Installing Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding comes in a variety of colors and styles with matching trim and architectural details; its texture is typically made to resemble wood clapboards or shingles. Less costly than aluminum siding, vinyl siding allows handy do-it-yourselfers to tackle siding projects without contractors.

It is sold in complete interlocking systems that cover everything from the roofline to the foundation, including matching systems for covering soffits and fascias. Modern trim systems are available to suit many house styles and can dress up the siding behind them. Fancy trim pieces, like fluted corner posts, can add a custom touch. Decorative scallop pieces can be used to cover the small triangular upper portion of a wall already covered with plain siding. Detailed cornices with dental block and surround trim for windows and doors can tie into the wall siding around them.

When you get a siding estimate, it will likely come with an insulation option. This is because vinyl siding is a preformed sheet material (not solid like wood) and the space behind it can be filled with molded panels of insulation, called backer boards. Some vinyl siding comes with an insulated backing attached. Many vinyl siding manufacturers now claim that their products can be painted but painting usually isn't necessary for many years, which makes vinyl truly a low-maintenance material. You will, however, have to wash accumulated dirt and grime off the siding from time to time.

Vinyl siding is installed using lock-together components designed to expand and contract with temperature swings. Trim pieces cover expansion joints, give the job a finished look, and help hide minor mistakes. Mounting systems differ slightly depending on the brand, so it's important to use the tools and techniques specified by the manufacturer. Vinyl siding can distort if installed improperly. Use the instructions below as a guide while following the specific information given by the siding manufacturer.

1) Prepare the surface
A quality siding job requires a straight, smooth, and secure nailing base. Sheathing that has been cleared of all siding is ideal. Rigid insulation board or furring strips over sound siding are other good surfaces for new siding. Old, vinyl, aluminum, or steel siding is not firm enough to nail into and must be removed before new vinyl is installed. Stucco and masonry must be leveled with furring strips. House wrap, held by staples, provides an energy-efficient surface that will prevent air infiltration but allow moisture to escape.

When attaching the corner trim pieces, position the trim so its upper edge is 1/4-inch from the top of the wall and then position the topmost nail at the upper edge of the nailing slot so that the trim will not slide down. Place nails about every 12 inches.