Fiber Cement Siding and Cellulose Insulation

The outside walls of the En-House were covered in tar paper. On a real house, tar paper acts as a vapor and moisture barrier. It is a tried and true method that is often replaced today in favor of plastic housewraps. Unfortunately, plastic housewraps are prone to failures under certain common conditions.

The siding used for the En-House is a fiber cement product called Hardieplank, made by James Hardie Building Products. It is made of portland cement and wood fiber. It is cut by a power tool called a snapper shear, which rapidly removes a thin strip of board, cutting a piece in half without cracking it.

Hardieplank is nailed up using wood nails, overlapping similiarly to wood siding. The long planks are suprisingly flexible and shatter-resistant. They come factory primed but must be painted after installation.

Fiber cement siding is very durable, and comes with a fifty year warranty.

Cellulose insulation was used in the exterior walls. It is 100 percent recycled newspaper with a single chemical added for fire and insect resistance.

The En-House includes a viewing window of the cellulose insulation.

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