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Is it possible to install cement siding to SIP panel with additional exterior foam?

3cityblue | Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on

Seems to be a lot of concerns regarding the use of exterior foam and cement lap siding attached to just the exterior skin of a SIP panel.

I was hoping to bring the exterior plane of the SIP wall in line with the 2″ ICF foundation wall foam. My plan was SIP, 15# felt or housewrap, 1.5″ foam board, 1/2″ ripped plywood furring for drain plane, and cement lap siding.

This type of detail is readily available if you are attaching to a stud wall, can’t find a similar detail for a SIP because of concerns about the ability of the OSB SIP skin to hold fasteners.

Anybody done this or something similar? Is it just too risky of a proposition to use exterior foam in conjunction with a SIP? Thanks for any insights.

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Replies

  1. eyremountllc | | #1

    Yes, you can do this. We did it at the Arlington Passivhaus. Here's a link to pictures of our exterior work. http://arlingtonpassivehouse.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/progress/

    I think you should be fine since your outsulation is only 1.5" thick. I would also place a ledger board on below the vertical furring strips to support the weight.

  2. albertrooks | | #2

    Kevin,

    What climate are you in? Rodgers detail that he did was in a mixed climate.

    Would you do this if you knew it voided the SIP warranty? I don't know that it does, but I think I'd want to know.

    I think you might be asking an awful lot of a 12mm piece of OSB in that application. How many decades do you want this building to stand for?

  3. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #3

    Kevin,
    If I were you, I would run your idea by the SIP manufacturer.

  4. eyremountllc | | #4

    yes. that's a good idea. that's exactly what we did.

  5. eyremountllc | | #5

    Kevin,

    Took me a while to find this but here it is. http://www.achfoam.com/media/docs/SIPs/Construction%20Detail/R-Control-SIP-Construction-Manual.pdf

    See Technical Bulletin SIP 2072 and SIP 2073 for James Hardie and Certainteed fiber cement siding attachment requirements.

    This is for R-control SIPs, you may want to check with your particular manufacturer still.
    Hope this is helpful.
    Roger

  6. eyremountllc | | #6

    EIFS is also an option.

  7. 3cityblue | | #7

    Thanks for the responses all.
    For Albert, the build would be in Boise ID so not a lot of humidity or unusual wind conditions. I would not do it if it voided warranties but am having a hard time envisioning how the addition of the foam and furring would compromise the SIP as opposed to the direct application which seems acceptable given Rogers' R-Control bulletins (thanks so much Roger).

    Assuming the SIP folks don't have an issue with direct application, doesn't the problem then distill down to the additional length of the fasteners required and how they will perform? Granted the foam and furring add some additional weight to the equation. So is pull out, sagging, or complete fastener failure the concern?
    Given that it is common practice to attach heavy, loaded, kitchen cabinets directly to SIP panels on the interior, doesn't it follow that the additional foam and furring weight should be manageable even with longer fasteners? That's my logic anyways, and I sure welcome these additional views and

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