Wrap Wars
by Alex Wilson
Dupont introduced Tyvek to the construction
industry in 1979. It was a
replacement for felt building paper, and
it quickly proved itself to be vastly
superior. Tyvek was stronger, lighter,
thinner, easier to install, more durable,
more resistant to air penetration, and
less resistant to water-vapor transmission.
The purpose of an air barrier was to
save energy by reducing infiltration
while not trapping moisture in the
walls. The idea caught on quickly. It
caught on so well that since its introduction
eight years ago, DuPont has had
trouble keeping up with demand, and
competitors have moved in.
Parsec was the first company to challenge
DuPont. Parsec had been marketing
Parsec Airtight White (really Tyvek
under its