JBB:

Thanks for the advise.

Balloon framed ?
Not necessarily.  Where I have opened the walls the platform goes
across the stud space.

The nails thru the sheathing is definitely a consideration, but I
would also be concerned in keeping the batt insulation away from the
seathing by an inch or two to promote air movement at the source of
moisture.  I doubt even your clever technique would allow that.  As
for electric cable...the house is now fully wired.  1908 originally,
and 1980 subsequently.  Most of my runs go up from the basement, and
along the floors between joists since I left everything open from the
central hall. (The halls are still open...kinda spooky to see
finished rooms around a hall with no ceiling and remnants of
wallpapers past.  Some risers were fished thru small holes in the
plaster but generally don't penetrate the second floor plate.  The
attic is now knee walled and finished.  (And insulated.)

Again thanks.  I want to sleep on your thoughts.

>The Rev.


P.S. An architect friend of mine had vinyl siding put on an old house
but put new trims at the corners and around openings applying the
vinyl "clapboards" only as infill.  This gets no awards for
preservation, but does look better than the slather approach.