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FREQUENT QUESTIONS

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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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