Exterior House Insulation Under Siding
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.
Exterior house insulation under siding. If the exterior wall sheathing is below the dew point temperature condensation will form on the sheathing. R values of all the insulations and the siding are added together for a resulting r value. 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. I thought i should show why continuous foam under the exterior siding is so important.
Wall insulation whenever exterior siding is removed on an. The r value of the insulation measures how well the insulation resists the flow of heat through it and the same with the siding. A continuous layer of insulating sheathing applied to the exterior surface of a wall will minimize condensation and moisture levels. Add r5 to r6 insulative wall sheathing beneath the new.
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. 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. 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.
Add r5 insulative wall sheathing beneath the new siding. Condensation and elevated moisture levels cause rot mold and mildew. The insulation also adds some r value or insulating quality to the siding. Installation of this insulation type under fiber cement siding can create an incredible 600 more energy efficient home.
Insulation must allow moisture to wick to the outside without losing insulating integrity. The r value is your guideline. By glenn hooper june 2 2015. The exterior insulation also helps keep the siding all vinyl siding leaks further away from the exterior sheathing.
As many things in building science go you my dear reader have to learn something. Why insulation under the siding is important. 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. In fact you can check if it is a correct insulation installation by pressing on the house siding.
I get asked if this or that in the in the cavity works as well as foam under the siding. 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.