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I have a house built in 1941 that we are considering residing. The original house has beveled cedar lap siding with 8.5″ exposure that we cannot keep paint on for more than 4 years. I know the problem is related to no vapor barrier on the warm side of the wall, but there is no reasonable way to add a vapor barrier with the plaster interior wall. I am considering removing the old siding and installing new cedar siding that is properly back-primed, primed and painted. I am looking for comments, ideas, etc from professionals who have been involved in such an endeavor to help me decide if this is a worthwhile approach. Also, should I install 30 lb felt or Tyvek on the existing sheathing? I am leaning towards 30# felt due to a recent article in Fine Home building. I hope this works because we are sick of re painting every 4 years but we do not want to install aluminum, steel or vinyl siding. Any comments you have will be appreciated.
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8.5" ... go with fibercement....think about changing your exposure too...
*Are you sure the problem springs from there not being a VB? Could you be getting a bunch of air infiltrating into the walls from, say, a damp basement? Air infiltration will move a lot more water than will vapor diffusion. You might try to lay hands on a copy of Fred Lugano's article, Fixes for Damp Moldy Houses, FHB 125, pp74-79. If you don't have the issue, customer service (800-888-8286) can sell you one, or a photocopy of the article.I'd invest a few hundred bucks in air sealing before I'd re-side.Andy
*Good ideas from the previous posts...Also consider a VB paint over the plaster. I'm not one to recommend them as a cure-all, others have more experience/ideas.Still, start with the basement like Andy mentioned...kill the source fo the moisture and stop the air movement.I'd agree with 30 lb felt instead of a spun-poly wrap. And yes, backprime.One other point...HOW is the paint failing. The method of failure (alligatoring, blistering, peeling, etc) can often give a clue as to the cause of the failure. Here are some ideas.Not sure of the final look that you want on the house, but a stain is more forgiving than a film finish.
*And Dense pack the walls with Cels too...near the stream,aj