How to Install Felt Before New Siding

Inspect the home's sheathing for any loose or raised nails and pay special attention to the joints where the pieces of sheathing meet each other. Sink each raised or loose nail back into the siding with a hammer. The nail's head must rest flush or slightly below the sheathing's surface.

Unroll a section of felt on the ground below the home's exterior wall. Position the end of the felt at one corner of the wall and cut the felt to size at the far corner with a utility knife.

Hold one end of the cut section of felt on one corner of the house. Make sure that the side of the felt with the nailing guidelines faces out. Lift the felt until its bottom edge rests about 2 inches below the bottom of the sheathing. Use the nailing guide located 2 inches from the bottom of the felt as a placement guide. The 2-inch overhang acts as the felt's drip edge.

Tack the top of the felt to the sheathing with a cap nail driven in until its cap touches the felt's surface. Some siding installers prefer to secure the felt to the sheathing with wood staples and a staple gun.

Position the loose end of the felt against the sheathing so that its bottom edge rests about 2 inches below the sheathing's bottom edge. Use the nailing guide that runs 2 inches above the bottom of the felt as a placement guide. Felt manufacturers print these guides near both edges of the felt, as well as one or two additional nailing guides near the center of the felt. Tack the top of the felt to the sheathing with either a cap nail or wood staple.

Secure the top edge of the felt to the sheathing with either cap nails or wood staples. Space the nails or staples every 12 inches along the felt's top nailing guide.

Trim the felt to fit around any windows or doors if necessary. Press the felt tight against the sheathing next to the window or door frame. Run the utility knife across the felt's surface with the blade tip tight against the edge of the frame.

Secure the body of the felt to the sheathing with either cap nails or wood staples. Place a nail or staple every 12 to 18 inches across the middle and bottom nailing guides.

Install each additional row of felt on the home's exterior wall in the same method used to install the first row. Keep the bottom of each additional row of felt even with the previous row's top nailing guide to create a 2-inch overhang.

Cut the top edge of the felt tight against the roof's overhang with the utility knife in the same method used to cut around the windows and doors. Secure the top edge of the felt to the sheathing about 2 inches from the overhang with the cap nails or wood staples.