Should you put insulation on the outside of a cinder block wall in a desert?
I have a home about 3000 sq. the top is about 1700 and the rest in the basement, being a cinderblock home with a 2 foot over hang. I studed my inner wall, I put R13 fiberglass and sheet rock, then on the outside I tared the out side and filled most of them with cement a few have insolation very few.
Shoud I put styrofoam board then tar board chicken wire then stuco then paint with elastromeric/ sand mix, all to keep out heat. Styrofoam or no Styrofoam is the question. is it worth the cost or am I going over board?
What you describe would work, and as you suspect I think it may be overkill, but its very hard to say. To know the right amount of insulation to install on a house depends very much on the climate zone (how many heating degree days annually), how much you currently spend on heating, how much it would cost to do the work and how much energy savings you would gain. It’s a tough equation! Here is a general page that helps determine the right amount of insulation in any climate –
What is the right amount of insulation for an energy efficient green home?
That page should help you figure the answers to you question, and were happy to help more, just fill in some blanks about your current heating bills and what you figure the cost of insulating your exterior walls would be.