Zip 1.5 and 2.0 Explained

As previously announced on June 1st of 2021, Alliance Weatherizations had made the switch to installing?only?Zip 1.5 or 2.0 Systems, which incurred a lot of "what is that" questions. Fortunately, we have the answers!

So, with the basic Zip System installation, you are only required to tape the seams (always roll the tape of course!) and flash the windows/doors per the Huber guidelines and you're done. Good enough? Not really. There are some potential issues with stopping there that I will outline below and explain why we go not just one, but many steps further.

Zip 1.5

Let's start with Zip 1.5, since it's the foundation for everything that comes next. The extra steps we take, we take for very specific reasons that are designed to protect our customers from moisture intrusion, lawsuits and various issues we've witnessed in the field firsthand.

• Foundation Sealing: Where your Zip panels meet the foundation, there is a natural gap that occurs. The issue with this area is that as walls heat up during the day, condensation forms against the Zip panels, and as that moisture runs down the panel, instead of escaping it can be forced back towards the home, causing the bottom edge of the panels and your bottom plate to get wet. With housewrap, you overlap the bottom edge so you don't have this issue, but with Zip System, the WRB (weather resistive barrier) is part of the panel, so you don't get the luxury of an overlap. Depending on the field conditions, Alliance Weatherization will either tape (using 6" Zip Tape) or use the Liquid Applied Zip Flashing to seal this gap, eliminating the problem.

• Nail Holes: Because there can be an immense amount of moisture condensing and running down the walls, the nail holes towards the bottom of the home are much more susceptible to having the water collect there, and if the nails aren't seated perfectly (are they ever?), the potential for moisture intrusion exists. On Zip System 1.5 Alliance Weatherizations seals all exposed nail holes 4' up from the bottom plate using the Liquid Zip Flashing.

Zip 2.0

Now we move on to the Full Zip 2.0 Installation. Consider it Zip System on steroids if you will. We recommend highly that anyone doing a stucco home uses the Zip 2.0, and this is the only way Alliance Weatherizations will perform our work on stucco homes. We take the above process above a few steps further as explained below.

• 1st Floor Door jambs/column bases/garage door bucks: To put the icing on the proverbial cake, with Zip 2.0, we also use Liquid flashing to seal 6" up from the bottom on all door jambs & column bases, including garage doors and service doors. The garage and service doors are typically at grade level, and therefore extremely exposed to moist conditions at times. Blowing rains can also get to sliding glass or lanai door jambs as well as underneath column bases.

Last but Not Least - Zip Stretch Flashing!

• On both Zip 1.5 and 2.0 Systems, Alliance Weatherizations installs the 6" Zip Stretch Flashing exclusively in the window sills. If you've ever witnessed installers in the field trying to perform origami using multiple pieces of straight flashing, only to end up with tiny pin holes in the corners, or, big bunched up wads of tape that interfere with the window installation, you'll know what we're talking about. With Zip Stretch Flashing, you get one continuous seal free from holes and a smooth surface that allows the caulking on the back of the window flange to seal properly.

In closing, we will reiterate the point that?every inch of the Zip tape must be rolled?in order to release the acrylic adhesive in this highly advanced modern flashing tape. To omit this step not only voids the warranty, but invites failure in the wall system later down the road. As our saying here at Alliance Weatherizations goes....

"If it ain't rolled, it ain't right!"