Friday, April 9, 2010

A DIY Guide On How To Install Vinyl Siding

This article gives a step by step guide on how to install vinyl sidings. Its so easy to understand that a novice will know how to install vinyl sidings after one read. Vinyl siding is just about the most popular exterior building material in use today. It is used in vast quantities in the remodeling market as people replace old aluminum siding or cover wood siding maintenance nightmares.

If you must know how to install vinyl siding, it takes a little skill, proper equipment to get you and the product up in the air, and some layout skills. You need to be able to look forward and above you to see how you are going to deal with certain details on the home. You must always be aware of drainage paths and protection of the framing lumber. Water can get behind vinyl siding and it must not be allowed to touch any wood!

How to install vinyl siding?

-Vinyl siding requires some very basic tools.

-The surface to which the siding will be applied must be as smooth as possible and solid. Now is the time to seal energy leaks. Caulk all cracks around windows and doors at this time before you proceed further with how to install vinyl sidings.

-If you want to increase the energy efficiency, you may want to install foil faced foam sheathing at this time. This is especially true if you are installing vinyl over an existing brick or wood sided house. If you are interested in knowing how to install vinyl sidings on a new home, be sure you have instructed your builder to install foil faced foam sheathing AND an air/water infiltration barrier.

-Vinyl siding is not solid. If you were to look at it sideways, it would be quite unattractive. If you are working in warm weather, the vinyl siding and trim is very pliable. It will cut readily with a tin snips.

-There are special ways that the trim must be cut and nailed. Each manufacturer publishes a handy installation guidebook with easy to understand language and illustrations. This will tell you in detail about how to install vinyl sidings. You must follow the instructions so that rain water does not get behind the siding and trim!

-Vinyl siding and trim expands and contracts with changes in temperature. You need to plan for this. How to install vinyl sidings will ensure that the corner posts must be installed 1/4 inch away from the soft fit or other horizontal stop point at the top of each corner. Plumb each corner post and drive the first nail in the top of the nailing slots.

Proper way of installing vinyl siding

Look at a full panel of siding before you install it. Note the upper and lower corners on the front and back. There are factory made notches. These notches are important. You may find yourself replicating them on a cut piece. These notches allow you to overlap pieces of siding. The siding pieces can move sideways independent of one another because of the notching. Wind can cause vinyl siding to rattle. The sun and heat can cause vinyl siding to grow or expand. For these reasons, it is VITALLY important that vinyl siding be nailed properly! If you nail too loosely, the vinyl siding will rattle and flap as the wind blows. If you nail it too tightly, then it will bubble and bow on a hot day. The proper nailing is somewhat easy.

Get the booklet from the manufacturer! It will be a great aid to you.

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