Huber Engineered Woods LLC Introduces ZIP System Wall SheathingCreators of AdvanTech Flooring Usher in the Next Generation of Walls

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The creators of AdvanTech® Flooring are introducing a fast, easy way to build walls with Huber Engineered Woods LLC's ZIP System™ Wall Sheathing. The revolutionary wall sheathing system eliminates the need for housewrap, saves builders time and improves construction quality.

    ZIP System Wall Sheathing provides builders with a complete wall system featuring three easy-to-use components. Builders first install the 7/16-inch ZIP System Wall Sheathing with the built-in Stormex™ water-resistive barrier, then seal the seams with a specially-designed ZIP System™ Tape. The ZIP System Tape is applied using the ZIP System™ Tape Gun. Once the tape is installed, the system is completed eliminating the need for housewrap.

    "Huber Engineered Woods continually looks for ways to provide builders with innovative products," said Sherry Walker, vice president of marketing and product development for Huber Engineered Woods LLC. "With the ZIP System Wall Sheathing, we are introducing a high-quality wall system that provides builders a fast, easy and better way to build walls."

    Huber, creators of the widely used AdvanTech Flooring, began developing ZIP System Wall Sheathing and its counterpart ZIP System™ Roof Sheathing in 2002. ZIP System Wall Sheathing has undergone extensive testing and builder trial and has achieved recognition by the 2003 IRC and IBC (ESR-1474) as a water-resistive barrier. The ZIP System Wall Sheathing initial rollout is taking place in the Southeast.

    How It Works
    Builders simply install the 7/16-inch ZIP System Wall Sheathing panels, which are available in 4' x 8' panels, as they would traditional structural panels. A ZIP System™ Fastening Guide assures easy, accurate installation and offers guidance for horizontal and vertical panel installation for maximum flexibility.

    The panel seams are taped using specially-engineered ZIP System Tape. The ZIP System Tape is easy to apply using the ZIP System Tape Gun, and a tape guide is printed on the panel to provide a guide for accurate tape installation. Once installed, ZIP System Wall Sheathing is a structural wall system and water-resistive barrier all-in-one.

    Benefits
    ZIP System Wall Sheathing's Stormex water-resistive barrier eliminates the need for difficult-to-maneuver housewrap and results in easier and faster construction. Unlike housewrap, the built-in water-resistive barrier won't blow off or tear once the system is installed. No rework or repairs are required, and the ZIP System gives homes a high-quality appearance during construction.

    "Builders literally can say goodbye to housewrap forever and expect a product that won't blow off or require the rework that housewrap often demands," said Eric Cecilio, Huber Engineered Woods product development project manager for ZIP System Wall Sheathing.

    The system's Stormex water-resistive barrier eliminates the risk of trapped water between housewrap and sheathing, and the ZIP System panel and barrier are specially designed to allow the ZIP System Walls to breathe. ZIP System panels are backed by a 30-year limited warranty.1 "ZIP System Wall Sheathing is easy to install and saves time. What's more, the overall system offers better protection for a home's walls during and after construction, benefiting both the builder and the homeowner," Cecilio said. "Installing finished siding is easier with the ZIP System because the stud line is clearly visible."

    In addition to meeting IRC and IBC code requirements for a water-resistive barrier, the ZIP System has passed the following performance tests: water penetration (ASTM E331), water resistance (ASTM D2247), wind-driven rain (Florida TAS 100) and Type 1 Air Retarder (ASTM E1677).

    Huber Engineered Woods LLC, long recognized as a leader in the engineered wood industry, is a wholly owned subsidiary of J.M. Huber Corporation, a diversified, multinational supplier of engineered materials, natural resources and technology-based services to markets ranging from paper and energy to construction.

    Huber Engineered Woods LLC is a producer of value added engineered wood products for the residential construction market with manufacturing operations in Maine, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee and Oklahoma. It manufactures specialty engineered panels and wood products that are used in residential applications such as floors, walls and roofs. Huber Engineered Woods LLC also serves industrial markets with products for door manufacturers and the transportation industry. For more information, visit www.huberwood.com/zip.

    Contact: Heather Tamol
    704/926-1326
    htamol@wwlcreative.com