Although not everyone likes vinyl siding, millions of American homeowners have determined it's perfect for them. And if we could lower the high cost of installing vinyl siding, hordes of people would undoubtedly do the same. The average price for installing vinyl siding is $11,136, and most homeowners spend between $6,070 and $16,405 for a whole house, according to HomeAdvisor.
Luckily, if you're prepared to perform the work yourself, you can reduce that expensive cost by about 50%. Vinyl siding is available from most home centers, and the components come with quite detailed instructions. Furthermore, only a few tools are needed.
Installation of Vinyl Siding: Materials and Tools
Siding systems typically consist of 12-foot lengths of siding, window/door trim channel, J-channel, utility channel, corner moldings, and metal starting strips, though variations between manufacturers are to be expected. Soffits with and without vents, as well as fascia coverings, are additional options.
Unless you're siding a new home or have taken off the existing lap siding, you'll need to line the wall with sheets of rigid-foam board, which are typically 1/2-inch thick. The siding must be put over a flat surface. While rigid foam does provide some insulation, its main use is to create a level surface for nailing. Galvanized shingle nails can be used to secure the stiff foam and siding.
Vinyl siding is available in a number of designs and hues. We decided on a Dutch lap style due to its unusual profile, which resembles tongue-and-groove vehicle siding.
With tin snips, a circular saw with a plywood blade, or by scoring and breaking it with a knife, you may cut all vinyl siding, soffit, and fascia.
Step 1 - Installing Vinyl Siding Soffit and Fascia
J-channel lengths should be nailed against the fascia board's inner border beginning with the soffit. The cut edges of the soffit lengths where they meet the fascia are hidden by this channel. Each piece of siding and soffit has a nail slot. To allow for expansion and hold the heads out 1/32 to 1/16 inch, nail near the center of the slot. Don't hammer anything too hard.
The second band of J-channel should be fastened along the edge of the soffit where it meets the house if your home has a box soffit or a hip roof. You might be able to skip the inner channel if your house has soffit plywood that is nailed to the undersides of the ceiling joists instead of a boxed soffit return. In this instance, the utility trim of the siding can later be used to disguise the ends of the soffit lengths. Here, the soffit's angle determines the outcome, but if in question, channel both edges.
Step 2 - Installing Vinyl Siding Soffit and Fascia
J-channel lengths should be nailed against the fascia board's inner border beginning with the soffit. The cut edges of the soffit lengths where they meet the fascia are hidden by this channel. Each piece of siding and soffit has a nail slot. To allow for expansion and hold the heads out 1/32 to 1/16 inch, nail near the center of the slot. Don't hammer anything too hard.
The second band of J-channel should be fastened along the edge of the soffit where it meets the house if your home has a box soffit or a hip roof. You might be able to skip the inner channel if your house has soffit plywood that is nailed to the undersides of the ceiling joists instead of a boxed soffit return. In this instance, the utility trim of the siding can later be used to disguise the ends of the soffit lengths. Here, the soffit's angle determines the outcome, but if in question, channel both edges.
You'll need to make some preparations for the soffit material's change in direction at the corners of the soffit of your property wraps around a corner, as with a hip roof. Nail two J channels diagonally between the corner of the house and the corner of the roof to allow this alteration. Next, install additional soffit sections in both directions after cutting the initial parts to fit this angle. Install vented soffit material instead of the existing soffit vents in their places.
Step 3 - Installing Vinyl Siding Soffit and Fascia
You must trim each soffit piece individually to fit the span because they are supplied in 12-foot lengths. Cut the remaining lengths of soffit material 1/4-inch short of their maximum span once the diagonal corner pieces have been put, and then push them into the channel. To get access either carefully pry the channel back or bend the soffit pieces so that they fit.
Step 4 - Installing Vinyl Siding Soffit and Fascia
Remove the gutter after installing the soffit, then slip pre-cut sections of the fascia cover under the gutter apron. Use 4D galvanized or pre-painted nails to carefully fasten the fascia's upper section. But don't go overboard. Every few feet, a nail will do. The original eave fascia should be slightly overrun when attaching fascia pieces in the corners. The intersecting gable fascia should be butted against this overrun. Replace the gutter at last.
While many homes can benefit from this fascia installation, intricate or decorative trim is better left to a specialist who can produce and fit aluminum components to specific specifications.
Step 5 - Installing Vinyl Siding Soffit and Fascia
All easily detachable barriers, such as address plates, handrails, address lights, and self-storing clothesline reels, should first be loosened or removed.
Then, determine the distance from the current siding's bottom to the eave. You're in luck if this distance can be divided by 8 inches, which is the finished width of a siding piece. The top edge of the final full-width row of siding will fit into the utility trim that you will install beneath the eave. You have two options when using Dutch lap siding, which resembles two courses of siding in one panel, at 4- and 8-inch intervals.
By all means, adjust the beginning edge if doing so will cause the top pieces to fall in the desired location. Use J-channel rather than utility trim at the top if you need to cut the top row of the siding. Nail a 3-inch strip of 1/2-inch plywood onto the J-channel to support this final cut row and prevent it from falling against the house.
Mark this location on the walls after determining the ideal height for the metal beginning strip, then take a reference chalk line around the entire home. The bottom of the first row of siding should then be supported by a 3 1/2-inch strip of 1/2-inch plywood, which is then nailed above this line.
AreE You Searching For A Reputable Siding Contractor?
We can help if you reside in Western Ohio. One of the most well-known and reliable businesses in the neighborhood is All Around Roofing, Siding & Gutters. On the National roofing and siding contractors, Better Business Bureau, and Home Advisor, you may see our business name sparkling among the prominent contractors.
For many years, we have been installing fiber cement siding. We at All Around Roofing, Siding & Gutters want to help individuals make better decisions by educating them about the roofing and exteriors industry. You can read our post, where our experts discuss the best five siding options, to learn more about siding installation.
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