How to Install Siding Over Lath

Install the lath over the wooden subsurface of the home. Nail the lath around the bottom and top of the home, around all doors and windows, at all corners and spaced vertically along the walls at intervals of 12 inches on center.

Nail the siding starter strips to the lath around the base of the house. The bond between the starter strips and the nails should be slightly loose, so that the nails aren't pressing into the starter strips. You should be able to insert your finger nail between the nail head and the starter strip. All nails inserted into trim or siding panels from this point forward should be similarly installed, to allow for the siding to expand and contract with warm and cold weather.

Nail J-channels to the furring (the lath you installed) around the doors and windows. On windows, start by nailing J-channel to the bottom of the window, then the sides and finally the top. On doors, nail the J-channel first to the sides, then the top. Cut the ends of the J-channels on the top with a miter saw so that the ends form 45 degree angles. Overlap the miter-cut ends of the J-channel with the straight ends of the J-channel on the side.

Nail the corner posts to the lath on the corners of the house.

Install the first siding panel on the house. Pick a location at the bottom of the house to do this. Place the siding panel so the bottom of the panel is positioned over a starter strip, and the end of the panel overlaps with the trim at the end of the wall. Leave a 1/4 inch gap between the end of the panel and the face of the trim. Pull up on the panel so that the bottom connects with the J-channel on the starter. Nail the panel into the lath. Use a zip tool to pull the J-channel on the siding panel over the J-channel on the starter panel to lock it into place.

Place the next siding panel over the panel you just installed. These two panels should overlap by 1 inch. Repeat the process in Step 5 to install the second panel and nail it into the lath. Continue to install siding panels in this way all along the first course, then move to the second course. The installation process is the same for each course of siding.