Vinyl Siding Installation Manual

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While vinyl siding is not for everyone, millions of American homeowners have decided that it's exactly right for them. And if the substantial cost could be reduced, legions of others would surely follow. The truth is, the price of a vinyl siding installation can be cut nearly in half if you're willing to do the work yourself. Vinyl siding is sold by most home centers and comes with fairly complete instructions. The tool requirements are also modest.

Prepare the walls as you would for any siding installation making certain to properly integrate any necessary flashing, etc. This product must be installed over a solid nailable surface or furring strips installed horizontally at a maximum of 12” on center. Follow all basic vinyl siding installation guidelines. Haven™ Outside and. Apr 18, 2017 - 3 min - Uploaded by Vinyl Siding InstituteLearn proper Vinyl Siding Installation from start to finish. In this episode, learn about.

While vinyl can be a great alternative to regular house paint, and it does a good job of dressing up problem walls, there is a tradeoff. Although it looks like conventional siding from a distance, the illusion falters at corners, windows, doors and wall-mounted utility equipment.

Part of the design dilemma is that vinyl expands and contracts a good deal with changes in temperature. A standard 12-ft. length can be 1/2 to 5/8 in. shorter on a very cold day as compared to a very hot day. For this reason, vinyl must be cut short and nailed loose. In fact, you should be able to slide every full length side to side at least 1/2 in. after it's installed. The trimpieces made to conceal the ends accommodate these variations quite well, but not without some compromise in appearance.

Materials and tools

While you can expect differences among manufacturers, siding systems generally include 12-ft. lengths of siding, window/door trim channel, J-channel, utility channel, corner moldings and metal starter strips. In addition, vented and unvented soffits, as well as fascia covers, are available.

The siding must be installed over a flat surface, so unless you're siding a new home, or have removed the old lap siding, you'll need to line the wall with sheets of rigid-foam board, usually 1/2 in. thick. While rigid foam offers some insulation, its primary function is to provide a flat nailing surface. Both the rigid foam and siding can be nailed in place with galvanized shingle nails.

Vinyl siding comes in several styles and in a variety of colors. We chose a Dutch lap style, which has the look of tongue-and-groove car siding, because of its distinctive profile.

All vinyl siding and vinyl soffit and fascia can be cut with tin snips, a circular saw with a plywood blade or by scoring it with a knife and breaking it.

Step 1: Soffit and Fascia

Starting with the soffit, nail lengths of J-channel against the inner edge of the fascia board. This channel conceals the cut edges of the soffit lengths as they meet the fascia. All siding and soffit pieces have nail slots. Nail at the slot centers to allow for expansion and hold the heads out 1/32 to 1/16 in. Don't nail anything tight.

If your home has a box soffit or a hip roof, nail a second band of J-channel along the soffit edge as it meets the house. If your home does not have a boxed soffit return, but has soffit plywood nailed to the bottoms of the ceiling joists, you may be able to omit the inner channel. In this case, the ends of the soffit lengths can be concealed later by the utility trim of the siding. The angle of the soffit makes the difference here, but when in doubt, it's best to channel both edges.

Step 2: Soffit and Fascia

If the soffit on your home wraps around a corner, as with a hip roof, you'll need to make some provision for the soffit material's change in direction at the corners. To accommodate this change, nail two J-channels diagonally between the corner of the house and the corner of the roof. Then, cut the first soffit sections to fit this angle and install subsequent sections in both directions. Where existing soffit vents are located, remove the vents and install vented soffit material.

Step 3: Soffit and Fascia

Because the soffit pieces come in 12-ft. lengths, you'll need to custom-cut each piece to fit the span. With the diagonal corner pieces installed, cut the remaining lengths of soffit material 1/4 in. short of the maximum span, and press them into the channel. Either bend the soffit pieces to fit or carefully pry the channel back to gain the needed access.

Step 4: Soffit and Fascia

With the soffit installed, remove the gutter and slide preformed lengths of fascia cover under the gutter apron. Carefully nail the upper portion of the fascia with 4d galvanized or prepainted nails. But don't overdo it. A nail every few feet will do. When joining fascia pieces in the corners, run slightly past the original eave fascia and butt the intersecting gable fascia against this overrun. Finally, replace the gutter.

While this fascia installation works for many homes, complicated or decorative trim is best left to a professional who can custom-make and fit aluminum components.

Step 5: Siding the Walls

Begin by loosening or taking off all easily removable obstacles, such as porch lights, address plates, handrails and self-storing clothesline reels.

Then, measure from the eave to the bottom of the existing siding. If this distance is divisible by 8 in.--the finished width of a piece of siding--you're in luck. The utility trim you'll install under the eave will accept the top edge of the last full-width row of siding. In the case of Dutch lap siding, which looks like two courses of siding in each single panel, you'll have two opportunities--at 4- and 8-in. Intervals.

