When it comes to vinyl siding installation, don’t attempt to do the work yourself unless you absolutely know what you’re doing. You may attempt to save some cash by installing your own vinyl siding, but at the end of the day, if you’re inexperienced at the task, you’ll just shell out more of your hard-earned cash to fix the mistakes. This will be more expensive than if you had just hired a siding company to do the work in the first place. Guaranteed.
So, for all you do-it-yourselfers out there, allow us to give you a few pointers as to the right way to install vinyl siding on your home. These are the tips that can be all the difference between doing a good job and messing everything up really bad.
Prepping Your Home’s Exterior
Your home’s outside walls need to be made flat and level before you can apply one board of vinyl siding to the exterior of the house. Another thing to keep in mind is that you must first install flashing ahead of the siding. Without that, you’re just asking for trouble.
In addition, you want to ward off any water damage and rot brought on by moisture. So, you must also add a water-resistant barrier to the outside of your home before you install your vinyl siding.
The Right Tool for The Job
When you’re working with vinyl siding, be sure you have a circular saw equipped with a blade that is made especially for cutting vinyl. We cannot stress this enough, do not use a blade suited for wood or other materials. You will only succeed in causing the vinyl to break apart and shatter as you cut it.
Too many DIY’ers think they can push their siding through just any old saw and they are rewarded for their laziness with chipped and cracked siding boards that are unsuitable for installation.
As for the nails you use to install the siding to your home, go with a two-inch-long galvanized nail, except in cases where you have the sheathing foam. If that is the case, you need to get a longer nail. When you are installing the siding, never drive the nail in tightly all the way in. You want a little bit of give on each panel as vinyl needs to be allowed to expand and contract.
If the boards are nailed in too tightly, your siding will start to bubble and deform when the sun is beating down directly on them. It can also threaten to loosen the nails.
Focus on The Longer Panels First
You want to install the longer vinyl siding panels before you do the shorter ones because the longer panels are less malleable. They won’t stretch as easily as their shorter counterparts and that makes it harder to adjust them should the need arise.
Just be careful to measure everything as you go and take it slow. You want to be sure that both sides of the panels are at the same height and you’re not installing them at a slant.
