[Greenbuilding] Exterior insulation retrofit

[bill.allen at verizon.net]

John,
I am in Mt. Vernon, NY, climate zone 4 about 15 miles north of New York City.
Looking for recommendations for new barriers....some say taped styrofoam is good enough for both but I am open to suggestions....
Are you near by?
Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: "John Straube" <jfstraube at gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:57:16 
To: <bill.allen at verizon.net>; Green Building<greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Reply-to: jfstraube at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Exterior insulation retrofit

I have done this. What climate are you in? To avoid condensation even 1.5" is usually more than enough but I would recommend more for energy
what is your new water control layer?
Air control layer?

Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.

-----Original Message-----
From: bill.allen at verizon.net
Sender: greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:45:46 
To: Green Building<greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Reply-To: bill.allen at verizon.net,
	Green Building <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: [Greenbuilding] Exterior insulation retrofit

Hi all,

I am researching a project for my single family home. Classic 1926 stick construction. Zero insulation in the walls...time yet again for an external paint job. Would really appreciate comments on the following plan:

We never want to paint again...are thinking of natural cedar shingle siding, maybe with preservative but otherwise left natural.  Don't like the embodied energy in the various cement siding solutions....alternatives?

While the siding is down, fill the wall cavities with cellulous from the outside.

Replace original double hung windows with new construction insulated, R-5 if we can afford it, windows mounted "innie" on the plane of the original dimensional 1x lumber t+g sheathing.

Add external insulation....rigid styrofoam.  Since there is no interior vapor barrier (plaster on wood lathe), I am worried about the dew point ending up in the center of the wall...therefore, per the building science article, add 4" of styrofoam to the outside to keep the dew point external of the sheathing. 

Will require careful details at windows and other penetrations.

Big job...has anyone done this?  Any comments on any part of the above would be most welcomed.

Thanks,
Bill
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