Is Foam Board Necessary Siding

By glenn hooper june 2 2015.

Is foam board necessary siding.

In reality rigid foam board which sometimes comes in fanfold usually only has an insulating factor of r 1 and does not add any appreciable insulation effect to your home. The answer happily is yes. Considering how effective house wrap is and how simple it is to install behind vinyl it is a good idea to ensure your contractor includes it when siding your home. Insulated foam sheets are also used as an insulated sheathing underlayment for exterior siding.

I thought i should show why continuous foam under the exterior siding is so important. Using exterior rigid foam board insulation is a great way to make a building more energy efficient quieter and more likely to prevent moisture infiltration problems. Why insulation under the siding is important. Also during this siding process you may also consider asking your contractor to add foam insulation between the vinyl and the house wrap for increased r value.

Almost any type of siding can be installed over the rigid foam cedar or redwood planks exterior plywood sheets cement fiber board or vinyl siding are common options. The studs conduct more heat than the insulation between them. Installing house wrap with rigid foam insulation. It also serves as an air barrier.

This eliminates thermal bridging which is the energy lost through wall studs. As many things in building science go you my dear reader have to learn something. The panels provide a continuous energy efficient surface. I get asked if this or that in the in the cavity works as well as foam under the siding.

One of the biggest questions homeowners have about house wrap is whether it can be installed together with foam insulation. The method works for both new construction and remodeling and doesn t affect siding and trim details very much. Bottom line is exterior foam insulation is a good investment. And even though some manufacturers call it rigid foam insulation for the purpose of vinyl siding it basically has the same insulating value as a piece of plywood.