Ben writes from Great Falls, Virginia: "I plan to remove old siding from my home. Approximately 20 squares of siding material are needed. I plan to use vinyl siding, however my challenge is the following: In a Hot Humid area as VA, I need your help in determine the best way to use the Formular 250 (?) under the vinyl siding. When I remove the old siding, I may see "Black Tar Board" sheathing not CDX. If that the case, install the Form 250 over all the existing Black Board and then wrap it with housewrap?? Is this vapor management or not? Or do I do it reverse order???? Remove the old siding, use the housewrap, then Form250 and finally the vinyl siding. Do you think I need to use 4by8 CDX in place of the Black Board, then proceed to use Form250 in front or behind the housewrap???? Is there any other product you could recommend to me, for increase the insulation and serving as a backing for the vinyl siding? Also, the vinyl companies are trying to sell me on the preform material attached to the vinyl siding together - any insight you can share with me."

Answer: Typically, we see FOAMULAR® insulation installed prior to a product like PinkWrap® housewrap by Owens Corning. However if the seams of the FOAMULAR insulation can be taped, the PinkWrap housewrap can be omitted. FOAMULAR insulation products are recommended as backing for vinyl siding. We do not have recommendations for other types of material. Since we have recently exited the siding business, I have limited information about insulated vinyl siding although we used to market one called Polar Wall® siding.