ptc@home: Exterior Insulation Retrofit and Siding Replacement

How to significantly cut energy use when residing a home
April 9, 2022

Overview

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Replacing the siding is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to upgrade the energy performance of a home

Editor Dan Morrison strips the existing siding from his 1950s Cape and adds new Tyvek Home Wrap, Styrofoam insulation, Drainvent rainscreen, Truexterior siding and trim, and finally, a new door from Endura.

 

WRB and Rainscreen (Tyvek)

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Seal the WRB to the wall sheathing and window flashing, and add an apron detail at the bottom
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Integrating a new WRB with existing windows keeps the water- and air-control layers continuous
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How to install two layers of foam and Tyvek's Drainvent rainscreen over an old, lightly-insulated wall.

Exterior Trim and Siding (TruExteriors)

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Installing skirtboard, corners, window trim and utility blocks over two inches of foam insulation and rainscreen mesh
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Window trimout is probably the trickiest part of installing exterior trim work over two inches of styrofoam
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A polyash shiplap siding that is environmentally polite and durable as heck

Exterior Door Replacement (Endura)

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This front door with built-in levels installs fast, and the composite frame means it will long last
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Installing the snap-in exterior trim on the entry door can account for an out-of-plumb wall

About the Author

Dan Morrison

Dan Morrison is a founding editor of ProTradeCraft.com, where he is also the editor-in-chief. Fun fact: Dan is also a founding editor of Green Building Advisor and executive editor of Fine Homebuilding.

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