Recommendations for sheathing/exterior insulation retrofit in Zone 5B?
Does anyone know of quality builders in the Spokane WA/Coeur d’Alene ID area that are familiar with high performance construction/renovations?
My wife and I recently bought a 1994 rancher with walkout basement outside Spokane WA (Zone 5B) that needs new windows, siding, and (to my surprise) sheathing. Turns out the house only has sheathing in a couple locations around the garage. Everywhere else it’s just LP lap siding and tar paper nailed to 2×6 studs, with R-19 cavity insulation and plastic vapor retarder against the interior drywall.
To make a better performing exterior I’m leaning towards using: 1) 7/16” plywood sheathing, 2) either a spray applied WRB and taped seams to make an air barrier, or a peel-and-stick WRB/air barrier, 3) 2-2.5 inches of Rockwool Comfortboard 80 (R-8.4 – R-10.5), 4) ¾” furring strips/rain screen, 5) and cement board siding. Figure this is open enough to water vapor that the existing vapor retarder won’t need to be cut out.
Could ZIP-R be used instead, or would that would require cutting out the existing interior vapor retarder? If siding is nailed into ZIP-R, does that create problems the next time siding is replaced? (loads of holes in the WRB barrier for air or water to enter)
I’d consider doing some of the work myself, but my wife is afraid of rain damage while the walls are open. That leaves me between a rock and a hard spot unless I can find an assembly type local builders can easily and safely build, or a builder with better skills than I am aware of. Also want a company that can fix rotten framework where found (already found some; photos attached).
Any advice is greatly appreciated!
-Mark
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