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I am a returning reader to Fine Homebuilding (about a 10 year hiatus). Now that the www is here, it adds a new dimension to the possibilities.
My latest research is to find out what I should do about residing and insulating my circa 1940s house. I have read furiously from Breaktime, but have not found my exact situation – it may be in the archives, I’m still looking.
I live in Massachusetts and find the cold a comfort issue in my uninsulated house but am finding the price for this job a huge discomfort issue. My gas bill is about $1500 per year (heat and hot water) for my 1500 sf house. I know I would not recoup the cost of this work by the price I pay for heat nor in the resale value, however, I do want to conserve energy.
The shingles that we painted when we moved in began peeling a year later. My neighbor tells me that the previous owner owned a paint store and the house received a coat of paint every year (whether it needed it or not, I guess). The house is not insulated except for a paper sandwich with a fibrous/shredded material inside (about 1/4″ thick total). It is stapled to the studs – it is pretty useless from today’s standards of thermal insulation.
This is the Cadillac solution I received from one contractor (who’s work is highly regarded and is noted as being the one who comes to fix other’s work that didn’t go quite right). He admitted this was the expensive version, but he found other methods caused moisture problems causing rot, ie, I would have to replace the sills in 5 years time. I should consider removing the existing exterior wall sheathing (boards, in this case) put in a vapor barrier, insulate (he talked fiberglass in his scenario), place the boards back (where possible) and install the new siding. Is this absolutely overkill (let’s say I want this house to be around for two hundred years)?
Working from the inside out . . .
Vapor barrier:
If I have it, it’s better, right? If I don’t, then the structure will rot. Because an old house renovation is less than perfect, there will always be spots where warm air escapes to the cold side and condenses, causing a moisture problem. I have been reading that foam does not require a vapor barrier. With my house’s added feature of this paper sandwich, will this be a problem if I leave this in place and use a foam insulation?
Insulation:
Foam vs Cellulose vs. Fiberglass. It sounds like preference is in that order. Is fiberglass not a good solution anymore?
Wrap:
Yes – No – Yes w/furring strips. Tar paper/Tyvek/Rosin paper. Cedar will clog the pores of Tyvek. Etc.
Siding:
Cedar Shingles vs. White pine clapboards vs Cedar Clapboards. The white pine is a more sustainable material and was used on houses in the 1700s and is still there.
It sounds like there is a book meant for this issue. If there is any information that anyone might be able to point me to so I can do the right thing, I would greatly appreciate it.
Replies
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I am a returning reader to Fine Homebuilding (about a 10 year hiatus). Now that the www is here, it adds a new dimension to the possibilities.
My latest research is to find out what I should do about residing and insulating my circa 1940s house. I have read furiously from Breaktime, but have not found my exact situation - it may be in the archives, I'm still looking.
I live in Massachusetts and find the cold a comfort issue in my uninsulated house but am finding the price for this job a huge discomfort issue. My gas bill is about $1500 per year (heat and hot water) for my 1500 sf house. I know I would not recoup the cost of this work by the price I pay for heat nor in the resale value, however, I do want to conserve energy.
The shingles that we painted when we moved in began peeling a year later. My neighbor tells me that the previous owner owned a paint store and the house received a coat of paint every year (whether it needed it or not, I guess). The house is not insulated except for a paper sandwich with a fibrous/shredded material inside (about 1/4" thick total). It is stapled to the studs - it is pretty useless from today's standards of thermal insulation.
This is the Cadillac solution I received from one contractor (who's work is highly regarded and is noted as being the one who comes to fix other's work that didn't go quite right). He admitted this was the expensive version, but he found other methods caused moisture problems causing rot, ie, I would have to replace the sills in 5 years time. I should consider removing the existing exterior wall sheathing (boards, in this case) put in a vapor barrier, insulate (he talked fiberglass in his scenario), place the boards back (where possible) and install the new siding. Is this absolutely overkill (let's say I want this house to be around for two hundred years)?
Working from the inside out . . .
Vapor barrier:
If I have it, it's better, right? If I don't, then the structure will rot. Because an old house renovation is less than perfect, there will always be spots where warm air escapes to the cold side and condenses, causing a moisture problem. I have been reading that foam does not require a vapor barrier. With my house's added feature of this paper sandwich, will this be a problem if I leave this in place and use a foam insulation?
Insulation:
Foam vs Cellulose vs. Fiberglass. It sounds like preference is in that order. Is fiberglass not a good solution anymore?
Wrap:
Yes - No - Yes w/furring strips. Tar paper/Tyvek/Rosin paper. Cedar will clog the pores of Tyvek. Etc.
Siding:
Cedar Shingles vs. White pine clapboards vs Cedar Clapboards. The white pine is a more sustainable material and was used on houses in the 1700s and is still there.
It sounds like there is a book meant for this issue. If there is any information that anyone might be able to point me to so I can do the right thing, I would greatly appreciate it.