Sat, Jul 04, 2009
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Vinyl Siding On A Home With Wood Siding? |
sbell09
9 Posts
Member Since: 10/29/2008
Collierville, TN
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Posted: 18:07 on 12-15-2008
I get varied opinions when I ask this question. I am looking at a small 1.5 story home built in 1915 that has wood siding that needs some exterior work. I would like to put vinyl siding up. What are the thoughts on removing the wood siding first or putting the vinyl over the wood? What has anyone done in the past? Thank you.
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cjmazur
4284 Posts
Member Since: 07/23/2003
Cupertino, CA
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Posted: 18:43 on 12-15-2008
old, rotting wood as the base seem pretty risky. I would tear off, and look (depending where you are), at using tyvek wrap or foam sheet sheathing for insulation.
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commercialking
2918 Posts
Member Since: 03/26/2004
Chicago, IL
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Posted: 19:59 on 12-15-2008
We used to put vinyl up over wood all the time when I was a young carpenter. Things to beware of:
You want the underlying wood to be basically sound. No excessive rot, certainly none that had extended to the underlying sub siding or the studs beneath.
Do not hang the siding level. Measure down from the eaves of the house and start at the same distance from the eaves at each corner. Most older houses have settled somewhat and putting the siding level will only make that settling easier to see.
These days I would add at least an inch of polystyrene insulation over the wood and under the vinyl. Perhaps a Tyveck wrap as well.
I wouldn't remove the wood siding unless it were excessively rotten and even then I'd probably simply cut out the bad spots, fill them in with plywood and then side over them.
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NC_Yank
953 Posts
Member Since: 02/27/2003
Mount Pleasant, NC
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Posted: 14:56 on 12-17-2008
Many people will tell you to install an insulation board under the siding but many times this is not necessary or practical.
The only real purpose this serves is to allow the siding to lay flatter.....anyone who tells you this helps with insulation does not know what they are talking about or they simply are trying to make an extra buck on the insulation. The R-value on Styrofoam sheathing is minimal.
If you truly want to insulate the home than now is the time to do it from the outside. My insulation contractor will drill holes at the top of the walls (and other locations depending on age of the home due to possible purlins / fireblocking in the middle of the wall) and insert loose fill insulation.
This is also the time (before siding) you may want to consider upgrading your windows if needed.
The other considerations is how it will effect the projections of the surrounding window trim. Adding an 1" thick styrofoam board plus the siding will typically hold you about 1 1/2 inches away from the current exterior veneer.
House wrap is often used on newer homes for the purpose of getting the house in a dry stage while waiting for the final installation of an exterior veneer. If you do not have an issue with moisture or draft issues then why spend an extra 200 - 300 on house wrap.
I personally would use a 1/4 foam board for the purpose of allowing the siding to lay flat.
And of course I would reiterate what other have said; remove and replace any rot or damaged wood, carefully check your baseline ensuring that siding matches up around the perimeter.
If its in your budget, have the siding contractor wrap all exterior trim including facia, doors and windows.
Pay particular attention to your soffit panels...... I have seen many homes with ridge vent at the peak of the home yet solid soffit panels at the eaves.....this is not correct.......same with gable vents and vented soffit panels........I can not tell you the number of improper attic ventilation and siding installation I catch on older homes.
Make sure your siding contractor does not skimp on the small details...........I recently did an inspection where the siding contractor opted not to use drip cap over projected trim nor did he properly caulk in needed locations........as a result the home owner is looking at $20,000.00 worth of structural damage to the subfloor system..................this all could have been avoided for less than $20.00.
good luck
NC_Yank
(contractor / home inspector)
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ypochris
2200 Posts
Member Since: 03/22/2006
Lansing, MI
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Posted: 19:57 on 12-17-2008
Seems like most of the houses in Lansing have vinyl siding over wood. I don't recall seeing anyone take off the wood siding first.
The house I last did had lap siding later covered with stucco, then foam and vinyl over that. Cutting a hole through it for a dryer vent was interesting- wood, steel mesh, cement, foam, and vinyl all together were thicker than my hole saw was deep. On the bright side, the wall was probably bullet proof...
While I agree that before installing the new vinyl is a good time to insulate inside the walls with cellulose or whatever, I disagree that R7 foam siding is worthless for insulation. Of course it is not ideal, but there is a huge difference between even such thin insulation and no insulation at all. But you do have to be sure your sills project beyond the siding or the runoff from your windows will flow inside it- bad news for the wood wall you left underneath, which handled it for years but won't dry out with that insulation and vinyl covering it, quickly leading to rot.
Chris
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