Felt Paper vs House Wrap: Should You Still Use Building Paper?

Walk onto any construction site built before 1990, and you’ll find asphalt-saturated felt paper (Grade D building paper) stapled to the sheathing. For decades, it was the industry standard—the only weather-resistant barrier most builders knew. Then synthetic house wraps arrived in the 1980s, and the debate began.

Thirty-five years later, both materials still have their place. But understanding when to use traditional felt paper versus modern house wrap can save you money, callbacks, and headaches.

The History: Why Felt Paper Was King

Asphalt-saturated felt paper became the standard weather-resistive barrier in the early 20th century. The material was simple: organic felt (originally cotton or wool rags, later wood pulp) saturated with asphalt for water resistance.

It worked. Buildings sheathed with wood boards and wrapped with 15-pound or 30-pound felt performed well for decades. The felt absorbed some moisture, dried out, and kept water away from the framing. It was cheap, widely available, and every carpenter knew how to install it.

Building codes from the 1940s through 1980s simply specified “Grade D building paper” or “asphalt felt” as the weather barrier. IRC Section R703.2 still references it as an acceptable option. For generations of builders, felt paper wasn’t a choice—it was the only option.

The Evolution: Synthetic House Wraps Enter the Market

In the 1980s, DuPont introduced Tyvek, the first widely-adopted synthetic house wrap. Made from spunbonded high-density polyethylene, it offered advantages felt couldn’t match: lighter weight, higher tear strength, better vapor permeance, and superior UV resistance.

Other manufacturers followed with their own formulations: woven and non-woven polypropylene wraps, perforated polyethylene films, and various engineered fabrics. Products like Rex Wrap Royal brought even better tear resistance through woven construction while maintaining the breathability needed for wall drying.

Today, synthetic house wraps dominate new residential construction. But felt paper hasn’t disappeared—it still makes sense for specific applications.

Performance Comparison: Felt Paper vs Modern House Wrap

Let’s compare these materials across the performance metrics that actually matter in the field.

Tear Strength and Durability

This is where modern house wraps show their clearest advantage.

Asphalt felt tears easily, especially when wet. The organic felt substrate loses strength when saturated. On windy days during installation, felt can tear right at the staples. Any accidental contact with sharp edges (framing lumber, masonry ties, worker traffic) creates tears that must be patched.

15-pound felt typically has a tear strength around 30-40 pounds (machine direction). 30-pound felt is stronger but still vulnerable.

Synthetic house wraps are engineered for tear resistance. Quality products like Rex Wrap have tear strengths of 80-140+ pounds in both directions. The woven construction distributes stress across multiple fibers, preventing tear propagation. You can walk on it, brush past it with lumber, and staple it without constant repairs.

In practical terms: on a windy day, you’ll spend hours repairing torn felt. House wrap keeps working.

Water Resistance

Both materials resist water, but they do it differently.

Asphalt felt relies on the asphalt saturation to repel water. When new, it sheds water effectively. But felt is also absorbent—it can hold 10-20% of its weight in water. It absorbs moisture, holds it briefly, then dries out. This absorption property actually helps manage moisture in some wall assemblies, particularly under stucco or other moisture-intensive claddings.

Synthetic house wraps are non-absorbent. Water runs off the surface rather than being absorbed. This provides more consistent water resistance, but it also means any water that gets behind the house wrap can’t be absorbed and redistributed—it must drain away.

Both materials meet the ASTM D779 water resistance requirements in IRC R703.2. The difference is behavior, not code compliance. For most siding types (vinyl, fiber cement, lap siding), the non-absorbent nature of house wrap works better. For stucco, felt’s absorbency can be advantageous.

UV Resistance and Weather Exposure

Construction timelines slip. Your weather barrier needs to survive.

Asphalt felt degrades quickly under UV exposure. The asphalt oxidizes, the felt becomes brittle, and the material loses strength and water resistance. Most felt products are rated for only 30-90 days of UV exposure before significant degradation occurs. Leave it exposed for 6 months, and it may be too degraded to provide reliable protection.

Synthetic house wraps are specifically engineered for UV resistance. Rex Wrap and similar quality products are rated for 6-12 months of UV exposure. The material is designed to stay on the building during construction without degrading. This UV stability is one of the primary advantages house wrap offers over felt.

If your siding installation might be delayed (custom builds, owner-builders, budget constraints), house wrap’s UV resistance is invaluable. Felt paper demands quick follow-up with siding.

Vapor Permeance (Breathability)

The ability of moisture to pass through your weather-resistant barrier affects how well your wall assembly dries.

15-pound asphalt felt has a vapor permeance around 5-10 perms when dry. When wet, the permeance increases significantly—wet felt can exceed 60 perms. This variable permeance is sometimes called “smart vapor control”—the material becomes more permeable when wet, allowing faster drying.

30-pound felt is less permeable, typically 2-5 perms when dry.

