How to Nail Homemade Wood Siding

Walk to the side of the home and trace the wall upward until you are above the foundation. The foundation is typically stone and a different color from the upper portion of the home. The level of the foundation varies by home, with some only inches above the ground and others multiple feet above the ground.

Measure down 1 inch below the top of the foundation and draw a small pencil mark. Walk down to the opposite end of the wall and repeat the process to draw an identical pencil mark there.

Stretch a chalk line tool between the two pencil marks and ensure it is perfectly even by holding a level over it. Once the line is level, snap it against the wall to draw a line.

Turn on a stud finder tool and slide it over the wall approximately 12 inches above the line. Draw marks on the felt paper each time the stud finder lights up, which indicates the stud locations. The studs are typically 16 inches apart.

Place the first homemade siding board up to the wall and align the bottom edge with the chalk line. Ask another person to hold the board in place so it does not move.

Insert a 2 1/2-inch stainless-steel siding nail into the center of the board, aligning it over the first stud location. Hammer the nail in flush with the surface of the siding. Insert additional nails along the length of the siding above each stud mark.

Install additional homemade boards in the same manner, ensuring that the nails are spaced at approximately 16-inch distances over each stud location. Overlap the previous board by about 1 inch for bevel siding as you work.