WRB and House Wrap Installation Guide

House wraps and weather barriers can play a critical role in a high-performance wall assembly. In fact, some people consider the WRB to be a BFD.
Sept. 17, 2026
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Kellen Berg
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A WRB is variously called a Water Resistive Barrier (in the IRC) and a Weather Resistive Barrier (in the building science community); the difference is that weather contains water, but it also includes wind.

According to the International Residential Code (IRC), a Water Resistive Barrier (WRB) must be installed to shed liquid water that gets behind the siding and incorporated with horizontal flashings.

To bump up the WRB's performance, high-performance builders and building scientists call for upgrading the job description from a water barrier to also work as an air barrier. This typically includes taping the seams and sealing the edges. Though, all of those staples and siding nails throw a bit of a wrench in that task.

Here is a collection of animations, videos, and podcasts about WRB installation, air barriers, and liquid water control:

  • Air Barrier Information
  • House Wrap Installation
  • Window Flashing
  • Rainscreen Info
  • Roof/Wall Flashing

Air Barrier Information

18 Videos, articles, and animations showing you how to get through Section 1 of the Energy Star Thermal Bypass Checklist: continuity between the air barrier system and the thermal...
March 2, 2017
7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
You can't simply go down to the hardware store and buy a box labeled air barrier
Aug. 22, 2018
7 Minutes of BS (Building Science)
HOLY COW! If you blow hard enough, you can blow through OSB!
April 4, 2023

House Wrap Installation

Stop rot with house wrap​
Jan. 30, 2023
A tight air barrier is the best way to build an energy-efficient house. Outside the sheathing are many chances to make it better.
Oct. 24, 2016

Window Flashing

How to install pan flashing and jamb flashing on a window opening in a wall that will be thickened with 4 inches of foam—using regular, non-stretch peel-and-stick flashing tape...
May 5, 2016
Use expensive stretch tape for the tricky parts and regular non-stretch tape for the rest of the window flashing
July 28, 2016
On International Flashing Awareness Day, Aron Jones surveyed some flashing products he likes (#Internationalflashingawarenessday)
Sept. 30, 2024
How to bend common window profiles on a Tapco brake
Oct. 31, 2022
Direct water out and away instead of over and under with this head flashing upgrade
Oct. 28, 2024
Cold tape doesn't stick and hot tape stick like sh—well, you know what it sticks like.
Nov. 22, 2017
This critical element is often omitted from window installation
Sept. 28, 2016
Removing the old window frame and weight pockets, reframing the rough opening, and flashing a new-construction flanged window into the old existing WRB
Feb. 21, 2022
Flashing an In-Betweenie window is a lot like flashing an Innie or an Outie, only it is somewhere in between
May 30, 2016
With the sill pan flashed, Ben turns to flashing the jambs of a window opening in this passive house retrofit
June 7, 2016
A monolithic layer of protection for holes in walls
Feb. 22, 2020
Wide tape spans the many layers of a thick wall to make an air tight and water tight seal
July 25, 2016
Integrate the window with the house wrap, and the house wrap with the wall for an airtight, watertight window installation
Dec. 25, 2015
The least expensive window flashing tape is also the most complicated to install. Unless you've done it a bajillion times
Aug. 4, 2015

Rainscreen Info

A woven mesh with integrated house wrap allows drainage and drying
Aug. 6, 2018
Daniel Morrison
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Walls that can drain and dry last a lot longer than walls that stay wet. An air gap between the siding and sheathing lets both dry independently.
Dec. 7, 2023
Wood furring strips make room for drainage and ventilation,—IF you keep the channels open
March 17, 2025
Rainscreens protect buildings from moisture with proper ventilation
Sept. 10, 2024
Why a rain screen wall is important to the energy and durability detailing on a Passive House.
Dec. 10, 2015
Walls that can drain and dry last a lot longer than walls that stay wet.
Feb. 8, 2016
Walls that can drain and dry last a lot longer than walls that stay wet. An air gap between the siding and sheathing lets both dry independently. Furring strips are one way to...
Jan. 18, 2016
Felt, furring strips, and flashing keeps rain out of the walls
Feb. 19, 2016
Walls that dry are walls that last for a long, long, time.
July 2, 2026
Mesh sheeting creates a drainage space between the siding and weather-resistive barrier (WRB) allowing walls to dry much faster which makes them last much longer.
March 4, 2023

Roof/Wall Flashing

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Roof Flashing Guide Remodelers Roofers
Drip edge metal, valley flashing, dormer, chimney, and kickout flashing are types of roof flashing that shed water away from the connections between roofs, walls, chimneys, and...
Dec. 25, 2018
For walls with a pre-applied weather barrier, make sure the tape is compatible with the WRB coating—or use a primer
April 25, 2017
Roofing contractor Eric Garcia walks us (literally) through a low-slope reroof to talk about base flashing, scuppers, and how to detail the corners.
Aug. 4, 2015
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Reroofing A Humpy Old Roof
Tips from an 'Old Goat' about working on older roofs
Jan. 28, 2022
Step flashing, chimney flashing, and pipe flashings keep water out of the roof, but only if installed well
March 18, 2016
How to Bend Kickout and WType Valley Flashing with Tapco Brake
April 1, 2024
Installing a standing seam metal roof is a straightforward process for simple roofs like the one in this video by Union Corrugating, showing how to install endwall flashing with...
Oct. 16, 2023
A silent movie about flashing metal roofing into a brick chimney from UnionCorrugating.
Sept. 19, 2017
Holes in walls amount to big walls full of holes unless you seal the hole after you make it
Sept. 1, 2016
Protect the eave from ice dams and sideways rain.
Aug. 27, 2026

About the Author

Dan Morrison

Dan Morrison is a founding editor of ProTradeCraft.com, where he is also the editor-in-chief. Fun fact: Dan is also a founding editor of Green Building Advisor and executive editor of Fine Homebuilding.

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