Synthetic house wraps have stable vapor permeance regardless of moisture content. Rex Wrap’s 12-16 perms provides consistent breathability in all conditions. This allows reliable outward drying in all climate zones and works particularly well in humid climates where bidirectional drying matters.

For understanding how vapor permeance fits into your overall moisture management strategy, see our guide on house wrap perm ratings.

Installation Speed and Ease

This is where house wrap wins decisively.

Asphalt felt comes in 36″ wide rolls that weigh 60-70 pounds (15-pound felt) or 100-120 pounds (30-pound felt) when full. The material is heavy, awkward to handle, and requires two people for efficient installation. Tears during installation are common and require immediate patching.

Felt also requires more overlap. Code typically requires 6″ horizontal laps and 6″ vertical laps—that’s more material and more time ensuring proper overlap.

Synthetic house wraps come in wider rolls (5-10 feet wide), weigh less (25-40 pounds per roll), and can often be installed by one person. The material doesn’t tear as easily, so installation goes faster with fewer interruptions for repairs. Many house wraps print overlap lines directly on the material, making proper lapping foolproof.

On a 2,400 sq ft house, the installation time difference is substantial:

Felt paper: 12-16 hours (including tear repairs and managing heavy rolls)
House wrap: 6-10 hours (lighter, wider rolls, fewer repairs)

That’s 6+ hours of labor savings, which at $50-75/hour loaded labor cost equals $300-450 saved on labor alone. The total installed cost calculation often favors house wrap even when material costs are similar.

Code Compliance

Both materials meet IRC R703.2 requirements for weather-resistant barriers when properly installed.

IRC R703.2 specifies minimum performance requirements:

Water resistance per ASTM D779 (Grade D paper or equivalent)
Minimum overlap requirements
Proper integration with flashing at openings

Asphalt felt meeting ASTM D226 (Grade D building paper) satisfies code. Synthetic house wraps meeting ASTM D1970, D4869, or tested to equivalent water resistance standards also satisfy code.

The code is performance-based, not prescriptive. Both materials meet the minimum. Modern house wraps typically exceed the minimum by a comfortable margin.

Cost Comparison

Let’s compare costs for a 2,400 sq ft house (2,800 sq ft of wall area).

Felt Paper (15-pound)

Material: $0.05-0.08/sq ft = $140-224
Labor (12-16 hours at $50-75/hr): $600-1,200
Fasteners, repairs: $50-75
Total installed: $790-1,499

Quality House Wrap (Rex Wrap)

Material: $0.10-0.15/sq ft = $280-420
Labor (6-10 hours at $50-75/hr): $300-750
Tape, fasteners: $100-150
Total installed: $680-1,320

House wrap typically costs less installed than felt paper, despite higher material costs. The labor savings from faster installation more than offset the material premium.

30-pound felt costs more than 15-pound felt (material and labor), making the comparison even more favorable for house wrap.

When Felt Paper Still Makes Sense

Modern house wrap has displaced felt in most applications, but felt paper remains the better choice in specific scenarios:

Two-Layer Stucco Applications

Traditional three-coat stucco over wood framing requires two layers of Grade D building paper (felt) per code. The two-layer system provides drainage and vapor permeance control that’s specifically designed for stucco’s moisture behavior.

Stucco is unique: it’s applied wet, stays wet during cure, and needs a moisture management system that can absorb and redistribute moisture. Felt’s absorbent nature works better with stucco than non-absorbent house wraps.

For stucco applications, stick with felt paper unless you’re using a synthetic WRB specifically rated and approved for stucco.

Budget Retrofit Work

On tight-budget retrofit projects where the WRB will be immediately covered (same-day siding installation), felt paper’s lower material cost can make sense. If you’re not worried about UV exposure or installation efficiency (small job, one wall, quick turnaround), felt’s $0.05/sq ft material cost beats house wrap’s $0.10-0.15/sq ft.

Code-Minimum Commercial Work

Some commercial specifications still call out Grade D building paper by name, particularly on older project specs that haven’t been updated. If the spec says felt, install felt (or submit a substitution request for house wrap).

Historic Preservation

When renovating historic buildings, matching original materials may be required by preservation guidelines. If the building originally had felt paper, restoration may require felt paper replacement.

When House Wrap Is the Clear Upgrade

For the vast majority of modern construction, synthetic house wrap is the superior choice:

New Residential Construction

New homes benefit from everything house wrap offers: better tear resistance, UV stability for construction delays, faster installation, and superior long-term performance. The minimal cost difference (or actual savings when labor is included) makes it an easy choice.

Vinyl Siding, Fiber Cement, or Lap Siding

These siding types create a vented rainscreen drainage plane behind the siding. House wrap’s non-absorbent surface works perfectly—water drains down and out without being absorbed. See our guides on house wrap for vinyl siding and fiber cement.

Brick Veneer

Modern brick veneer installations create an air gap between the brick and the WRB. House wrap’s tear resistance and UV stability work better than felt in this application. The brick installation timeline can extend for weeks—house wrap handles the exposure without degradation.

