How to Put Vinyl Siding on a Peak

Snap a level chalk line across the house at the bottom of the peak and measure this span.

Snip a length of starter strip to fit along the base of the peak with the “open” end for receiving the siding facing upward. Place the starter strip along the chalk line and nail every 8 to 12 inches through the nail holes provided in the strip. If you are continuing the peak siding from the siding on the body of the house, omit the starter strip.

Measure one edge of the peak for the J-channel length.

Measure and miter each end of the J-channel for a good fit at the peak’s corners. Repeat the measurement and cuts for the second piece of J-channel on the other side. Place these pieces snugly along the peak’s sides with the trim’s receiving edges facing inward. Nail the trim through the precut holes every 8 to 12 inches.

Cut the first piece of vinyl siding 1/2-inch shorter than the starter strip; the siding needs to have room to contract and expand as the weather changes.

Place the carpenter’s angle finder between the slanted peak edge and the top of the starter strip to find the angle at which you'll cut the corresponding siding end. Lock the angle finder to hold it in position.

Sit the angle finder in place over the concurrent siding end and mark the vinyl with a pencil. Neatly cut along the mark using the snips -- siding is wider at the top than the bottom; have it sitting the right way around before cutting. Find the angle for the opposite end of the peak, then mark and cut the other end of the siding length.

Bow the siding slightly to fit, or “lock” it into the starter strip (or last piece of siding installed on the body of the house) and J-channel slots. Slide the siding back and forth to ensure that it is correctly fit in place -- it should sit straight and move easily. Check that you have about 1/4-inch of the angled siding ends tucked into each J-channel edge.

Hammer a nail into the center of every fifth or sixth nail “slot” located at the top of the siding, starting from the center of the panel and working outward. Don’t set the nails too firmly; leave a 1/32-inch gap -- about the thickness of a dime -- between the nail heads and the vinyl for temperature related movement and to keep the siding from buckling.

Measure for panel length and check the peak angles from the top of each installed piece of siding for all remaining cuts. Continue to install and nail one piece of siding on top of the next until the peak is fully sided.