Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why should I choose Fullback® Thermal Support for my siding?
A: Fullback can reduce your heating and cooling bills. It maintains the look and feel of real wood, reduces noise, discourages the growth of mold and repels termites with Perform Guard®.
Q: What is Fullback made of?
A: Fullback is manufactured from expanded polystyrene and can be recycled. It contains no ozone-depleting chemicals and substantially reduces heating and cooling requirements, saving valuable natural resources.
Q: How does Fullback work?
A: Fullback is precisely configured to fit the profile of any siding panel, completely filling the void left behind by the hollow siding. It supports the siding and provides a thick blanket around your home. Fullback accessories, such as EasyPost® and Window Surrounds, extend the benefits of Fullback to every inch of your home's exterior.
Q: I'm building a new house. Is any other insulation required?
A: Fullback complements fiberglass and other conventional insulation materials, which are traditionally installed between studs in the walls of new homes. It provides a continuous blanket of insulation around your home and can reduce energy costs compared to the most commonly used underlayments.
Q: What would happen if my home caught on fire?
A: Fullback is treated with a fire retardant and will not support combustion. Extensive tests by independent laboratories confirm excellent performance when exterior walls containing Fullback are exposed to a radiant heat source. In addition, the thermal support system completely fills the hollow void that exists behind conventional and aluminum siding products. Since there are no air pockets, Fullback completely eliminates the "chimney effect" that can contribute to the flammability of other siding systems.
Q: How will I recognize Fullback?
A: Look for the siding with the blue tracer bead sprinkled throughout the panel.
Q: What is Perform Guard?
A: Perform Guard is a patented additive which repels termites and is made with a nontoxic material.
Q: What’s the difference between the Fullback field applied and the laminated factory applied warranty?
A: The Fullback warranty is the same for the field applied and factory applied
products. The claims process is the only difference.
The Fullback field applied product is manufactured by Progressive Foam Technologies
and sold through the distribution supply chain. All warranty claims pertaining to
the Fullback insulation product should be sent to:
Warranty Claims, Progressive Foam Technologies
6753 Chestnut Ridge Road
Beach City, Ohio 44608.
The Fullback factory applied product is laminated to a specific vinyl siding
manufacturer’s vinyl siding panel. All warranty claims pertaining to the Fullback
insulation should be addressed to the specific vinyl siding manufacturer's claims
department.
Q: Can Fullback be installed over cedar shakes?
A: This is not recommended. Cedar shakes can create an uneven surface making it difficult to properly apply the insulated siding. Also nails do not hold well in old cedar shakes. We recommend shakes be removed.
Q: Can Fullback be installed over Masonite?
A: Yes, remove damaged areas and replace with treated plywood before installing Fullback. Check your local building codes. They may require a weather barrier such as Tyvek house wrap, be applied.
Q: Can Fullback be installed over asbestos siding?
A: Yes. A common practice is to nail ¼” thick Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) fanfold insulation over the old siding. This will help hold the siding in place because the brittle asbestos siding will break when nailed. Do not tape the joints of the XPS. This will allow the water vapor to pass through the wall system more freely.
Q: Can Fullback be installed over old, deteriorated wood siding?
A: This must be determined by you and your contractor. A thorough visual inspection should be made of the old siding to make sure it is not deteriorating and is solid enough to hold nails.
Q: Can I install Fullback over existing styrofoam insulation? And will this void the Fullback warranty?
A: Yes, you can nail Fullback over styrofoam insulation but you must nail the Fullback
and siding panel into a stud.
No, this practice will not void the Fullback warranty as long as it is installed
according to the Fullback instructions. The instructions can be found on our
website (www.fullback.com).
Q: Do you recommend using a house wrap under Fullback?
A: We do recommend a house wrap if it is new construction or if you have removed the old siding.
Q: Will using a house wrap along with Fullback negatively affect the breath-ability of my house?
A: No, using a house wrap along with Fullback will not negatively affect the breath-ability of your home and will greatly enhance the home’s energy efficiency.
Q: What is the difference between Fullback and house wraps?
A: Both products breathe, but Fullback adds high insulation value, impact resistance, rigidity and termite resistance. House wraps help insulation in the stud wall cavity perform better by keeping out wind and rain.
Q: Is Fullback a water vapor barrier?
A: No. To be classified as a water vapor barrier, the product must have a permeability rating of 1.0 or less. Fullback has a permeability rating of 5.0 which is up to 500% better than most flat foam insulation panels.
Q: I just had Fullback installed, but it doesn’t feel solid like the sample did. I can feel places that do not seem to have anything behind it.
A: If the sample was flat on a table when you pushed on it, it would feel solid. It depends on what type of exterior wall surface the Fullback was applied over. Existing walls are typically uneven. All sidings are normally hung with a “floating” method so the wall appears straight and level while at the same time allowing the siding to freely expand and contract. So, when pushing on the siding with Fullback, there will be some give. This will not void the Fullback warranty nor negate the R-value.
Q: How can I tell if the contractor is installing Fullback correctly?
A: Installation instructions can be found on our website (www.fullback.com).
Q: My siding is for Alside Charter Oak but my Fullback label reads Alside Conquest, is this right?
A: NO! Every siding panel has a specific Fullback panel designed for that profile. We do not recommend mixing profiles.
Q: Do you have something for Shake Siding?
A: Yes, The Foundry makes a 7” shake and shingle panel that they provide a Fullback field applied panel for. We also offer a flat ½” and ¾” EPS product called Halfback for all other shake and scallop profiles.
Q: Can I buy Fullback direct from Progressive Foam Technologies?
A: We service the customer through a supply chain that includes a siding distributor and contractor.
Q: Why doesn’t your website provide pricing?
A: As a manufacturer, we sell through the distribution supply chain to the contractor. We are not familiar with their pricing.
Q: How much more does Fullback cost compared to fanfold?
A: It all depends on where and who you buy these products from. Every region has its own pricing strategy.
Q: If I, the homeowner, install the field applied Fullback myself, will this void the warranty?
A: As long as you follow the Fullback installation instructions found on our website, www.fullback.com, the warranty is valid.
Q: How can I get a list of contractors in my area?
A: Go to the contractor locator on our website. All you need to input is your zip code and mile radius and select if you are remodeling or building new.
Q: I have allergies, will Fullback affect them?
A: NO! Fullback has no harmful odor or hazardous chemicals, it is an inorganic product.
