A Proud Family Tradition
Fortifiber was founded over 75 years ago and is still privately held by the same family, now in its third generation. Quality is an integral part of our corporate identity and the pride of the Fortifiber family shines through in all of our products.
Innovations That Revolutionized Construction
Sisalkraft® was launched in the 1950’s and evolved into what we know today as window flashing. Until that time little waterproofing was done around the windows and doors. When it was done, the flashing was made of metal. The invention of rolled flexible flashing was revolutionary for being simple to install and very cost effective.
In the 1960’s Fortifiber invented the modern weather-resistive barrier with Jumbo Tex® asphalt saturated kraft. Roofing felt had been used for many years in this application. But it was heavy, expensive, and tore too easily when used on walls. Jumbo Tex solved all these problems and is still a very popular product. Fortifiber was the first company to combine its expertise in weather-resistive barriers with window flashing to form a complete moisture control system for walls.
WeatherSmart® housewrap was launched in 2006 by blending decades of weatherization knowledge with the most advanced polymer science. Widely recognized as one of the most technologically advanced housewraps available, Fortifiber’s record of innovation continues.
An Extensive Organization
Today Fortifiber is headquartered in Fernley, NV, with sales staff located throughout the US. We are strategically positioned to deliver a wide range of products quickly – both domestically and internationally.
Weather-Resistive Barriers: Asphalt Saturated Kraft Building Paper
Jumbo Tex®
Known for its incredible reliability in wall systems, the Jumbo Tex® product line has been chosen by builders and architects to protect over five million homes and commercial buildings from the problems caused by water intrusion and excessive moisture. It provides an effective weather-resistive barrier behind stucco and brick – as well as wood, fiber cement and vinyl siding.
Jumbo Tex addresses the requirements for weather-resistive barriers, while exceeding all standards for Grade “D” Building Paper. An asphalt saturated kraft paper, this cost-effective solution offers solid durability that resists tears and punctures on the jobsite.
Jumbo Tex is available in three categories of finished products – Classic, Premier and Professional – with both one and two-ply options, so a solution can be specified for virtually any building requirement.
Hydro Tex™
Two-Ply Hydro Tex combines the proven performance of our Super Jumbo Tex 60 Minute® asphalt-saturated kraft paper with a drainable polymeric housewrap layer – packaged in a single roll. HydroTex exceeds the Oregon R703.1 Residential Specialty Code for weather-resistive barriers, as amended on October 1, 2009.
Weather-Resistive Barriers: Polymeric Housewrap Fortifiber offers four grades of housewrap to address the wide-ranging construction requirements of builders nationwide. From ultra premium products with technologically advanced designs to highly cost-effective solutions that provide reliable protection, we manufacture the most versatile product line in the market.
WeatherSmart®
WeatherSmart represents a new generation in housewrap technology, offering an intelligent housewrap solution – one that delivers the ideal balance between water intrusion protection and moisture vapor breathability; so it can be used in any climate and behind most exterior claddings. The product is a polymeric weather-resistive barrier, utilizing a high-strength nonwoven substrate and a monolithic non-perforated coating of smart polymers. Its unique construction protects against the elements-while being extraordinarily durable and UV stable.
WeatherSmart® Drainable
WeatherSmart Drainable offers architects, specifiers and builders a smart housewrap solution – one that delivers the ideal balance between breathability and water protection, so it can be used in any climate and behind most exterior claddings. WeatherSmart Drainable takes the protection of your structure to the next level, with patented technology that actually channels liquid away from the wall assembly at greater than 95% efficiency.
WeatherSmart® Commercial
Fortifiber redefines the standard in high performance building wraps for commercial applications with the introduction of its WeatherSmart Commercial weather-resistive barrier, a no-compromise solution that is the ideal blend of advanced building science and field-proven jobsite durability.
PlyDry®
PlyDry is a code-compliant, reliable tear-resistant housewrap that is very cost-effective. Its cross-woven polypropylene fabric design, and provides dependable tensile strength to protect the product from weather exposure on jobsites. The UV-resistant polyolefin coating offers 120 days of exposure time.
