With that mindset, a couple of trends stood out:
The evolution of water resistive barriers (WRB)
A WRB is a weather-proof layer of material that sits between the siding and plywood/strand board in a home. Its job is to protect that board from any moisture that might leak through the siding. Drive by new construction, and you might see homes layered in DuPont™ Tyvek® Homewrap® prior to the installation of siding. It is by far the most ubiquitous brand in the construction segment.
Now, we are seeing a trend toward a new technology: a WRB that is integrated into the board itself, at the factory. Huber’s Zip System® is an example, and was on display at IBS. The integration saves builders time and effort, with no additional step needed to apply the WRB onsite. The technology has gained share in new construction and continues to grow.
What makes this an exciting development for tapes? Once nailed to the frame, the entire perimeter of each sheath needs to be seamed with a weatherproof tape. This dramatically increases the amount of flashing and seaming tape needed to complete the construction of a new home.
Opportunities for acrylic-based adhesives to replace butyl in flashing tapes
As builders look to find ways to get the job done more efficiently, many are making the switch away from traditional flashing materials—metal/plastic pieces that are mechanically fastened to the house—and toward water-impervious flashing tapes made with pressure-sensitive adhesives.
That, in and of itself, is a trend; and a number of companies now offer flashing tape products. Another important trend, on display at the IBS, is that more of these tapes are employing high-performance acrylic-based adhesives in their constructions, replacing more standard butyl or asphalt-based adhesives.
It comes down to performance: Acrylic will adhere more effectively in weather conditions such as rain and cold—much more effectively than other adhesives. For contractors, this means being able to get more done during colder months, fewer errors/less rework, and higher customer satisfaction.
A great time for Building & Construction
Trends aside, I think this is a great time for those of us in the PSA space to be focused on the Building & Construction industry. With a strong economy and low interest rates, the new housing market is continuing to grow. The National Association of Realtors* predicts an 11% growth in new home sales in 2020. That should keep construction manufacturers, and the suppliers they lean on, pretty busy.
