How Do You Know If Vinyl Siding Is Installed
To tell if your siding has been installed properly, you should look for two main things:
Step : Measure Cut And Install The Soffit Pieces
- Measure and cut the pieces for soffit out of the vinyl siding. Cut them ¼ inch shorter than the actual length of the soffit as they expand in warm weather.
- Fit each panel into the J-channel pressing them into the channel. You can also bend them if necessary. You can also use a pry bar if you have difficulty in pressing them.
- Use galvanized or painted nails to secure the top edge of the fascia pieces.
How To Measure J
Measuring J-channel is important to ensure a snug fit against the other elements of your homes exterior. Youll need to measure around all doors, windows and corners as this is where J-channel is installed.
When measuring, start from the existing trim and dont forget about the expansion gap to make sure your J-channel doesnt crack during temperature changes.
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When You Have Your Tool It Is Simply About Preparing The Work Area Measuring And Marking And Making The Cut
How to cut vinyl siding already installed. But with vinyl siding, you may have to do that. Cutting vinyl siding while on house. One problem has occurred since it was installed and i would appreciate any help that anyone could give me on this issue.
You may be able to reuse the old siding if it is not damaged, otherwise you may need to cut new sections. To do this right, follow the correct steps in order. For example, if the section of wall you’re covering is 5 feet long, and the piece of siding is 9.step 2, mark the line you want to cut on the siding.
Find the zones where it is necessary to install the j channel and then determine the siding pieces that need to be pulled back. Additionally, this prevents any potential water damage caused by moisture entering underneath the vinyl siding. This will allow for water to flush down the channel instead of becoming trapped inside.
Wear eye protection if you cut the siding with a circular saw. When making longitudinal cuts, score with a knife and break along the score line. Step 1, use measuring tape to measure how much siding you need to cut off.
Vinyl siding can be cut with either tin snipper or a utility knife. Vinyl siding is flexible, so your screws will be able to pierce through it. What we do is plow a 3/4 mortise on one edge of a piece of azek pvc trim, cut back the vinyl with a fine toothed circular saw blade and install the azek over the cut edge of vinyl.
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Vinyl Siding Installation Step #1: Dealing With Obstructions
To side under a faucet, remove the two mounting screws and pull the faucet out from the wall. If yours won’t pull out, check to see if you can shift the pipe that feeds it.
Behind the faucet mounting plate, install 1/2-inch plywood in place of insulation board. Then, notch the siding from the top and slide it under the faucet. If the faucet falls in the center of the siding, create a lap joint and slide the notched lengths under the faucet from the sides.
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If Vinyls Final Youd Best Get The Details Right A Veteran Builder Shows How To Make It Water
I cringed the first time a custom-home client asked for vinyl siding on a new $400,000 house. But I had little choice. Our market was dead. So I took the project. Now more than half of my custom-home clients ask for vinyl, and I actually like installing it. Although vinyls installation is faster, making vinyl look good on a house is more challenging than wood or fiber cement.
Hands on is always the best way to learn, but you can get basic installation instructions from the Vinyl Siding Institute , and manufacturers offer brand-specific installation manuals. Here, I highlight a few techniques to enhance the appearance of clapboard-style vinyl siding in new construction .
A word of caution: Vinyl siding leaks a lot. Water enters where vinyl panels overlap and at the end gaps inside the trims receiving channels. Manufacturers even punch weep holes into the bottom edge of siding to let the water escape. Besides being careful to maintain the integrity of the tar paper or housewrap behind vinyl, I recommend flashing windows and doors to direct water back out when it gets past the flanges or casing.
Basic Installation Tools And Equipment
Common , such as a hammer, fine-tooth saw, square, chalk line, level and are needed for proper installation. Safety glasses are recommended for eye protection. Other basic tools include:
Power Saw – A bench or radial-arm power saw can speed the cutting of the . A fine-tooth blade should be used with the blade installed in the reverse direction.
– Vinyl is easy to cut, trim and score with a of scoring tool.
– Good quality or compound will speed the cutting and shaping of the vinyl.
– A is used to punch lugs in the cut edges of to be used for the finishing course at the top of a wall, or underneath a window.
– Occasionally, it may be necessary to elongate a nail hem slot. The hole is elongated to allow for expansion and contraction.
