Insulate from the Outside In

By Robert Clark on February 5th, 2018

A well-insulated home provides a number of advantages including a comfortable living environment, lower energy bills and better noise control. Unfortunately, the Insulation Institute estimates 90% of homes in the U.S. lack proper insulation.

If you are planning an update or renovation that requires taking down the drywall, or in the case of older homes, the plaster and lathe, you should take the opportunity to look at the insulation levels in your home. Add new material to areas where the insulation is insufficient or damaged.

Insulation added to exterior walls can improve energy efficiency and external noise control. Insulation added to interior walls and floors can help keep noise from traveling from room to room. This is a cost-effective soundproofing option for laundry rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms and playrooms.

What do You do When Adding Wall Insulation is Not an Option?

That said, it can be difficult to add insulation to an existing home without taking down the drywall or plaster and even when your walls are fully insulated, part of the wall is still vulnerable. A significant source of a home’s heat loss is from the studs that frame the outside walls. Studs can account for up to 25% of an external wall. One way to address the home’s heat loss from the studs is to reclad your home with insulated siding. (img next to this paragraph with caption) Insulated siding comes in a variety of colors and profiles.

Insulated siding can add an R-value of two or more to the entire exterior of the home.

The R-value is the measure of a material’s ability to reduce heat flow. The higher the R-value the more thermal resistance the material has. If you use more than one insulating material, you add the R-values of the materials together to get the total insulating power for the wall. For example, if you have insulation with an R-value of 18 in your walls and add insulated siding to the exterior of your home, the R-value for your walls is now 20.

What is Insulated Siding?

insulated siding is vinyl siding with rigid foam insulation laminated or permanently attached to the panel. Siding with integral foam increases your home’s energy efficiency, providing an extra measure of comfort for your interior spaces. Insulated siding can also increase the overall thermal performance of your home, helping to reduce annual heating and cooling costs.

What are the Benefits of Insulated Siding?

More comfortable and energy efficient. Insulated siding increases your home’s energy efficiency by improving the overall thermal performance of your home, helping to reduce annual heating and cooling costs. The Vinyl Siding Institute found houses clad with insulated siding reported a range of increased R-values from 2.0 – 2.7 on standardized tests. In addition these homes saw a modest reduction in their thermal bridging and air tightness leading to energy savings between one and 11% nationwide.
Quieter. The innovative foam backing reduces exterior noise, enhancing interior acoustics.
Long term return on investment. According to Remodeling magazine’s 2017 Cost vs. Value Report installing insulated siding had a return on investment of 76.4%.
Improved curb appeal. Curb appeal is an important consideration for home buyers when it comes to home exteriors. Good curb appeal can add 20% to the value of your home.
Superior durability. The rigid foam backing creates a firm wall of impact-resistant protection.

What Are my Design Options?

In addition to all its benefits, insulated siding offers the same flexibility of design as traditional vinyl siding. For example, CertainTeed CedarBoards insulated siding comes in 20 colors and five different profiles so you can easily tailor your home to your sense of style.

If you are looking for an easy way to improve the overall efficiency and comfort of your home, take a look at insulated siding before you reside your home.