Insulation Value Of Fiber Cement Siding

The 2015 remodeling magazine cost vs.

Insulation value of fiber cement siding.

Because vinyl siding is thinner than fiber cement siding it can better accommodate insulation beneath its surface. However it is important to remember that insulated vinyl siding does not require expensive routine maintenance such as painting and caulking which can cost up to 6 000 each time per home advisor. Value repor t listed the average price for 12 5 squares of fiber cement siding installed as 14 014 and foam backed vinyl siding at 15 184. Fiber cement siding doesn t add much insulation to your wall system measuring in at a mere r 0 50.

Properly insulated exterior walls in your house will not only increase comfort but also help you save on heating and cooling costs. But the same source puts asbestos cement k 2 07 and for loosely packed asbestos k 0 15 this is very inconsistent data. Current sources of asbestos r values such as engineeringtoolbox provide very inconsistent data. In simple terms r values measure the effectiveness of insulation and a higher number represents more effective insulation.

For instance if you have a material with an r value of 12 attached to another material with an r value of 3 then both materials combined have an r value of 15. 0 37 1 inch brick or stone veneer. When vinyl siding is optionally insulated it can achieve r 2 values and even greater. While fiber cement siding is energy efficient vinyl siding has the potential for this too.

As far as insulating value old cedar siding or new cement board siding would be about equal. 0 11 as you can see none of these is going to make a significant difference by itself in lowering your energy use or your energy costs. The best way to install the cement board siding is to remove the old siding down to the studs and then add a rigid foam board insulation. It is likely the newer siding provides a little better seal against air infiltration.

Half inch thick rigid foam insulation has an r value of r 2 to r 3 5.