– Remove or replace a panel with the . Insert the curved end of the tool under the end of the panel and hook into the back lip of the butt lock. To disengage the lock, pull down and slide the tool along the length of the panel. Use the same procedure to relock a panel.
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How To Install Outside Corner
An outside corner is critical to the appearance of the project, because it must be square and plumb to the structure, just like J-channel.
Outside corners have two nail fins, and are installed using the same fasteners as vinyl siding.They are usually installed using nail or screws instead of staples, because if it moves or detaches, it can take the vinyl siding with it.
Extra long galvanized roofing tacks are standard.
Should Flashing Go Under Siding
In certain instances flashing may need to be installed on the exterior of siding. However, in most instances, step flashing should be installed behind siding. It is always recommended to install step flashing behind stucco, Dryvit, wood panel, lap siding, vinyl siding, cedar shingle siding, etc.
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Before You Start: Prepare The Surface
- Securely nail all loose boards and wood trim and replace any rotted boards.
- Scrape away old caulking around windows and doors. The build-up of old caulking interferes with the positioning of new trim for the siding.
- Remove down-spouts, lighting fixtures, and mouldings where they will interfere with the siding installation.
- Window sill extension may be cut off so new trim can be installed flush with the window casing.
- Tie back shrubbery and trees where they are close to the wall. This will give you more room to work. It will also avoid damage to the landscaping.
Can I Install Vinyl Siding Myself
The truth is, the price of a vinyl siding installation can be cut nearly in half if youre willing to do the work yourself. Vinyl siding is sold by most home centers and comes with fairly complete instructions. The tool requirements are also modest. For this reason, vinyl must be cut short and nailed loose.
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Vinyl Siding Installation 101
by Stacy Lehn
You have decided to redo the siding on your home. You have done the research, found the type and style of siding that is just perfect for your house, you have measured and bought what you need. Now what? How do you install this beautiful, new siding that will increase the curb appeal of your house? Following these steps and tips will ensure you have a beautifully redesigned new look.
Important Things To Keep In Mind Before Getting Started
- Leave an extra 0.06 cm gap between siding panels and accessories as vinyl siding expands and contract with a change in temperature.
- Dont drive the nails too tightly. There should be a gap of 0.2 cm between the nail head and the siding to avoid waves from occurring in the panels.
- Drive the nail in the appropriate slot keeping them straight rather than crooked.
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Vinyl Siding Can Be Made To Look Like Wood Siding
Vinyl siding’s popularity has grown significantly over the years, and it’s easy to see why when you consider the benefits.
- Made primarily from PVC resins, vinyl siding was first manufactured in the 1950s but wasn’t widely used until the late 1970s.
- Vinyl siding offers zero maintenance, immunity to mold and moisture damage, and plenty of styles and colors to choose from.
- In better-quality vinyl siding, a wood-grain surface texture can make the product look surprisingly like real wood. Better grades of vinyl siding also tend to be thicker, for improved rigidity and greater impact resistance.
- Since PVC expands and contracts significantly in response to temperature changes, vinyl siding can’t be solidly nailed to wall sheathing. Instead, each course of siding floats on slotted nailing fins.
Here at ECC Roofing & Siding, we can install home siding to suit your style and budget. Contact us today to get started!
Step : Install Siding Around Windows
- Cut sections from the panels directly above and below as you reach to a window.
- Hold the slide against the window so that you can mark the width for the right measurements. Make sure to leave 0.6 cm of clearance on either side of these marks.
- Measure the height of the slide you need to cut by keep the pieces beneath and above the window and make marks accordingly leaving an additional 0.6 cm.
- Use a saw to make the vertical cuts on the siding panel while the horizontal cut will be made with a utility knife. Cut out the piece of the slide. Place those pieces of siding above and below the windows.
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How To Install Inside Corner
Inside corners install the same way as outside corners, except only the center section will be visible. Inside corners also have two nail fins, and are commonly mounted using extra-long, galvanized roofing tacks. The channel on inside trim tends to be shallow, so accuracy when trimming the siding goes a long way towards an attractive appearance.
Outside And Inside Corner Posts
Figure 26.
Figure 27.
Figure 28.
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How Do I Install Vinyl Siding Accessories
Generally speaking, any vinyl siding accessory will use similar installation techniques and materials, as the composition of vinyl dictates that allowances must be made for thermal expansion.
