FREQUENT QUESTIONS
HomeFAQ
ARCHITECTS
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VAPOR CONTROLLER AND A VAPOR BARRIER?
When the temperature inside the house is superior to the temperature outside, the
water vapor (which generally is at 60% of relative humidity and at 22 centigrade
degrees) tries to go out and if it finds a temperature lower to 12 centigrade
degrees, then condensation is produced. In a vapor barrier and/or in a thermal
bridge this happens and there is no way of evacuating that water; therefore, it is
produced inside the structure of the house spoiling the materials and the health of
the people living in the house. With a water vapor controller (VCL-vapor controller
layer) this will not happen because it lets the water vapor pass gradually avoiding
condensation.
CAN IT BE USED IN FLAT ROOFS?
No, it is not recommended. Pockets of water can be generated where it is
accumulated and when the outside temperature is higher than the inside
temperature this water becomes vapor and it enters the house.
IS WICHI USED IN LEANING ROOFS AND WALLS?
Asphaltic felt is a very good waterproof insulant when it is made under norms, but
as it is an organic product as time passes it spoils; it also possesses a low
resistance when it is torn, moderate to strong it is easily torn apart. Tests made on
many Argentinean samples show that at a less of 50 cm of the water column, it
stops being impermeable to water. Polyethylene films are vapor barriers that is why
they do not avoid condensation, vapor does not have a place to go out, so it
condenses. Wichi is permeable to water vapor, in made tests it resisted winds up
to 130 km/h and it resists a water column of 600 cm. 10 times more than the
asphaltic felt.
HOW IS WICHI USED IN THE CEILING?
In a hot roof and when the thermal insulation is stuck to the covering, wichi is not
used on the ceiling. When the attic is cold, on the ceiling the thermal insulation is
collocated, and on it wichi. Remember that running coverings, like sheet metal or
asphaltic tiles should be ventilated.
HOME OWNERS
WHY SPENDING MORE USING WICHI?
La incidencia del costo por m2 de wichi con respecto al costo total del techo, es muy baja. La hemos calculado en
The incidence in the cost per m2 of wichi as regards the total cost of the roof is
very low. We have calculated it in aproximatedely 1% considering a leaning roof
with a structure of tongue and groove joints, tiles and thermal insulation. However,
uising wichi makes you save money: 1) When the roof is built, it guaratees that it
can remain out in the open resisting winds, rains and protecting the inferior
surface. 2) as it allows the water vapor to go out it avoids the spoiling of the roof
structure: wood, thermal insulation, etc. 3)it avoids the danger of breathing
humidity smell (fungal spores) which deteriorates peoples’ health.
WHAT PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BECAUSE OF HUMIDITY IN THE HOUSE?
You can ask a confident doctor about the damages in health provoked by mites,
mildew and fungi because of humidity. It generally produces lung problems,
asthma, problems in the skin, etc. Besides, humidity is what attracts insects like
cockroaches and ants.
DO INSURANCY COMPANIES GIVE ANY PREMIUM FOR USING WICHI?
In Argentina, not yet, but in Europe it is important for an insurance company to use
the correct materials.
I LIVE IN A HOUSE IN WHICH THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF HUMIDITY.
Humidity does not have any smell, what we smell are the mildew spores. This is
because your house does not have good ventilation; the environment humidity
condenses in the walls and roofs. This house lacks thermal insulation and a vapor
controller.
IN THE WALLS THAT FACE THE SOUTH FUNGI ARE FORMED AND THEY GET BLACK
The way of solving this problem is to screw a frame every 60 cm, to collocate
between frames thermal insulation of no less than 50mm, then wichi, and finally
drywalls, wood, or other materials.
I HAVE A HOTEL IN RIO GRANDE TIERRA DEL FUEGO AND I CANNOT USE THE HIGHEST FLOOR BEACAUSE THE ROOF LEAKS CONTINUOUSLY
The problem is due to: 1) a poor thermal insulation. 2) the presence of thermal
bridges. 3) possible use of a vapor barrier instead of a vapor controller. The
solutions to put that area a thermal insulation of no less than 75mm. For example,
the Chilean legislation recommends in that area to use an insulation of 150mm and
use a vapor controller (wichi) so that the roof system can breathe.
SUPPLIERS
WHAT IS THE VOLUME, WEIGHT AND QUANTITY OF THE PRODUCT THAT CONTAINS A PALLET?
A pallet has 30 boxes. Each box has 120 m2 of the product, distributed in 4 rolls of
30 m2. Each pallet occupies a space of 1,8 m3 and its weight is of 345 kg
approximatively.
HOW MUCH SPACE DOES THE ASPHALTIC FELT OCCUPIES?
For the same m2 of asphaltic felt are needed 3,6 m3, that is to say double space
immobilized and its weight is of 1440 kg approximately.
GIVEN THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WICHI AND THE ASPHALTIC FELT, ARE THERE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE COST OF THE FREIGHT?
WICHI will help you reduce the cost of freight, each box weighs 11,5 kg. It reduces
the weight as well as the transported volume.
HOW IS WICHI STORED?
WICHI can be kept laying or standing, it does not require special conditions for its
storage because it does not spread the flame so it is not inflammable.
WHAT GUARANTEE DOES IT HAVE?
WICHI is supported by Softbond S.A, one of the most important Argentinean
companies in the production of woolen-non-woolen, a company certified under ISO
norms series 9000. This gives its products a high trust and an absolutely stable
quality. DTI guarantees WICHI for life once it is covered, as long as its installment
was made according to the instruction that go with the product. In Europe, it is
guaranteed for the maximum allowed by law which is 15 years.
WHAT TESTS AND QUALITY CONTROLS HAVE BEEN MADE?
WICHI is a product which characteristics and facilities have been tested and
verified by INTI (National Institute of Industrial Technology), under National and
International norms.
IS IT INFLAMABLE? DO UV RAYS SPOIL IT?
In its production process, WICHI is added flame retardants and UV (ultraviolet)
protectors. This makes the product of low inflammability and flame spreading; it
can remain out in the open without being its technical characteristics modified
(physical and chemical).
WHICH IS THE BENEFIT OF USING WICHI FOR THE CLIENT AND FOR ME?
WICHI gave prestige to its business for its high quality, with constant technical
support, without problems for the installation person and the owner of the house.
WHO DISTRIBUTES IT?
WICHI is distributed and sold in Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay.
Ask our suppliers and resellers net.
ROOFERS
IS IT NECESSARY TO USE A DOUBLE DRYWALL STRIP?
No, wichi has an elastomer that tightens the clay sealing it in such a way that water
does not go through.
CAN IT BE USED IN FLAT ROOFS?
NO, IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED. POCKETS OF WATER CAN BE GENERATED
WHERE IT IS ACCUMULATED AND WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS
HIGHER THAN THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE THIS WATER BECOMES VAPOR
AND IT ENTERS THE HOUSE.
IS WICHI SLIPPERY?
WICHI is not slippery because it possesses a textured surface with non-slip
process which increases the adhesion, as a difference to other imported and
national products like polyethylene which are slippery.
IS WICHI EXPENSIVE?
No, because of the facilities it has (vapor controller, waterproof insulation, wind
barrier, superior resistance, etc.). The decision to make is ‘dry roof and healthy
house’ or ‘humid roof and problems’.
WHY IS WICHI LIGHT-BLUE?
We have chosen light-blue color because it is the one that affects less to the sight.
At world level, it is the color mostly used in vapor controllers precisely for that
reason.
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