How-to-install-vinyl-siding
I have worked with a few types of vinyl siding and I like most of them. My favorite is "Heartland Siding". Man, that stuff is durable, it looks great and keeps its color, and it's a dream to work with. I think it's called "HeartTech" Siding now. I have no affiliation to the company that makes this stuff, I just really like the siding products. Vinyl siding is also a dream to maintain and
clean.
Vinyl Siding is a lot cheaper than you probably think it is. When an older home is resided with vinyl the difference is usually dramatic. Naturally, you would think that something that makes such a difference would be costly. Not only that, but us do-it-yourselfers don't have to pay for labor, so it's really inexpensive. As in most things we deal with in home construction, vinyl siding costs less than one-third the total installation price. All the rest comes from contracted labor. I just recently had some friends who asked for bids to install vinyl siding on their 2,000 sq. ft. home. I knew that the vinyl and accessories would cost maybe $2,000 maximum. The bid they received was for $7200. The siding contractor could have the whole project finished in about three days. It would look fantastic, and he would pocket $5,000 for three days work. People don't really complain about the high cost of siding installers for two reasons. First, the job they do almost always looks so excellent, and second, they don't know how much of a profit margin they just paid out. If you're
refinancing your house
for a
home improvement project
definitely shop around for the best siding installers. Make sure they are reputable. Dishonest contractors can really skim a lot of equity away from you if you let them.
The basics of how-to-install-vinyl-siding is not the siding at all, but rather, the flashing ,the eaves, soffits, windows, and door trims. The flashing around windows and doors will need to be done first. Think of it this way: Rain will need to make a sweeping motion from the roof, down the walls, and on to the ground without any retention or chances of getting in. Flashing windows is as easy as cutting out strips of metal that are about six inches wide and the length or width of the window. It's important to start at the bottom of the window. Nail the strip in place, then overlap that piece with the side pieces. Last, put the top piece on overlapping the side pieces so the water runs down, not into the wall. It's all about overlapping. You will need to put up J-trim all around the windows and doors. J-channel comes in long strips and it cuts really easy with tin snips. The J-trim is what the vinyl tucks into so the jagged edges aren't visible. Look at the pic below of my kitchen window. You can see where the white J-trim covers up the edges of the vinyl. Learning to cover unfinished-looking rough work is part of learning how-to-install-vinyl-siding.
Ugly house eh? That's why vinyl siding is such a cool thing. It covers up all the ugliness. Learning how-to-install-vinyl-siding helps us turn that ugly duckling house into a beautiful swan almost overnight.
The soffit material is usually metal not vinyl. The soffit panels all slide in place and connect together between the channel trims. On the fascia, which is the eave face, you will need to put on a utility strip toward the very top of the eave just below the roof metal or shingles. The fascia is usually the right size for eaves, but you can trim it if you need to. You will need to rent or buy a snap-lock tool to punch snap lock lugs into the fascia about 1/2-inch from the top. The fascia will lock into place when you push it up into the utility strip. Some installers call this dog-earring the panels. That's all part of learning how-to-install-vinyl-siding.
Next, you will need special vinyl fittings for all external outlets and spigots. Also, you'll need outside lighting fixture fittings, and a dryer vent fitting. Once all the fittings and trimmings are in place, you can start applying the vinyl panels. You apply the starter strip and work your way up. How-to-install-vinyl-siding top of page
Have A Great Story About Vinyl Siding?Do you have a great story about vinyl siding? How about a "Don't do" story. Tips and techniques are very valuable. Share what's on your mind. |
