OT: Roofing felt under house siding

[a rowe]

Seems like I have three options on residing my house. I am pulling off the 12" lap siding. One option is to put the lap siding (cement board) right over the sheeting without a barrier like the original siding was which lasted 36 years. Option #2 would be to use a house wrap like Tyvex. Option #3 would be to use a layer of 15# roofing felt. I have seen tar paper used under siding before. What is your experience with roofing felt. I am sort of leaning towards roofing felt due to the ease of application, effectiveness in keeping water out and cost. Would that be a good option?
 

[Dandy Don]

I would wrap with Tyvex for sure. I did about ten years ago. I think it was about $195.00 a roll and it took two rolls but was well worth it.
Don
 

[go zeke]

I would use Guard Wrap,,, for the money, it works the Best,,, 9 foot by 100 foot rolls cost about $60.00 and easy to put on,

Tar paper won't keep the wind out and is not good for condensation problems on wallls, it's made for roofs,
 

[730-LP]

option # 4 put a layer of 1/2 insulation 4 x 8 sheets are thicker if possible
 

[OldFarmTractor]

Just had my house resided-upstairs only.

They used Tyvek, 1/2" board styrofoam and then the vinyl siding. This is great but better yet is installing vinyl replacement windows. I can tell the difference already. It has typically been way to warm in the summer on the upper floor. After the work was done, it was much better.

The windows were much less than the siding in cost but help so much with the energy savings.
 

[mjbrown]

That would not be a good option. House wrap lets water vapor out but is wind proof. It is much lighter and easier to handle than roof felt. I don't know where you got the idea felt will be easier to handle. Over the house wrap goes 3/4" polyisocyanurate foil faced foam (R5) then the siding. Do it the right way for best results. It's too much work and expense to do it wrong.
 

[johndeerefan]

Definetly house wrap it. You will be happier when you get your electric bill. It does keep any air from entering the walls.
 

[dhermesc]

I would at least wrap the house in Tyvex, for the money and ease of handling you can't go wrong.


If I was very particular I'd use roofing felt instead. I pulled siding off a 90 year house a while back that had tar paper (roofing felt) under the siding. The box boards that it covered still looked new. Applied correctly it is windproof and waterproof and will stay that way for decades. The felt paper is just a little bit of extra insurance.
 

[Walterdavies]

I see all these guys saying use plastic House Wrap. Now its good for wind and Water and such but it also has a big downside. If you seal up the house to much then it will suck in cold wet air in the morning and then squeeze out the hot dry air in the afternoon.
Believe me i have friends who have spent as much as $30,000 to get the water and ruined boards out of the walls.
If you want to see how this works then take a large bottle and wrap it up good and set it out in the sun for a few days.

Personally i would use the old tar paper its worked quite well for over 100 years the Tyveck is well know for water in the walls problem.
Walt
 

[jw.]

No brainer. The TAR paper as they used to uses in the old days is not worth the effort in air pentration all the laps ect . Use a good grade house wrap and go on tape around the windows ..
You want be sorry. Nothing like cutting down on the heat bills.
 

[Sid]

Tyvek, DO NOT use felt roofing paper under vinyl. I have seen a couple and hard of more cases where it got hot and the vinyl stuck to the roofing paper. This will cause problems.
 

[g mccool]

Tyvek !!!!!!!!! With out a dought is the best way to go. It is one piece & that eliminates seams which is where air will leak in. I have seen people use roofing felt & it has bled through on the siding leaving a stain. Gerald
 

[sotxbill]

if you use the plastic, it will foul up, mold up and cause brain damage. Studies show that you will then vote for the wrong party and become socialist...


wait!!!.. its too late.
 

[IH2444]

everything I had ever hears says that the walls should not be sealed on the outside with an impermable barrier. It will cause warm watervapor from inside the house to collect inside the walls.

Everything I had been told was that the vapor barrier was put behind the drywall on the inside of the studs.
 

[oliver power]

Tyvek house wrapp for sure. Buy the 9 foot rolls. For ease of handleing, use a saw to cut the roll in half. 4-1/2 foot rolls are much easyer to handle by yourself. Use Tyvek tape around all opennings, and seams. Forget the tar paper.