In other words, vinyl will move depending on how cold or warm it is, similar to wood. This is important to know, because vinyl siding effectively protects your home from the elements.
When used correctly, in conjunction with products like aluminum flashing, exterior grade caulk, and coil stock, vinyl siding provides a very low maintenance home exterior. If the vinyl is not installed according to the manufacturers instructions, gaps, kinks and cracks are often the result.
Here we will describe the basics of getting started installing vinyl siding accessories, and offer a few pro tips to make the project easier and longer lasting. Any fastener used to install vinyl products must not be driven up tight to the surface, as would be the case for most materials.
As a rule, at least should remain between the head of the fastener and the surface. Of course, regardless of the installation method, the most important part of any project is safety. Appropriate safety gear should always be used when working with vinyl siding products.
Vinyl Siding Installation Step #: Soffit And Fascia
Starting with the soffit, nail lengths of J-channel against the inner edge of the fascia board. This channel conceals the cut edges of the soffit lengths as they meet the fascia. All siding and soffit pieces have nail slots. Nail at the slot centers to allow for expansion and hold the heads out 1/32 to 1/16 inch. Don’t nail anything tight.
If your home has a box soffit or a hip roof, nail a second band of J-channel along the soffit edge as it meets the house. If your home does not have a boxed soffit return, but has soffit plywood nailed to the bottoms of the ceiling joists, you may be able to omit the inner channel. In this case, the ends of the soffit lengths can be concealed later by the utility trim of the siding. The angle of the soffit makes the difference here, but when in doubt, it’s best to channel both edges.
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These Trim Details Are Designed To Hide Or Interlock With The Ends And Edges Of Vinyl Siding Get Them Right And The Next Steps Will Go Smoothly
Note: This book excerpt contains timeless tips for installing siding, but the photos fail to depict comprehensive water management details. Before you begin any siding job, be sure to install a proper water-resistive barrier and use good flashing details on all windows, doors, and other penetrations.
The most important thing to keep in mind as youre installing vinyl siding is that it expands and contracts significantly with temperature changes. All siding components and installation details are designed to cope with this temperature-induced movement. Review the installation information discussed throughout this chapter. Make sure you comply with the manufacturers instructions that come with the siding. Its also smart to check with builders in your area for any local wisdom. This is the best way to avoid the bulges, buckles, and tears that can result from incorrect installation. Most vinyl siding should not be nailed firmly against sheathing. The installation slots in the siding, starter strips, and other vinyl components are there for a reason. Keep the nail heads proud of the vinyl so that the vinyl can move.
The tools you need to install vinyl siding are mostly tools you probably already own, but there are a few others youll need to either buy or make.
Vinyl Siding Installation Step #1: Window And Door Trim
When you reach a window or door, cut away any caulk that might keep the new trim from laying flat against the existing molding. At windows, cut trim channel to match the length of the sill and then nail it into place.
Cut two lengths of channel for the sides, allowing an extra 2 inches on each. At the bottom, make a 1-inch cut along the corner of the facing edge. Bend the wide surface of the channel inward at this cut to make a drip-edge tab and slide the tab under the sill channel. At the top of a window or door, cut off all but the face of the trim flush with the existing top molding, and nail the trim in place.
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Capping A Corner Post
- Corner posts on homes with a second-story overhang need to be capped by making the cuts shown . Fold the flaps created over each other as indicated.
- Drill a 1/8 hole in the center, through both layers of vinyl, and install a pop rivet to hold them in place. Cut a notch in both layers to allow clearance for the corner.
Figure 29.
Get A Free Vinyl Siding Cost Estimate To Start Upgrading Your Home Today
Your new siding project isn’t complete without trim details. During a truly professional installation, the corner trim, J-channels, soffit panels, gutters, and downspouts will all look good together. Compatibly colored caulks and sealants should also be used. Make sure to discuss these details along with your siding choices when planning your new siding installation.
We are Southern New Jersey’s expert siding contractor, working in Vineland, Cherry Hill, Clementon, Sicklerville, Bridgeton, Mount Laurel, Rancocas, Blackwood, Mount Holly, Hammonton, Monroe, and many nearby towns and cities throughout New Jersey. For a vinyl siding price estimate, contact ECC Roofing & Siding by phone at 1-609-900-7350 or contact us online today!
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