Replacing Sheathing and Siding

BRENDA: Hi. We have a one-story ranch on a crawlspace that was built in the 70s and we want to replace the siding. And it has sheathing under the siding that’s like fiberboard but there was never any house wrap applied. And we’re wondering if when we re-side, should we add house wrap and then, also, how do we deal with the windows? Do we take the windows out and put the siding there and then reinstall the windows or can we install the siding with the windows still in place?

 

TOM: Alright, well first of all, you don’t have to pull your windows out.

 

BRENDA: OK.

 

TOM: What kind of siding do you have right now?

 

BRENDA: It’s a pressed fiberboard paneling type look (ph).

 

TOM: Alright, so you want to take that out completely. And is there any sheathing underneath that?

 

BRENDA: There is sheathing in most areas.

 

TOM: Alright, what kind of siding – what kind of new siding do you want to put up?

 

BRENDA: Well, we would like to put kind of what looks like clapboard, made probably from similar material; kind of that pressed composite.

 

TOM and LESLIE: (overlapping voices) Mm-hmm.

 

TOM: Well, here’s what I would recommend. First of all, you are going to need sheathing; so the areas where you don’t have sheathing you can simply add that. You would put a vapor barrier around it. You would put a building wrap like Tyvek or a product like that. Then above that, a good product to install is hardy plank, which is actually a cement-based siding product and it looks – well, it can look like a shingle; it can look like clapboard …

 

LESLIE: Mm-hmm, it can look like clapboard.

 

TOM: … and it’s totally indestructible. I mean it’s really good stuff.

 

BRENDA: Excellent. Well, thank you. I really appreciate the information.

 

TOM: You’re welcome, Brenda, and good luck with that project. Send us some pictures.

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