Triple-Decker Full Envelope

This project started with more than tired vinyl siding. The owner could feel Portland’s winter winds through the walls and windows, while the upper floors struggled to stay comfortable during the summer. The existing wall and roof insulation were already reasonably good, so we focused on improving the walls, windows, doors, and exterior water management.

We installed Pro Clima SOLITEX ADHERO as the primary water- and air-control layer, followed by 3½ inches of Timberboard wood-fiber insulation, a rainscreen, and LP SmartSide plank siding. The work also included a new deck, gutters, rot repair, and other water-management improvements.

The result is a building that looks dramatically different from all the others on the street, but the most important improvements are largely hidden behind the blue siding. It’s a good example of our belief that what you don’t see can matter just as much as what you do.

Our favorite memory from the site: a neighbor’s child became fascinated by our Kubota tractor and would come over at the end of the day to sit on it and pretend to drive. By the end of the project, he got a final visit with his mom and grandfather and took it for a short ride (with the MA Builders’ supervision, of course).