ptc@home: Exterior Insulation Retrofit and Siding Replacement

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

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)

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

Exterior Trim and Siding (TruExteriors)

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

Exterior Door Replacement (Endura)

This front door with built-in levels installs fast, and the composite frame means it will long last
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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