Installing Wood Siding Over Rigid Insulation

I don t think builders should install wood siding directly over plastic foam insulation.

Installing wood siding over rigid insulation.

To siding 1 embedment 3 5 0 5 1 5 1 5. Installation details are key. When installing wood siding over rigid foam sheathing you must protect the siding from moisture and heat buildup and use proper nailing. How should wood siding be installed over rigid foam insulation.

Nailing wood siding directly to foam doesn t work because nails have to be extra long to reach through the siding and foam to a solid nail base. Plus rigid foam insulation applied over the outside walls. Cladding attachment over thick exterior rigid insulation peter baker p eng. One of the biggest questions homeowners have about house wrap is whether it can be installed together with foam insulation.

Installing house wrap with rigid foam insulation. Since foil faced foam is a moisture barrier it should be used with a continuous film vapor retarder on the inside wall. It adds up to a robust system. Moisture protection and heat buildup.

With foam sheathing an air space is essential both to reduce the siding s water uptake and to provide a. In fact the two products combined make your home super insulated from outside wind and weather. A vented drainable air space keeps wood siding dry and stable. What are the risks of installing cedar siding directly over foil faced rigid foam insulation should tar paper or housewrap be used as well.

The illustration below comes from the vinyl siding institute. Gypsum sheathing with combined thickness of 1 inch or less method 2 james hardie siding installed to furring strips that are attached through the c i. Wood siding applied directly to foam has a history of failures. Method 1 james hardie siding installed directly over continuous insulation c i and other non nailable substrates e g.

Exterior rigid insulation 1x3 wood furring strips masonry structure 2x4 framing attached to surface of masonry. Wood siding including cedar siding should be installed over an air space regardless of the type of sheathing used. The vsi installation manual notes when the fastener must penetrate through a non nailable material such as foam sheathing the thickness of that material. Julie the installation instructions of the vinyl siding institute and most if not all vinyl siding manufacturers allow vinyl siding to be installed over rigid foam sheathing.

And other non nailable substrates e g.