Replies

1. 
   JeffyT | Mar 19, 2009 06:21am | #1

   I started a job on Monday stripping old cedar lap off, wrapping with foam and housewrap, and re-siding. (not with cedar, I have to admit) These things aren't my favorite job of all time, but I wind up with several a year. Door and/or window replacements often come along at the same time. Soffit and fascia too.

   As with most things, the devil's in the details - how do you deal with your window and door trims? - does your stucco contractor know how to securely attach the mesh over thick foam? - if you leave existing wood lap siding on, do you do something with all the gaps behind the foam or do you just let it all fill up with fly poop? - how do you manage gas meters, electrical masts, and other utility-related stuff that tends to be fastened to the house? - do you do something with the exposed bottom edge of insulation?

   One thing to keep in mind is that if you're even considering replacing windows and doors, do it before the foam and pad them out to the foam level. Deeper window wells is a side benefit.

   These projects tend to be for customers who are very budget conscious, which is fine but raises its own set of things to think about. Sounds like this is on your own place - is that right?

   As far as the old siding goes, I like to take it off. On this job I didn't even need to dispose of it - the mailman came by and offered to take all of it out to his rural yard and shove it in his outdoor furnace. Works for me.

   In Manitoba there's a rebate from Mb. Hydro to the homeowner for adding insulation. SK too? where in SK are you?

   j

1. 
   oomingmuk | Mar 21, 2009 03:53am | #4

   Thanks for your reply - I appreciate it. It is my own place, so I'll probably be doing most of the work myself. That is, if I can find the time between jobs. We did the eco-energy audit last year and would like to get this done early this summer to get the associated grant. But thanks for your input - I hadn't thought about the gas/water meters. Fly poop doesn't bother me too much, but I know my wife HATES all the maple bugs that plague our yard in the fall. Behind the insulation would be a great place for them to overwinter... Cheers...

1. 
   cargin | Mar 21, 2009 04:56am | #5

   ooming

   You could check out this article.

   http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/PDF/Protected/021194051.pdf

   I would definitely blow the walls myself even if I was going to add rigid foam to the exterior.

   I would remove the siding.

   Here is a link to a post I did describing how it is done.

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=117095.11

   Rich

1. 
   oomingmuk | Mar 22, 2009 12:14am | #10

   Thanks - I appreciate it.

1. 
   cargin | Mar 22, 2009 12:41am | #11

   ooming

   I also vote for new windows.

   If you give a mouse a cookie, next he will want the whole meal.

   This could get expensive.

   I think I would blow the walls and repaint the house.

   Then replace windows as you can afford it.

   Rich

2. 
   frammer52 | Mar 20, 2009 07:04pm | #2

   Why not rent the machine and do it yourself?

1. 
   oomingmuk | Mar 22, 2009 12:10am | #8

   i've considered it - renting a machine and doing it myself - not sure I can afford the time. this is still an option however...

3. 
   FastEddie | Mar 20, 2009 07:17pm | #3

   How would you install rigid foam without removing the siding?

   "Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

1. 
   JeffyT | Mar 21, 2009 06:05pm | #6

   You smack the foam up to the old siding and nail it on with 3" roofing nails or plasti-caps. Poor practice, in my opinion since it makes very awkward transitions at the window and door openings and leaves all kinds of little spaces just right for bugs to cluster. People sometimes do it to save time, and therefore $, or to avoid a trip to the landfill, but what little you gain is way more than made up for in extra time around making the openings work. Customers who are that concerned about the budget also seem less likely to replace old windows and doors or have an electrician in to properly deal with the service entry, exterior plugs, and so on, so they either find a contractor who's willing to cobble it together for them or they bumble through by themselves and it shows. j

1. 
   Shoemaker1 | Mar 21, 2009 11:41pm | #7

   As a fellow Stubble jumper. were are you? I'm just out of Fort Qu'Appelle.
   Some folks may pay big cash for that old siding!
   If you are going to that effort I wold take off the siding, pull and old Knob and Tube out. Look for what ever the hell in time has gathered in the walls, I have found coal stove leftovers, bottles, nails, newspaper( good reading), dead rodents, wasp nests, all sorts of nice mold food.
   Pack with fiberglass, house wrap and then that fancy sheathing/insulation you see on the new commercial construction. Then you should be stucco ready.
   Are you putting in new windows and doors?.
   That should keep the maple bugs away.
   Go Riders!

1. 
   oomingmuk | Mar 22, 2009 12:13am | #9

   I live in Moose Jaw, but I'm building in Pilot Butte - just down the road from you. You live/work in a nice area. I'll keep you posted if I remove the siding and need to get rid of it - never seriously considered salvaging it.