Jun. 2--DuPont Tyvek's command of the Oklahoma City home weatherization market could be a wrap.
Builders Insulation has become the only certified installer of the house wrap in the Oklahoma City area.
That means the company's crews and sales staff are trained in the proper use and function of the plastic sheet material, which is installed as an air and moisture barrier in home construction -- and hidden once a home is finished.
More importantly for builders and homeowners, certification by DuPont means the material and installation comes with a 10-year limited warranty, said Bart Bartholomew, general manager of Builders Insulation, 3350 S Purdue.
DuPont describes the building material as "like a windbreaker."
Tyvek "helps stop wind and rain from getting in. And since it also breathes, moisture inside the house can get out. That helps prevent costly water damage and mold and mildew from developing inside (a) new home," according to a DuPont Tyvek brochure. "Similar to wearing a sweater, your home has insulation in the walls. Tyvek ... helps keep insulation dry so it will perform more efficiently. ..."
History Tyvek, made of fine high-density polyethylene fibers, isn't new.
According to DuPont, a scientist accidentally discovered "white polyethylene fluff" coming from a pipe in a DuPont laboratory in 1955. Developers went to work and DuPont sought a patent for a "strong yarn linear polyethylene" the next year. Sheeting was developed and the name Tyvek trademarked in 1965. Commercial production began in 1967.
Tyvek lent itself to use in numerous applications -- medical packaging, envelopes, hazardous-material suits and other apparel -- but it was 1981 before someone thought to use it as a wind and water barrier in construction, according to Boston-based Product Development Consulting Inc.
It was slow to take off until DuPont marketing specialists took the material that the company's engineers called "house wrap" and started calling it the more warm-and-fuzzy "home wrap," according to an October 2004 article in Product Development's newsletter, PDC Discoveries Online, consumers and builders worry over toxic mold. New emphasis on energy conservation and the now-booming "green" movement in construction have made Tyvek a household name, so to speak, among home builders and framers and other subcontractors, Bartholomew said.
For example, Pella Corp., the window manufacturer, specifies Tyvek for use with its own sealing tape, said Ted Vinyard, vice president of sales for Womble Co., which sells and installs Pella windows from offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
Hard at work A recent survey of builders by McGraw Hill Construction and the National Association of Home Builders found residential construction ahead of commercial building in knowing the leading brand of "green" materials, according to Nation's Building News, the builders group's online weekly publication. The survey found that 80 percent of builders surveyed could name a green brand of house wrap, and 66 percent named Tyvek.
Bartholomew said Builders Insulation does 15 to 20 jobs per months using Tyvek and works regularly with about 150 home builders. The company, founded as an insulation installer in 1958 by his father-in-law, Ken Messenger, now also installs gutters, fireplaces and shower inserts.
Builders Insulation's certification as a Tyvek installer sets it apart from other installers, said home builder Jeff Click.
"Typically, house wrap is installed by framers. There are many framers who are very capable of a quality installation of Tyvek, but few, if any of them ever received proper training on all of the aspects of a good house wrap installation," he said. "I want as many specialized experts to work on my homes as possible, as opposed to a few jacks-of-all-trades.
"Improper installation of house wrap can cause as many problems as it is intended to prevent. I'm interested in the idea of having a specialized crew that has received detailed training from the product manufacturer on the specifics of a proper installation, as well as what pitfalls to avoid."
Matt Capshaw, Bartholomew's sales manager, had lists of reasons why Tyvek is growing its market share, but he said he couldn't top this from his boss:
"We're making the house tighter and dryer. It's probably the cheapest insurance policy you can buy against moisture and mold," Bartholomew said.
-----
To see more of The Daily Oklahoman, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsok.com.
Copyright (c) 2007, The Daily Oklahoman
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
NYSE:DD,