Instructions for Installing Vinyl Siding

No instructions for installing vinyl siding would be complete without some useful tips and tricks.

Installing siding looks like a big job, but it isn't as overwhelming as it appears.

One of the first things you'll have to do is determine how much siding you will need for the project. You can make a rough material calculation by multiplying the number of feet across or around the area by the height. Now measure the height and width of all the openings, like the garage door, entry door or window, and subtract that by the area.

Once you have a general figure, you can use it to determine the number of panel and trim pieces you'll need. Calculate gable areas separately.

Manufacturers vary, so be sure to review the instructions for the type of siding you plan on installing. Just to be on the safe side, before you begin, check the building codes for your area. While you're in research mode, check the instruction sheets for your tools, and review instructions for safe ladder practices too.

Vinyl siding is made of sturdy plastic material, like polyvinyl chloride, formed into panels that are tinted and patterned as part of the production process. Typically, siding comes in 12 foot by 6-inch lengths. Each length has a nailing tab at the top and an interlocking piece at the bottom that allows you to hook panels together to create a protective barrier.

Trim pieces are used along corners, under eaves and around openings like windows and doors. To install siding, you'll usually need a number of simple tools:

• Circular saw
• Hammer
• Nail-hole punch (siding tool)
• Snap-lock punch (siding tool)
• Unlocking tool (siding tool)
• Level
• Carpenter's square
• Caulking gun
• Utility knife
• Tin snips

• When following instructions for installing vinyl siding, always prep the area thoroughly by removing all obstructions, like fixtures and shutters, before you begin work. Trim shrubbery from around the area and clear away debris, like dead wood, leaves and stumps that may be a hazard.

• Level the area before you begin. Use shims to a create an even starter strip.

• Work from the bottom up.

• Always check every few panels to make sure you're staying on the level.

• Always allow for the expansion and contraction of the siding by allowing a space between the nail head and the panel. Leave a quarter inch gap between panels and adjacent posts, eaves, trim, etc.

• Don't snug panels together. Leave a space to allow for expansion.

• Center nails to allow movement from side to side.

• When creating seams, leave a one-inch overlap, and stagger joints.

• Whenever possible, place joints in the most inconspicuous areas of the installation.

Work slowly, and choose a temperate, dry day. The two most important things to remember are to allow enough room for expansion and contraction of the panels and to keep checking to make sure everything stays level as you move from panel to panel. To maintain a safe, dry project, caulk all of the trim pieces around cutouts, windows and doors.

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