If raising or lowering the starter edge an inch or two will make the top pieces fall where you want them, by all means, do so. If you have to cut the top row of siding, then use J-channel at the top instead of utility trim. To keep this last cut row from collapsing against the house, nail a 3-in. strip of 1/2-in. plywood against the J-channel to hold it out.

When you've determined the best height for the metal starter strip, mark this position on the walls and snap a reference chalkline around the entire house. Then, nail a 3 1/2-in. strip of 1/2-in. plywood above this line to hold out the bottom of the first row of siding, and nail the starter strip to this plywood.

Step 6: Siding the Walls

Next, nail strips of 1/2-in. rigid-foam sheathing to both sides of the corners and nail the corner trim over these strips.

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Step 7: Siding the Walls

Follow by nailing window and door trim around any exterior doors and sheath the first few feet of the walls with insulation. This will leave you ready to install siding on the lower portion of the first wall. Measure for the first piece and trim it to length, making sure that it's 1/2 in. shorter than the distance between vertical trimpieces, as measured from the inside surfaces of the channels.

Step 8: Siding the Walls

Snap each length of siding in place, so that its bottom lip hooks under the starter strip. Slide it into the corner and nail it every 16 in. or so. Be sure to center the nails in their slots to accommodate expansion.

Step 9: Siding the Walls

When joining two lengths of siding, lap one length over the other approximately 1 in. As for which direction to lap, consider which angle will get the closer scrutiny. If the walk leading to the front door approaches from the left, a left-over-right lap will be less conspicuous.

Step 10: Dealing with Obstructions

If your home has a deck, it's likely to be suspended from a wall and covering the bottom of the existing siding. In this case, you'll need to maintain the starter-strip height on both sides of the deck and trim the siding to fit above the deck.

Begin by installing the first row of siding on both sides of the deck. To provide a common reference point, measure up 8 in. from the top of this row and stretch a string line across the deck. Then, trim around the door leading onto the deck. Door and window trim that is about 1 1/4 in. deep will accommodate 1/2-in. insulation board as well as the 1/2-in. siding. Finally, measure the distance from the first row to the deck top and cut the siding to fit over the deck.

Vinyl siding installation manual vsi

To secure this trimmed length, nail J-channel along the top of the deck, backed by a strip of 1/2-in. plywood.

Step 11: Dealing with Obstructions

Rigid-foam backing may also be used, but plywood makes a stronger support. Install the siding adjacent to the deck conventionally and press the cut section into the J-channel.

Step 12: Dealing with Obstructions

To side under a faucet, remove the two mounting screws and pull the faucet out from the wall. If yours won't pull out, check to see if you can shift the pipe that feeds it.

Behind the faucet mounting plate, install 1/2-in. plywood in place of insulation board. Then, notch the siding from the top and slide it under the faucet. If the faucet falls in the center of the siding, create a lap joint and slide the notched lengths under the faucet from the sides.

Step 13: Dealing with Obstructions

As for permanent utility equipment, you'll simply have to work around it. In the case of an external conduit, nail insulation backing board around it and trim the sides and top with J-channel. Cut a top cap to meet the flanges of the vertical pieces. Then, snip the bottom of the channel 1/2 in. on each side and bend these tabs down to create a drip edge. Nail the cap over the vertical pieces.

Step 14: Dealing with Obstructions

Finally, caulk the J-channel where it meets the conduit.

Step 15: Window and Door Trim

When you reach a window or door, cut away any caulk that might keep the new trim from laying flat against the existing molding. At windows, cut trim channel to match the length of the sill and then nail it into place.

Cut two lengths of channel for the sides, allowing an extra 2 in. on each. At the bottom, make a 1-in. cut along the corner of the facing edge. Bend the wide surface of the channel inward at this cut to make a drip-edge tab and slide the tab under the sill channel. At the top of a window or door, cut off all but the face of the trim flush with the existing top molding, and nail the trim in place.

Step 16: Window and Door Trim

Finally, cut the top channel 2 in. longer than the window or door width and use the excess to create drip edges. This time, however, cut off the back of the channel flush and let the facing edge run long. Set the channel in place, secure it and trim the excess from the facing edges.

Step 17: Window and Door Trim

With the insulation backing in place, install siding to within one row of the bottom of the window. Then, notch the next piece to fit. To stiffen the trimmed section, slide a length of utility trim over it.

Step 18: Window and Door Trim

Finally, slide the siding in place from below and nail it.

Step 19: Window and Door Trim

Install siding at the top of a window or door in a similar fashion, but this time set the siding on the window channel and use the window trim to mark the cut.

Step 20: Meet the Soffit

When the siding is within a foot of completion, nail lengths of utility trim to the wall just below the soffit.

Step 21: Meet the Soffit

Then, nail the second-to-last row in place. and measure the width of the last piece. Use a utility knife to score the siding lengthwise and break the siding along this line.

