priced than the Prosoco Cat 5.(My calcs are approximately $1.36/sf for Tyvek, and $2/sf for Prosoco using an equivalent coverage of 50sf/gal). I will likely use a combo of the Prosoco joint and seam filler and the Tyvek equivalent for prepping window cutouts and flashing. I will do the install myself as the labor costs would drive the price out of the realm of being affordable. Before I commit, I wanted to check back in here and see if anyone has current thoughts on these products after having used them.I wanted to get the latest and greatest thoughts from those who might be using them in the field. Thanks for the inputs.
Something to keep in mind with regards to liquid WRB's.
https://buildingscience.com/documents/building-science-insights/bsi-103-joints-and-corners-and-penetrations
John,
"Something"? Or several things?
John--thanks for that link(this is why I love GBA!). To quote from the article:
"So how to reduce the stress on the liquid applied membrane? Easy. Fill the joint with a sealant. Big improvement in performance. This works big time in corners. With inside corners a “filet” bead yields a nice curve rather than sharp change in direction (Photograph 6). With outside corners we have more of a curve rather than a sharp change in direction (Photograph 7). "
Do you have any idea what the "sealant" might be? Does the Joint and Seam filler qualify? https://www.prosoco.com/products/r-guard-joint-seam-filler
or
http://www.dupont.com/content/dam/dupont/products-and-services/construction-materials/building-envelope-systems/documents/K-29447_Flashing_and_Joint_Compound+_Tech_Data_Sheet.pdf
The pictures seem to be utilizing the Prosoco family of products. The Tyvek literature shows its product elongates 380% before breakage. Do you know if this is the sealant Mr. Lstiburek might be alluding to? Or perhaps something like the Contega HF?
I have the same questions Kevin did last summer
Does anyone have any answers ?
Hi Cali.
Many fluid applied water-resistive barriers are offered as systems. For, example, the one used in this FHB article (Spray-Applied WRB) uses a fabric to reinforce seams and joints, and Prosoco's roll-on product line includes tubes of joint and seam filler and flashing that are used in conjunction with their Cat 5 air and waterproof barrier. If you are considering going this route, I'd recommend going with a company that offers a full line of compatible products for seams and joints and flashing window and door rough openings and other penetrations.
Thank you for that Brian
Kevin,
There is another vendor you may want consider for your project if an ability to apply during rain or on wet sheathing is not a deal breaker for you. I've used Tremco Dymonic 100 for sealing the sheathing joints, windows and as a window sill and ExoAir 230 for the sheathing. The price is about $150 for a box of 15 20oz sausages of Dymonic 100 and $150 for a 5 gallon bucket of ExoAir 230.
There are these articles on fluid applied barriers.
http://mattrisinger.com/fluid-applied-wrb-testing/
https://www.jlconline.com/how-to/insulation/fluid-applied-weather-barrier-testing_o
https://www.constructionspecifier.com/durability-of-water-resistive-barriers/
There's also this non-fluid product.
https://foursevenfive.com/blog/why-solitex-is-the-best-wrb-solution/