Critical Tool in Moisture Protection
The primary cause of moisture damage in a commercial or residential building is water intrusion through windows, doors and other exterior penetrations. Water intrusion is far and away the biggest reason for warranty callbacks and customer dissatisfaction in new home construction.
Flashing – properly installed and integrated with a weather-resistive barrier – is one of the most important factors in the successful performance of exterior walls.
Flexible flashing products developed by the Fortifiber Building Systems Group have set the industry standard for materials that effectively protect windows, doors and other areas of penetration from water intrusion into wall systems. They form an integral element in our complete Moisture Control System for walls.
Regardless of climate and jobsite conditions – or whether building codes call for flashing to be attached mechanically or with the use of self-adhesive – we have high-performance flashing products that meet these requirements.
Assures High Quality Finished Floors
Experienced flooring contractors know that using the right materials during installation will have a major impact on flooring durability and longevity, as well as on customer satisfaction. The proper installation of flooring systems and their protection during construction can prevent costly callbacks due to scratching, warping and moisture damage.
We offer a complete line of products designed for the installation and protection of flooring systems.
Strong and Durable Concrete Slabs
Moisture trapped below concrete slabs is an often-overlooked source of long-term problems. This moisture can come from groundwater, as well as dampness generated from the concrete itself. When the slab becomes warmer than the ground below it, capillary action draws moisture through the slab and into the building interior.
Building science veterans recommend an effective solution: provide a capillary break so moisture is unable to pass through the slab. This takes the form of a polyolefin underslab vapor retarder installed directly under the concrete slab, which intercepts and blocks moisture vapor before it can penetrate the slab.
The Fortifiber Building Systems group offers a complete line of underslab vapor retarders that meet or exceed ASTM E-1745 Standards. Vapor retarders can be specified for both residential and commercial applications.
In addition to protecting your slab from below, we have a full line of concrete curing blankets to help protect your slab from above. By facilitating uniform wet curing, increased strength can be achieved with little additional cost.
Vaporstop® 398
Vaporstop 398 is used as a vapor retarder on all types of roof decks to protect the insulation from possible condensation damage. The product may be used where compliance is required by Factory Mutual and Underwriters Laboratories. It is intended for use on non-sloping or nominally-sloping built-up roofs, not to exceed a slope of 1-in-12, or mechanically attached metal roofs.
Vaporstop 398 is a lamination of two layers of high strength kraft, black polyethylene laminate, and 2-directional glass reinforcing fibers. It is edge-reinforced for additional strength.
Builder’s Shims
Everybody knows that a quality drywall job depends on studs that are straight, plumb and aligned. But the real world of construction is out of plumb — full of bowed studs, off-vertical walls and more alignment problems than a battered used car. Everybody knows how easy it is to correct the problem – you use a string or straightedge to identify the low areas and then shim them into alignment. But unless the right shim stock is within arm’s reach, most crews don’t bother — leaving behind a wall with enough waves to make you seasick.
Phoenixboard Builders Shim Stock is bundled in easy-handling lengths that install fast with nails, or even faster with a hammer tacker. A utility knife makes short work of cutting the shims to required length. Phoenixboard’s consistent thickness accelerates the speed of application, and won’t compress like corrugated cardboard.
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Rolled Furring Strips
Everybody knows that a quality drywall job depends on studs that are straight, plumb and aligned. But the real world of construction is out of plumb — full of bowed studs, off-vertical walls and more alignment problems than a battered used car. And everybody knows how easy it is to correct the problem – you use a string or straightedge to identify the low areas and then shim them into alignment. But unless the right furring stip is within arm’s reach, most crews don’t bother — leaving behind a wall with enough waves to make you seasick.
Fortifiber’s economy Rolled Furring Strips will fine-tune the job in nothing flat, resulting in walls that satisfy even the most demanding clients.