Energy improvements for plank framed house – GreenBuildingAdvisor

Hello all,

I am an architect in upstate NY currently working on designing renovations of a historic 1800s house. The house is in generally very good historic condition. The renovations are focused on improvements to flow between spaces, kitchen and bathroom upgrades and finishes.

The client has spent one winter in the home and determined one room to be particularly difficult to heat. Following exploratory demolition, I have concluded that the entire house was built by means of “Plank-Framing” and does not appear to have any wall insulation whatsoever.

https://vermonthistory.org/journal/misc/PlankedFrameHouse.pdf

My question is how to approach energy improvements in this situation. Generally, the house was warm enough last winter with the current heating system. The exterior historic siding and trim is in good condition. The interior dimensions are already fairly tight and historic finishes are intact. The budget is fairly restricted. Do I focus on air tightness and accept the glaring lack of insulation for years to come? Do I pressure the client to spend money on energy improvements over his desire to improve space?

Thanks for all your help!