Does Vinyl Siding Need Insulation

I was thinking to apply housewrap there currently is none then 1 4 fan fold insulation and non insulated vinyl siding or the housewrap then insulated vinyl siding.

Does vinyl siding need insulation.

Setting aside the overall environmental profile of the oft demonized pvc check our coverage in this month s ebn feature the pvc debate. Pros and cons of insulated vinyl siding vs non insulated siding. A fresh look i ve been getting a lot of questions about insulated vinyl siding the vinyl siding with form fitted. There are insulated rigid foam products that will increase the insulation factor but you ll pay much more for r 5 to r 7.

Insulated vinyl siding is made of two primary components. An honest professional vinyl siding contractor will tell you exactly what you re getting. However the additional thickness of the insulation adhered to the siding does create some challenges that must be understood prior to installation. I m preparing to replace the 30 year old vinyl siding on my house in virginia.

Installing insulated vinyl siding is not a far departure from non insulated siding for those that are experienced. Here is an overview of the data. Rigid foam insulation and vinyl siding. The ease of installation varies for each type of siding.

Generally referred to as rigid foam insulation this type of foam insulation is also called foam board foam plastic insulated. Vinyl and engineered wood siding are lightweight and the installation process is straightforward. Reduced energy use ranging from just 1 percent to about 11 percent. This will help your house wrap perform better and if you re already siding your house you may as well include it as installing it later will require a complete re siding.

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. The adhesive used to attach the siding to the vinyl actually cures to create a permanent bond between the two components. Insulated vinyl siding advantages. Two studies indicate some benefits to using insulated vinyl siding but more data is needed to win over this skeptic.

It also serves as an air barrier. Installing foam insulation under vinyl siding is a wise choice for homeowners who are seeking to protect their homes against moisture infiltration as well as improve energy efficiency. Insulated vinyl siding is standard vinyl siding with a backing of solid rigid foam insulation. Studies backed by the siding industry have shown that insulated vinyl siding offers modest benefits at a substantial cost.

Thanks for the info todd. The vinyl siding acts as a skin permanently adhered to the insulating foam core. By filling the voids behind the siding s stepped profile the insulation makes the complete material stiffer and more resistant to warping and movement than conventional vinyl siding.