OLDummy

How do you intend to secure the 2x4's - that is my main concern!

Terry

glennjanie

There is another option for insulation in your block house. If you can get to the top of the blocks (even in the attic) you can pour vermiculite insulation in them. It does a wonderful job and the only drawback is, if you make a hole in the blocks or there is already a hole (like around a receptacle) the vermiculite will continue to pour out the hole until it empties that core and maybe a couple more. It doesn't change anything inside.
Do you have the walls covered on the inside? They could be plastered directly or have drywall glued on them (among other things).
Glenn

WICinderella

I have already had foam blown into the centers of the cinder blocks, which were hollow. This gave me an R-5. The contractor is talking about attaching the 2 x 4s with tap-con screws. There will be 2 x 6s at the corners of the house, to anchor the vinyl siding. I am getting 1 1/2 inches of foam board glued to the cinder block and then also furring strips which are 2 x 4s with screws. Then 1/2 inch of foam board over the 2 x 4s, for about R-11 for all the boards. Then R-4 insulated vinyl siding over that. The contractor said this will be R-15 total added.

glennjanie

That sounds like a plan to me, WICinderella.
Glenn

Daryl in Nanoose

Well you should notice a big difference, sounds good to me to.

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WICinderella

I am thinking of going with another contractor because they don't use 2 x 4s. They use 1 x 3 furring and no screws. They use 2 inch of foam board and also the insulated vinyl siding. I don't really understand how it can adhere strongly enough without screws, but he said they use marine adhesive. Do you think this will hold up as strongly as 2 x 4s and screws? The corners will be fully insulated, unlike with using the 2 x 6s at the corners.

guyod

How do they plan on using 2" foam with 3/4 strips? are they planning on floating the siding 1 1/4 inches?

Im in the middle of siding a cinder block house. I went with a 5/4 by 3 board and attached it with glue and concrete nails. they are holding very strong im only using 4'x50' 3/8" insulation over top.(what the customer wanted) Im having some splitting issues when nailing im sure it would be alot worse if using a 1x3..

you are probably looking at an extra $1000 to use 2x4's..

Im assuming your contractor is an professional and does this for a living im probably is no place to second guess him.. but at the least i would make sure he did other houses like this and check them out..

WICinderella

The contractor #1 using 2 x 4s and screws is asking less than the contractor #2 using 1 x3 furring strips and no screws. What I want is not for the screws to come loose on the 2 x 4s. How are 1 x 3 furring strips attached, always with nails, or sometimes with screws? The only way I can see a 1 x3 furring strip working is if the 1" is against the wall so the strip extends out 3".

guyod

Contractor #1 is giving you the better deal then.. screws are better but are more money and take longer so a contractor wanting to use nails is going to want more $$ to use screws.. you can't attach 1x3's on there ends. . there would wouldnt be enough surface area ..would you rather use furring strips because you dont like the idea of using 2x6's on the corners?

the 2X6 will make for alot stronger corners. the installer needs a nailing surface to attach the corner posts too then a surface to attach the start of the siding. 3" makes it a little tight and if he runs out of nailing surface it will just not get nailed.

WICinderella

My questions are: is the brittleness of cinder block going to causes screws to eventually detach, or is the glue alone weak enough to eventually detach? If screws coming out cause the block to fragment, it that repairable? How much weight can a furring strip hold? Is a 2 x 4 better for holding the 2" foamboard and vinyl siding in place? What kind of foam board, and what kind of foam-backed vinyl siding has the highest R value?