Weatherizing homes is essential for enhancing energy efficiency, protecting against moisture damage, and improving indoor comfort. But weatherizing well means balancing a number of decisions and factors that vary from project to project. Considering each element ahead of time while designing the exterior and making product decisions is key to proper home weatherization.
What Details Play a Role in Home Weatherization Decisions?
When laying out a systems approach to the wall envelope, it’s important to weigh the impact of various factors on exterior home weatherization. These include:
• Climate: One of the most important considerations is the local weather—and its extremes. For example, areas with wind-driven rain, such as along the coast, or frequent moisture, such as the Pacific Northwest, typically necessitate a more robust rainscreen system to keep out bulk water and ensure drying. Drier regions like the Southwest may need less ventilation space. Temperatures and temperature fluctuations will determine insulation/R-value needs.
• Cladding type: Siding is another critical element in the decision-making process, since cladding materials perform and respond to weather differently. Stucco and masonry veneer, for instance, are more prone to moisture absorption than vinyl siding, so they require a fully ventilated drying space. Some siding manufacturers have housewrap and rainscreen minimum requirements written into their installation instructions and/or warranties.
• Windows, doors, and roofing: Details on the home’s window and door type and roofing type are also needed prior to determining how the water control is to be detailed and transitioned around the house. Like siding, contractors should consult with these manufacturers to maximize the warranty and determine the products and strategy to integrate properly with the rest of the envelope system.
• Energy and performance goals: Homes built for greater efficiency and to meet standards such as Passive House naturally call for the most robust, building science-backed and -verified wall systems appropriate to the local climate. But within that, looking at the envelope as a system can help guide decisions. For example, if air control is being achieved through the weather-resistive barrier, then self-adhered weather-resistive membranes such as HydroGap SA can more easily achieve that goal versus mechanically attached WRBs and seam taping/sealing.

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• Budget: Underlying all factors is of course the homeowner’s budget. Common construction tends to prioritize pretty finishes like granite countertops or extravagant lighting fixtures while the weatherization components and details receive a very small portion of the budget. Allocation of the budget for rainscreen or drainable WRB systems will dramatically reduce the risk of building envelope failure and will be more cost effective in the long-term.
• Crews and scheduling: If a singular contractor isn’t doing all the work (which is usually the case), your subcontractors play a huge role with regard to who owns what work and when they are doing their work. Ensuring everyone is working in unison to achieve the desired installation and that all system components are properly integrated and within required timelines is critical.
Best Practices for Home Weatherization Decision-Making
The building envelope is a collaboration of moving parts, design decisions, and people. That’s why it’s crucial to consider it from a system’s approach, weighing how each exterior factor plays a role in performance and how each design element may influence the others.
To ease the process, consider a single-source manufacturer that can provide the whole system and warranty it’s performance.
Benjamin Obdyke offers not only product warranties, but systems warranties on products sold together to address specific projects and conditions. For example, our Rainscreen System for Masonry includes Slicker MAX rainscreen, BenWrap™ housewrap, and HydroFlash self-adhered flashing that together provide an unmatched protection system warrantied for 35 years.
We’re also here to help you address challenging envelopes and make critical product decisions. Check out our library of resources and educational materials, and sign up for a virtual jobsite visit to get started.