Installing Vinyl Siding - Making It Simple

Installing vinyl siding can be a very rewarding process that could dramatically change the appearance of your home. For the most part, if you plan your job well and adhere to some simple guide lines, anyone could learn how to install siding to there home.

The first thing to consider when installing vinyl siding is what tools will be needed for the job. Basically with some common carpenter tools, like a, hammer, level, chalk line, screw driver set, tin snips and a good circular saw you can pretty much achieve what it is you need to do. But if you plan on making a profession out of it, expect to pay in the thousands for a properly equipped truck.

After you have gathered your tools, you will need to collect your materials to prepare the job. Below you will find a list of some fundamental items needed to start your siding project.

Sheathing/Backerboard

Vinyl siding should be applied over a sheathing that provides a smooth, flat surface. Since every district has different code requirements you may want to consult local building codes for sheathing requirements. Vinyl siding should never be applied directly to framing studs without sheathing. As an alternative to backer board, there is a variety of specific types of contoured foam under lays available for various styles of vinyl siding.

Weather Resistant Barrier

Vinyl siding should be installed over a continuous weather resistant barrier to stop the intrusion of incidental water. Weather resistant barrier systems commonly consist of a combination of exterior cladding, flashed wall openings and penetrations, weather resistant barrier material, and sheathing. Commonly used is black carpentry felt. When using felt be sure to check thickness requirements.

Flashing

Code-compliant flashing should be integrated with the weather resistant barrier and applied around windows, doors, and other openings. Flashing should also be applied to inside and outside corners, and the intersection of walls and roofing to prevent water seepage through the joints.

Once your outside wall has been covered with sheathing to provide a smooth flat surface, and your windows and doors have had flashing installed to channel any incidental water from collecting, you may now install the starter strip. This strip is an accessory applied directly to the surface of the building at the lowest part of the wall to be sided, and is used to secure the first course of siding to the home. This course will need to be checked for level as it is what the rest of the job relies upon for evenness.

With aluminum, galvanized steel, or other corrosion-resistant nails, you may now start installing the vinyl siding. As each style of panel may be different refer to installation instructions supplied. Cut the panels to length with a circular saw and trim with tin snips. As you nail the panels in place, be sure to leave about the thickness of as dime between the nail head and wall to allow for shifting. Check every 5th or 6th course for horizontal alignment. When portions overlap you must have about 1" to seal the joint.

The basic installation of vinyl siding is quite simple, but since there are codes governing how certain aspects are handled, you should inquire with a professional for specific trimming tasks and other more complicated vinyl siding installation practices.

All in all, you will find the task of re-siding your home manageable with only a few frustrations to contend with. But the reward will be well worth it.

Article provided by the editors of: http://www.vinyl-siding-n-windows.com - An online service providing free contractor referrals.

More resources:

RELATED ARTICLES

Get Your Home Ready To Sell
Have you been considering selling your home in the near future? If you have, then it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a good long look at your home, using an unbiased eye.After all, a clean, appealing, well maintained home has much better odds of selling, selling for more, and selling faster.

Why Is Your House Cold?
How many of you have experienced this situation? As the wind blows outside and the temperature drops, you get chilled even while you are standing in the middle of your home.How does this happen?The three biggest problems with the comfort of your home are,1) air infiltration2) air infiltration3) air infiltrationThe total air infiltration in an average house is the equivalent of having a door or window open every day of your life.

Top Ten Air Purifier Questions
1. Do I really need an air purifier in my home? It depends on several factors, including your own comfort level and what the indoor air quality is in your home.

Materials For Building Window Shutters
Shopping for window shutters can become confusing because of the huge variety of materials used and promoted as superior. The construction methods of a shutter unit, including the materials used, contributes greatly to the overall cost of shutters purchased.

The Best Way To Clean Carpet?
What is the absolute best way to clean carpet? Carpet manufacturers are almost unanimous. The best way is to use hot-water extraction, also called steam cleaning.

Manhatten Paving-Asphalt Paving Seal Coats
Why should you even consider sealing your asphalt driveway?Seal your existing parking lot to:Establish all weather surfaces that are maintenance and dust free, thus saving you overall asphalt maintenance costs in the future.Maintain the existing pavement in its present condition by delaying or eliminating further aging due to water, sun, heat, and humidity.

Security in Todays World
There are many things in life that are worth protecting. Our children, our valuables, our resources and of course, ourselves.

Planning Permission Tips UK - Trees and How They Can Affect Development when Applying for Planning
Like most folk, I believe that more can be achieved in life by open & transparent negotiation - laying ones cards on the table for a reciprocal arrangement & courtesy. Unfortunately, like most things in life, there will be times when one side will try & gain the advantage at the detriment of the other party using this method.

When Is It Time To Call The Professional?
For most Do-It-Yourself (DIY) home project managers, the most difficult decision is to know when to give the professionals a call to come complete a task and when to complete it yourself. The reason we like to do our own home upgrades or an addition is always a pretty internal and selfish reason.

The Benifits of Home Ventilation
The purpose of a home ventilation system is to maintain a healthy living environment by supplying fresh air to your home while at the same time removing stale and polluted air. Home ventilation also helps to maintain proper humidity levels of 30 to 50 percent.

This Is Why People Should Consider Granite Countertops
Granite countertops are among the most beautiful things you can add to your kitchen. Kitchen countertops gain a beautiful glow from these pieces of art.

A Well Chosen Bathroom Vanity Will Make Your Bathroom Look Great!
A bathroom vanity is the centerpiece of your bathroom. Regardless of how well the rest of the bathroom is decorated, it just won't look right without the right bathroom vanity cabinet.

I Need What Part?
One of the first things you learn as a homeowner is that you may own your home, but you don't actually live in it full time. You get to spend the rest of your time living in the hardware store or hardware dept of your local retail store.

How To Know If Interior Design Is Right for You
Have you ever seen a beautiful house or office building and wondered who did the work? Have you ever wished that you could do some of the work that you've seen elsewhere? Many people wonder what it would be like to be an Interior Designer, but they rarely ever go beyond thinking about it.If you really want to know if Interior Design is right for, this book will be your comprehensive guide to the ins and outs of the business.

Marketing For The Home Builder
When one is looking into marketing for the home builder, one should find a number of tools to promote newly built homes and home-building offers:Advertising: the marketing for the home builder package should offer an advertising agency.Your primary goal, to draw leads, should be catered to with such services and offerings as a marketing plan, an established venue (or venues), listings and listings links, link-backs, artistic renderings (drawings and/or photos), all to create web presence by name branding, the latest in internet sales generating techniques.

Planning Permission Tips UK - Pre-application Enquiries to the Council - Is the Delay Worthwhile?
The holiday season is now in full swing & for about the next 6 weeks we tend to see a noticeable downturn in the level of new enquiries which I think is pretty much typical amongst most services. This, for us, is a time when we normally attend to the updating & improvement of our internal administration, so the forecasted lull over the coming weeks will be put to good use.

Chester Conservatory Build Process
1. The site of the proposed conservatory.

Outdoor Decks - Understanding Seven Elements of Good Deck Design
You're all comfortable in your favorite lounge chair, reading your latest novel with a cool beverage nearby..

Replacing Steel Casement Windows (Part 2)
Last week, I explained how to remove your old steel casement windows as you prepare each opening for the new Vinyl windows. In most of the country, you are limited to a replacement style frame, which is a new construction frame with the nail fin removed.

Seven Interior Design Psychology Ideas for Dining Pleasure
A separate dining room adds glamour, elegance, and excitement to a shared meal. Celebratory, sociable space, apart from the confusion of the kitchen, makes every dinner more meaningful.