Exterior House Insulation Under Siding

Insulation must allow moisture to wick to the outside without losing insulating integrity.

Exterior house insulation under siding.

By glenn hooper june 2 2015. By installing insulation on the outside of the framing it causes the location of the dew point to move to the outside of the wall assembly. Most homes in the united states are built with traditional wood frame construction with studs every 16 on center. If the exterior wall sheathing is below the dew point temperature condensation will form on the sheathing.

Add r5 insulative wall sheathing beneath the new siding. Wall insulation whenever exterior siding is removed on an. By filling the voids behind the siding s stepped profile the insulation makes the complete material stiffer and more resistant to warping and movement than conventional vinyl siding. Why insulation under the siding is important.

The r value is your guideline. To be completely efficient this insulation type has to mold perfectly with the inside of your home siding. R values of all the insulations and the siding are added together for a resulting r value. However if you re interested a residing project offers the perfect time to examine your home s weather barrier and exterior insulation and improve it if need be.

The insulation also adds some r value or insulating quality to the siding. These benefits make insulated vinyl seem like an easy worthwhile upgrade to conventional vinyl but there s a significant cost increase with insulated vinyl and many builders and homeowners question whether the price premium is. Installation of this insulation type under fiber cement siding can create an incredible 600 more energy efficient home. As many things in building science go you my dear reader have to learn something.

I get asked if this or that in the in the cavity works as well as foam under the siding. Condensation and elevated moisture levels cause rot mold and mildew. The exterior insulation also helps keep the siding all vinyl siding leaks further away from the exterior sheathing. Flat board insulation continuous insulation under new siding has become a popular way to improve energy efficiency on an existing home because it addresses a problem known as thermal bridging.

This reduces the likelihood of condensation within the wall cavity. Drill holes in the sheathing and blow insulation into the empty wall cavity before installing the new siding and. Add r5 to r6 insulative wall sheathing beneath the new. In the end the decision to install house wrap under your siding is a personal one that you should make after discussing it with your contractor.

Replacing siding and upgrading insulation should increase your home s energy efficiency. I thought i should show why continuous foam under the exterior siding is so important.