Are you getting embarrassed about the condition of your home’s exterior? Is the paint peeling of making it look like you don’t take care for your home? Well, perhaps it’s time you do away with the old home siding and install something better or new.
Having said that, how should you go about it? How do you install siding, especially if you want to do it yourself?
The cost of installing home siding can get reduced significantly if you are willing to do the job yourself. Home siding materials get sold in most hardware stores and usually, come with comprehensive instructions. To help you with the job here are seven handy tips on installing home siding on Your Own:
1. Measure Everything
When taking measurements of your house, do not exclude doors or windows; measure it like it is a rectangle. From width to length and from the top to bottom before you start your house siding installation.
2. Prepare the Walls
Level and flat surfaces are essential when it comes to siding. Your siding job will only be as stable and straight as what is underneath it. Similarly, don’t use green lumber as an underlayment if it is a new structure.
A weather resistant barrier should also get applied before applying the siding. This barrier will control moisture flow, shed water and minimize absorption into the walls. The barrier should be strong enough to last for a while and well integrated around all penetrations where the siding surfaces are in contact with building materials such as concrete, stone or brick.
3. Start with the Accessories
Install the required accessories first before hanging the siding. This includes J channels, corner posts and starter strips. The starter strip must be level for the siding to get installed well.
To get the lowest point of the structure, measure up to a quarter inch less than the width of the starter and then drive a nail at the corner. Repeat the same process throughout the house.
4. Cap Corner Posts
Most insects like making their nests inside corner posts. You can keep them at bay by capping every post before installing it. Cut off 1 to 2 inches of the J channel. Fold the flaps and softly tap some crease into them with a hammer.
Make sure you notch the remaining flaps so that they snug up against the walls. Also, note that your posts may crack if they are cold. As such, if the temperature outside is very low, put them in the sun or warm them before your siding installation.
5. The Panels Should Move from Freely
Most siding materials like vinyl siding usually expand and contract by a small percentage with temperature changes. So whether you are using a staple, screws or nails when installing the siding, ensure the panels are appropriately locked at the bottom.
Please don’t force them when fastening.
Don’t drive the fastener tightly against the siding. Leave some space of between 14 to 16 inches for the siding panels horizontally and 13 inches vertically. Also, have an area of about ½ inch at all stops and openings for normal contraction and expansion.
6. Don’t Forget Airflow
High temperatures in your siding can easily warp your roof. So make sure you have some space for the heat to escape and keep the temperature even. You can achieve this by using perforated soffits with vents. Similarly, ridge vents will enhance airflow through space.
7. Work with a Friend
Hanging vinyl siding using one ladder is very difficult. The pieces are, and you need one more ladder and a friend to help with that. If you have or can hire scaffolding system that would even be better.
Conclusion On Installing Home Siding
Installing home siding can help you minimize the amount of maintenance you have to do on your house’s exterior every now and then. Be as it may, if you decide to install it by yourself, it is essential to be thoroughly prepared and to have a good idea of how to install siding and what the process involves.
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