Clips Used to Install Siding

About Alignment Clips

• With two hooks that face opposite directions, siding alignment clips are similar to over-the-door coat or towel hangers. If you look at them from the side after installation, they resemble a backwards letter "S." The upper hook latches over the top edge of a siding plank and the lower hook protrudes from the plank's face. The bottom hooks of of a set of two or more clips form a ledge that holds the overlapping siding plank in position during installation. The uniformly sized clips ensure that the overlapping plank is level and extends the correct distance beyond the installed plank, usually 1 to 1 1/4 inches.

Suitable Materials for Alignment Clips

• Siding alignment clips are suitable for manufactured lap-siding siding products, such as fiber-cement and hardboard siding. Whereas wood siding products often have damaged edges or slight imperfections that prevent the clips from properly leveling the planks, factories consistently produce fiber-cement and hardboard products to precise dimensions. In other words, siding clips depend on the conformity of the planks to produce reliable results.

Installing Siding with Clips

• To start the clips in the right place, you must manually level at least one plank or a starter strip with a spirit level. The starter strip is a narrow piece of lumber or siding that spans across the wall's bottom, roughly level with the sill plate. The starter strip forces the bottom of the first plank to slope away from the wall, which establishes the angle of successive, overlapping planks. After leveling and nailing the starter strip, you can hang clips from the strip as you would from siding planks. The first siding plank sits in the starter strip's clips, allowing you to drive fasteners with both hands free. Hang clips on the first plank and repeat the process until you finish the wall.

Clip Spacing

• Clip spacing recommendations vary according to manufacturer. Some clip manufacturers call for clips only at the ends of the planks, typically a set of two or three at each end. Other manufacturers advise hanging clips at set intervals across the plank, such as every 3 feet. Occasionally, clip spacing varies according to the dimensions of the siding planks; longer and wider boards require more clips with closer spacing. To determine precise spacing requirements, consult your clip manufacturer's guidelines.