The Benefits of New Siding

With the new economic stimulus package going into effect, 2009 may be the year to think about that energy efficient upgrade. Personally I had already upgraded my attic siding and appliances. That left only one big change... siding. Now siding itself does not add much in way of energy efficiency but the insulation you use behind it does.

We decided to upgrade to vinyl siding WITH contoured insulation. More on this shortly. The existing aluminum siding was stripped and sold for scraps leaving the home's original shingles. This was left in place since it does provide a layer of insulation. I wish I knew what the R-Value would be.

On to the insulation. We were presented with two options. There very well could be more.

First, if you are installing siding on new construction, house wrap is your first line of defense against air infiltration. This is not an option if you are going over existing siding but it's safe to assume it is underneath your current siding. We kept our shingle siding up and went over it so this didn't apply to us.

Option #1. Flat rigid foam insulation. I would guess the majority of installers use this. Easy to install and is more or less the accepted minimum you should do. R-values can range from 1 to 3ish depending on the thickness. What I found to be the biggest drawback was its lack of siding support. There basically is a gap between the siding and the insulation. If something were to hit it (rock launched from lawnmower, errant ball) you could end up with a nice crack, especially in cold weather. Speaking to other vinyl siding homeowners (with rigid foam) they mention the siding tends to move alot on windy days too. Almost to the point where it could wake you up. Yikes.

Option #2. Contoured insulation. The brand we used was Fullback. Lots to praise here. Much thicker than rigid foam boasting higher R-values ranging from 3.0 to 4.0. Our specific one is 3.7. You also get added stability. No more worries if a ball hits your house. The extra backing provides the padding necessary to cushion the siding.

Conclusion
The house is 75% done and we are already feeling the difference. The general feeling is it's holding more heat in. Rooms that were constantly cold due to wind exposure feel much warmer. As a result I have lowered the thermostat one degree for the whole house. I'm sure I will realize the savings over the year as well and will report back after I get some data.

For clarification, the tax benefit is for insulation itself, not the siding. Just make sure you get a detailed invoice from your contractor so you have paperwork supporting your claim.

Aesthetics aside, re-siding your home with new insulation is a worthwhile home improvement which will allow you to reap the energy bill savings for years to come.