GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

Another old-house-with-no-sheathing question

Matt Desloge| Posted inEnergy Efficiency and Durabilityon

I’m in climate zone 2, with a 1910 bungalow with dutchlap siding directly over the studs. If I was to do a gut rehab, I might remove the siding, install zip sheathing and rainscreen and re-side with cement fiber or something. Probably blown in insulation. I’m thinking a little lower on the $$$ scale, and wondered about just treating the current siding as sheathing, adding tyvek, and then re-siding. The siding is pretty flat, so siding over it wouldn’t be *too* bad (actually wondering about vinyl vs cement board). It’s a rental in a historic district, so I’m hoping to get it buttoned up for another decade or two.
thanks!

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. Expert Member
    Akos||#1

    The key with any energy retrofit is air sealing. It is possible to detail standard house wrap as an air barrier but very hard.

    They way I've worked with t&g or board sheathing is by covering it with a peel and stick membrane (ie VP100). You can then install your siding directly over it. Vynil can be installed directly as it is self ventic, cemet or wood siding should be installed over a rain screen.

    All siding will last for a couple of decades, mostly comes down to cost and preference. Being in a historic district will also limit your choices.

    Along with air sealing, when you are redoing the siding is the time to add insulation to the walls. Even if there are crummy old fiberglass batts, dense packing over them will raise the R value of the wall and significantly reduce air leakage.

    确保你处理窗口flashing details as these tend to be non-existent on old houses. Water leaks means moldy insulation down the road.

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |