Rigid Foam Insulation Under Vinyl Siding

One of the biggest advantages to installing exterior rigid foam board insulation is improved.

Rigid foam insulation under vinyl siding.

It is designed to prevent a house from losing heat. Heating costs increase every year making insulation more and more important. To secure the foam use two inch cap nails. Although rigid foam insulation is more expensive than fiberglass insulation it is more efficient.

The nails have a plastic cap that keeps them from damaging the foam. Almost any type of siding can be installed over the rigid foam cedar or redwood planks exterior plywood sheets cement fiber board or vinyl siding are common options. Nevertheless some manufacturers have no objection to the installation of vinyl siding over foil faced foam. Rigid foam insulation is one of the most important and efficient forms of insulation.

The by the book answer to your question is that vinyl siding manufacturers require a flat solid supportive surface and limit foam installed under their siding to a maximum of 1 in. Installing foam board insulation under vinyl siding improved moisture control. In a typical situation. Whenever vinyl siding is installed over rigid foam with or without foil facing studs should be spaced no more than 16 inches on center and the thickness of the foam should be limited to 1 inch.

Apply sealant around windows doors and trim. Always follow the manufacturer s instructions for installing rigid foam insulation. In reality rigid foam board which sometimes comes in fanfold usually only has an insulating factor of r 1 and does not add any appreciable insulation effect to your home. And even though some manufacturers call it rigid foam insulation for the purpose of vinyl siding it basically has the same insulating value as a piece of plywood.