Step 22: Meet the Soffit

he simplest way to secure the last piece is to nail the top with 3d painted nails--colored to match your siding. While this method works, it allows for little expansion. If you opt for this method, nail sparingly--about one nail every 6 to 8 ft.

A more professional approach requires a crimping tool that fastens aluminum clips to the top edge of the siding while still allowing lateral movement. Place the clips every 12 to 16 in.

Step 23: Meet the Soffit

With the siding clipped and ready, push it into the utility channel until both the top and bottom of the siding engage with a reassuring click. To finish gable ends, trim the gables with J-channel, cut each length of siding to match the slope of the roof and nail the siding in place. Finally, caulk all trim where it meets doors, windows and utilities.

Related Articles

  • 1 Replace Home Door Seals
  • 2 Remove a J-Channel Without Harming the Siding
  • 3 Remove Small Pieces of Vinyl Siding
  • 4 Stagger Vinyl Siding Joints

Cutting vinyl siding to install a new exterior door is a tedious job, but it’s one that most moderately handy homeowners can manage. Vinyl siding comprises long, interlocking panels, special trim called J-channel that finishes the ends of rows, and other trim pieces that vary based on the house and the brand of siding. After installing the new door, you will need new J-channel trim around the door to finish the cut ends neatly. Consult with your siding manufacturer to learn whether other proprietary siding components are necessary when installing a door.

Cut the Vinyl

1

Pry off trim molding surrounding the existing door, if applicable, with the flat end of a pry bar.

Vinyl Siding Installation Manual

2

Mark the perimeter of the opening for the new door onto the vinyl siding with a carpenter’s pencil in the location where the door will go. If you are widening an existing doorway to install a larger door jamb and door, align the bottom or threshold of the door opening with the existing threshold.

3

Score the flat sections of the siding panels with a sharp utility knife, following the pencil lines that you traced for the perimeter of the new door. Drag the knife along the pencil lines several times until you cut through the vinyl.

4

Cut through the curved, interlocking sections of the siding with metal snips, using the cuts that you made with the utility knife as access points through the vinyl for the snips.

5

Make additional cuts along the pencil lines with the utility knife and snips as necessary. Separate the vinyl siding that you will keep around the outside of the new doorway from the siding that you need to remove to install the door, leaving no portion of the two sections connected.

1

Slip the curved end of a vinyl siding zip tool into the seam between two horizontally interlocking runs of siding that you need to remove. You might need to wiggle the tool to work it into the seam. A zip tool is a small, flat metal bar with a curved end. The curved end of the tool unlocks and separates the seam between two sections of siding.

2

Pull the zip tool along the seam left to right, unlocking the panels along the joint. Repeat to unlock each row of siding inside the perimeter of the new doorway.

3

Slip the forked end of a pry bar under the nail heads that fasten the rows of siding to the house. Pry out the siding nails and remove the siding.

Things You Will Need

  • Pry bar
  • Carpenter's pencil
  • Utility knife
  • Metal snips
  • Vinyl siding zip tool

Tips

  • In many cases, it is better to reserve cutting the siding until just before installing the door. If you prepare the wall inside the house for the new door before cutting the siding on the outside of the house, the siding protects the opening in case you are interrupted and have to stop, or if inclement weather arises.
  • If you are experienced with a circular saw, you can cut the siding along the pencil lines much more quickly. Set the blade to a shallow depth, make a plunge cut in the siding and cut along the pencil lines. Wear eye protection if you cut the siding with a circular saw.

Warning

  • Age and cold weather make vinyl siding brittle. If the siding isn’t flexible, cut as much of it with the utility knife as you can before using snips, or use a circular saw. Snips are more likely to break the vinyl if it is brittle.

References (2)

Resources (2)

About the Author

Carole Oldroyd, a writer based in East Tennessee, has authored numerous DIY home improvement, Human Resources, HR and Law articles. In addition to holding a degree in paralegal studies, she has more than 10 years of experience renovating newer homes and restoring historic property.

Photo Credits

  • Thomas Northcut/Digital Vision/Getty Images
Cite this Article
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Carroll, Lee. 'How to Remove Vinyl Siding for the Installation of a Door.' Home Guides SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/remove-vinyl-siding-installation-door-20660.html. Accessed 08 August 2019.

Norandex Vinyl Siding Installation Manual

Carroll, Lee. (n.d.). How to Remove Vinyl Siding for the Installation of a Door. Home Guides SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/remove-vinyl-siding-installation-door-20660.html

Certainteed Vinyl Siding Installation Manual

Carroll, Lee. 'How to Remove Vinyl Siding for the Installation of a Door' accessed August 08, 2019. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/remove-vinyl-siding-installation-door-20660.html

Vinyl Siding Installation Manual

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