It is possible to reduce the amount of maintenance you have to do to the outside of your house by installing vinyl siding.It's important to have a clear idea of what the installation process involves if you decide to install vinyl siding yourself.If you want to get started, see Step 1 below.
Step 1: Why do you want to install vinyl siding?
If you like the look of siding but don't want the expense that comes with cedar and concrete, vinyl is a good option.It's a favorite of homeowners who don't want the hassle of painting the outside of their house.Before you decide to install vinyl siding on your own home, you should visit some vinyl sided houses to make sure you like what you see.If your house is the only one with vinyl siding in a neighborhood of restored Victorian homes, it could bring the value down, but it will have a positive effect in most places.Decide what type of vinyl you want, it can be textured or smooth.It comes in a wide array of colors, some of which are similar to real wood.
Step 2: It's a good idea to hire a contractor.
If you've never installed vinyl siding before, you should definitely consider hiring a contractor.Installation of vinyl siding requires a lot of time and skill.The quality of the installation can have a huge effect on the finished result and how long the siding lasts.The highest quality siding will warp if not installed correctly.If you want to get a contractor, you should gather a list of names in your area and request a price estimate from each of them.To make sure they are satisfied with the work done, inspect some of their previous work and talk to previous clients.
Step 3: You need to gather your tools and materials.
You will need a lot of tools and materials if you decide to complete the project yourself.The following list should be used as a guideline.You will need a folding ruler, metal square, claw hammer, snap-lock punch, tin snips, power saw, chalk line, measuring tape, a level, utility knife, pliers, and a nail slot punch.You will need lengths of J- channel, flashing, building paper, and enough vinyl siding to cover your home.You will need vinyl corners and trims for windows and doors, as well as a termination trim for where you meet other surfaces such as soffits and masonry work.
Step 4: Prepare the outside of your home.
Prepare the outside of your home for the siding installation before you start.One of the biggest issues with vinyl siding is that it masks structural defects.Before you install the siding, you should fix any existing issues.Remove loose boards and replace them with new ones.Don't caulk around doors and windows.Remove exterior lights, down-spouts, mailboxes, and house numbering from your work area.Plants, trees, and flowers on the outside of the house should be tied back to give you more room and prevent them from being damaged.
Step 5: Remove any exterior finish that isn't compatible with vinyl siding and make sure the walls are sheathed with a substrate to receive the siding.
2 inch plywood or OSB can be covered with roofing felt or another barrier before siding the walls.
Step 6: Understand the rules.
There are many important rules to follow when installing vinyl siding.It is important to allow extra room for expansion in order to prevent the siding from cracking.There is an extra 4 inch gap between siding panels and accessories.You should leave about 16 inch between the nail head and the siding to allow for movement and prevent waves from forming in the panels.Make sure to drive the nails in straight rather than crooked by centering each nail in the appropriate slot.If you face nails when installing siding, it will cause the panels to buckle.
Step 7: The pieces are under the skin.
The J-channel should be installed along the inner edge.The cut edges of the soffit lengths will be hidden by the J-channel.Your nails should be centered in the channel slots and the nail heads should not go out.A second J Channel strip is needed for the boxed-type soffits.
Step 8: Understand how to deal with the soffit.
Provisions will need to be made for the change of direction if the soffit is wrapped around a corner.The corners of the roof and house can be divided by installing two J-channels.To accommodate the diagonal pieces of J-channel, you will have to cut a number of soffit and vent pieces at an angle.
Step 9: Cut the pieces.
12-foot (3.66-meter) lengths are the average length of vinyl siding.To fit the measurements of your soffit, you will need to cut the long pieces of siding.The soffit pieces should be 1/3 inch shorter than the actual length.In warm weather, the 4 inch gap allows for the expansion of vinyl siding.
Step 10: Push the panels into the channel.
You will be able to install them once the J-channel is installed and the soffit pieces are cut.You can bend the soffit pieces to fit if necessary by pressing them into the channel.If you're having trouble getting the siding panels to fit, you may need to pull the channel lip back with a pry bar or locking tool.
Step 11: The siding pieces need to be moved.
Remove the gutter/downspout and slide the lengths of siding under it once the soffit pieces are installed.Attach the top edge of the pieces with galvanized or painted nails.Attach the gutters again.
Step 12: Take a measurement of the walls.
Take the length of the walls from the bottom up.This will show you how many panels of siding you need.Divide the wall lengths by the width of the siding.If the result is a whole number, you'll be able to install the pieces of siding without leaving any gaps or needing to cut any pieces to size.If the result is not a whole number, you will need to cut the final piece of siding in order to fill in the remaining space.If you have to cut the last row of siding, you'll need to use a length of J- channel on the top edge of the siding.You will need to nail a strip of plywood to the channel.
Step 13: The starter strip needs to be installed.
Once you've decided where you want the siding to begin, drive a nail through a point on your chosen starting height and snap a chalk line around the perimeter of the house.The bottom of the first row of siding will be protected if you nail a piece of plywood along the chalk line.Attach the starter strip to the plywood but don't nail it so tightly that it will restrict the strip's movement.To allow room for expansion, leave 4 inch between the starter strips.
Step 14: The corner posts need to be installed.
If you want to install siding on both sides of the corner, you must first install the foam strips.After the soffit pieces have been installed, the corner posts should run from the bottom of the starter strip to beneath the eaves.Before you secure the corner siding pieces, make sure they are straight.Work from top to bottom to nail them to the walls.
Step 15: J-channel can be installed around windows and doors.
J-channel will be installed around all four sides of the doors and windows.To nail the J-channel to the wall, remember to not nail it too tightly.
Step 16: You should begin installing the wall siding.
Before you install the siding, apply insulation to the walls.To allow for expansion, measure and cut the siding lengths so that each panel ends less than the vertical trim pieces.You should leave 8 inch (1.0 cm) if you are installing siding in the cold.Make sure to hook the bottom lip of the panels under the starting strip.When securing the panels with a nail, make sure to center the nail in the slot and leave the head above the siding to allow for movement and expansion.
Step 17: Overlap the panels.
When joining two lengths of siding, overlap them by about 1 inch.Pick the side that will be least obvious from the front or most used area of the house.If your driveway is located to the right of your house, you will see less overlap.
Step 18: Installation of siding around windows.
You will need to cut sections from the panels above and below the window to fit it.Measure the width of the piece you need to cut by holding the length of siding against the window and marking the edge points with a pencil.On either side of the marks, leave an extra 4 inch of clearance.Measure the height of the piece you need to cut by butting a scrap piece of siding beneath the window and marking the necessary height, leaving an extra 4 inch (0.6 cm) of clearance.Transfer the measurement to the siding.Make the horizontal and vertical cuts on the siding panel with a saw and then snap out the piece.Cut the siding above and below the windows.
Step 19: The top row of siding needs to be installed.
Measure and cut the siding when you reach the top row.Measure the distance between the lock on the next panel and the under-sill trim, then subtract 4 inch to figure out how much you need to cut from the top of the panel.The nail strip will be removed when you cut the top siding panel.Make sure the raised material is on the outside by using a snap-lock punch tool to punch the top edge of the panel.The bottom edge of the panel should be placed under the under-sill trim.There is no need to nail the top siding panel because the raised slots you made with the snap-lock punch will catch onto the trim and hold it in place.