Abstract: A siding panel assembly includes an ornamental facing and a first insulation layer made from fibrous insulating material. That fibrous insulating material is selected from glass fibers, polymer fibers, natural fibers and mixtures thereof having a compressive strength of between about 14 to about 220 pounds of force and a wet and dry recovery of at least 98%. A method for making the siding panel assembly includes the steps of molding a first surface of a sheet of fibrous insulating material to match in profile a concavity in an ornamental facing and engaging the molded sheet of fibrous insulating material in that concavity.

Abstract: An acoustical and thermally absorbent composite formed of thermoplastic bonding materials and reinforcing fibers is provided. The reinforcing fibers are preferably wet use chopped strand glass fibers (WUCS). The thermoplastic bonding materials may be any thermoplastic or thermosetting material having a melting point less than the reinforcing fiber. The composite material may be formed by partially opening the WUCS fibers and bonding fibers, blending the reinforcement and bonding fibers, forming the reinforcement and bonding fibers into a sheet, and bonding the sheet. The composite material is a lofted insulation product that may be used as a reinforcement backing for cladding such as vinyl siding. The composite material may be affixed to the siding by ultrasonic welding. After the composite material has been affixed to the siding, the siding product may be vacuum packaged within an air-impervious material to reduce the storage and/or shipping space required for the siding product.