Finally having siding re-done from last years hail....(They dug a little deep on removal)

[USMC88-93]

Hmm, interesting. So does the house not have insulation in the walls then? That's not as uncommon as people think. Family owns a farm house in Wheat Ridge built in the 1940's. Also has lathe and plaster. Total pain to deal with.

Believe it to be "celotex" fiber board (Also presumably asbestos containing). There is no insulation within the walls other than that black wall board on the exterior the cavities themselves are open. The house was originally built with a coal furnace so you were basically roasting in an oven in the winter i presume and the insulation did not matter as much as the convection of the cold air returns and the heater vents circulating the air.

Funny part is that last 3 feet on the back of the house was an extension added to the home in the mid 50's I have no idea as to why someone would go to the effort of adding 3 feet on to a house. If you were going to that kind of efort you might as well add full rooms on.... You can see the different roof line over it and the open space on the back where it sits on a cinder block foundation...