Metal Buildings

For metal buildings and pole barns, house wrap’s light weight and ease of installation make it far superior to felt. The material handles the irregular framing and extended exposure common in agricultural and commercial metal building construction.

Any Project with Uncertain Timeline

Custom homes, owner-builder projects, phased construction—anywhere the siding installation might be delayed beyond a few weeks, house wrap’s UV resistance is essential. Felt paper will degrade before the building is closed in.

The R-Value Associates Recommendation: Rex Wrap

We carry Rex Wrap as our house wrap solution because it represents the best evolution beyond felt paper. The woven construction provides exceptional tear resistance—you’re not constantly repairing tears during installation or construction. The 12-16 perm vapor permeance works across all climate zones, providing the breathability needed for wall drying without being so open that it compromises weather resistance.

Rex Wrap’s UV resistance means you’re not racing against degradation if the siding schedule slips. The wider rolls and lighter weight make installation faster and easier, saving labor cost. And the material is compatible with all standard flashing tapes and accessories—no proprietary system required.

For the typical house wrap installation, Rex Wrap delivers professional performance at a cost point that’s competitive with or less than felt paper when you factor in labor. It’s the modern replacement for felt paper in almost every residential application.

That said, we’re not dogmatic. If you’re doing two-layer felt under stucco, use felt—it’s the right material for that job. But for new construction with vinyl, fiber cement, brick veneer, or any modern siding system, house wrap is the clear upgrade.

Installation Best Practices (Both Materials)

Whether you choose felt or house wrap, proper installation determines performance:

Start at the bottom: First course at the foundation, each successive course overlapping the one below
Proper overlap: Minimum 6″ horizontal laps, 6″ vertical laps (or follow manufacturer specifications)
Integrate flashing correctly: Window and door flashing must follow proper sequencing
Seal penetrations: Every pipe, vent, outlet box needs proper flashing and sealing
Protect from degradation: If felt paper, plan to install siding quickly; if house wrap, you have more time but don’t push it beyond the UV rating

The Bottom Line

Asphalt felt paper served the industry well for decades. It’s still viable for specific applications—primarily two-layer stucco installations and certain budget or specification-driven projects.

But for modern residential construction, synthetic house wrap has surpassed felt in virtually every metric that matters: tear strength, UV resistance, installation efficiency, and total installed cost. The material has been proven in the field for 35+ years now. It’s not experimental or unproven—it’s the current standard of practice.

Products like Rex Wrap represent the next generation: improved tear resistance through woven construction, optimized vapor permeance for modern wall assemblies, and compatibility with all standard installation practices and accessories.

Choose felt when the application specifically calls for it. Choose house wrap for everything else. It’s that simple.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use house wrap instead of felt paper under stucco?

For traditional three-coat stucco over wood framing, building codes typically require two layers of Grade D building paper (felt). While some synthetic house wraps are approved as alternatives, you must verify that your specific product has testing and approval for use under stucco—most standard house wraps do not. The two-layer felt system provides specific moisture management properties that stucco needs during application and curing. For one-coat stucco systems or EIFS, different requirements apply. When in doubt, stick with felt paper for stucco unless your house wrap manufacturer specifically states it’s approved for stucco applications.

How long can felt paper be exposed before it degrades?

Most asphalt felt products are rated for only 30-90 days of UV exposure before significant degradation occurs. The asphalt oxidizes in sunlight, the felt becomes brittle, and water resistance deteriorates. If your felt paper has been exposed for more than 2-3 months, inspect it carefully for degradation—you may need to remove and replace it before installing siding. This short UV tolerance is one of the main reasons modern house wraps have replaced felt for most applications, as quality house wraps can handle 6-12 months of exposure without degradation.

Is house wrap more expensive than felt paper?

Material cost: yes, house wrap typically costs $0.10-0.15 per square foot compared to felt paper’s $0.05-0.08 per square foot. However, total installed cost often favors house wrap because installation is faster (6-10 hours vs 12-16 hours for a typical house). The labor savings frequently exceed the material premium, making house wrap cost-competitive or even cheaper on a total installed basis. The cost difference is minimal enough that the performance advantages of house wrap—UV resistance, tear strength, installation efficiency—easily justify any small premium.

Which is better for humid climates: felt paper or house wrap?

House wrap generally performs better in humid climates. Quality house wraps like Rex Wrap have consistent vapor permeance (12-16 perms) that allows reliable outward and inward drying year-round. Felt paper has variable permeance that changes dramatically between wet and dry states, which can be unpredictable in humid conditions. The non-absorbent nature of house wrap also means it won’t hold moisture against the sheathing. For hot-humid climates where managing inward solar vapor drive matters, the higher and more consistent permeance of house wrap is advantageous. See our guide on house wrap for humid climates for more details.

Felt Paper vs House Wrap: Should You Still Use Building Paper?