Insulation Below Siding
By betsy gallup.
Insulation below siding. In fact you can check if it is a correct insulation installation by pressing on the house siding. What goes under vinyl siding. 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. Vinyl siding can be installed directly over wall sheathing wood siding or stucco.
Removing the existing siding offers the opportunity to install fiberglass cellulose or foam insulation into the. Below are some of the design details along with the benefits. Foil faced foam board insulation is a great idea but is not a good choice for hot climates or cold climates as an exterior insulation product. By doing so however you miss out on the opportunity to add add energy savings to the project.
This foam board insulation is the rigid pink or blue panels that can be found at home centers in many different thicknesses. Pros and cons of insulated vinyl siding vs non insulated siding. Here is an overview of the data. This detail is used with both new construction and also with renovation work.
Insulated vinyl siding is standard vinyl siding with a backing of solid rigid foam insulation. We will start with hot climates. Studies backed by the siding industry have shown that insulated vinyl siding offers modest benefits at a substantial cost. Below we ll compare the aesthetic properties of james hardie lp smartside and insulated vinyl siding.
James hardie siding is designed to look like wood. Insulated foam sheets are also used as an insulated sheathing underlayment for exterior siding. Most homes in the united states are built with traditional wood frame construction with studs every 16 on center. The studs conduct more heat than the insulation between them.
Not only do we use siding to protect our homes from the elements but to provide our homes with attractive aesthetics. Installation of this insulation type under fiber cement siding can create an incredible 600 more energy efficient home. Hot climates already have a lot of heat and vinyl siding tends to expand and contract with temperature changes up to 1 if the siding is made of recycled vinyl material. This eliminates thermal bridging which is the energy lost through wall studs.
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. Reduced energy use ranging from just 1 percent to about 11 percent. Eps is used under roofing over foundation walls and beneath siding. Installing foam board insulation under vinyl siding today more than ever before homes are being built with foam board insulation installed on the outside of the sheathing and under the siding.
It provides an r value of 4 per inch of thickness and is the cheapest type of foam board insulation.