How to Put Up and Level Wood Siding

Open a tarp and lay the wood siding pieces on top of it spaced at least 1 to 2 inches apart. Open a can of acrylic/urethane sealant and apply a coat to all surfaces of the boards to seal them. Apply the majority of the sealant with a paint roller and brush it onto the edges and sides with a paintbrush. Wait 24 hours for the sealant to dry.

Attach asphalt-saturated felt paper to all sides of the home with a staple gun. Space the stapes at 6- to 8-inch intervals. Overlap each row of the paper by at least 2 inches to prevent moisture penetration.

Walk to the left side of one wall and measure up at least 6 inches from the ground. Mark the area with a pencil. Walk to the opposite end of the wall and measure up 6 inches. Stretch a chalk line between the two marks with the assistance of another person and place a level on top of the string until the air bubble is centered. Snap the chalk line against the wall.

Cut a 2-inch-wide starter strip to the same length as the wall and fasten it over the chalk line with 2 1/2-inch stainless-steel siding nails every 6 inches. This strip holds the bottom of the siding off the wall

Place the first piece of siding up to the wall and align the bottom of it with the starter strip. Insert more nails along the top edge of the board with a hammer and space them at 16-inch intervals over each wall stud. Locate the studs with a stud finder.

Install another board directly beside the first one if the first board does not reach the opposite end of the wall. Cut the board to length, if needed, with a power saw.

Walk back to the starting location and place a new piece of siding over the first row so there is a 1-inch overlap. Secure the board in place with more nails just as you did the first pieces.

Continue installing rows of siding until you reach the top of the wall. Cut the ends of the siding to fit flush around any door openings or window frames with the power saw.

Climb up into a ladder to measure the height of one corner wall. Cut two 2-by-2 inch wood siding corner strips to the same height with the power saw.

Place one 2-by-2 inch strip along the corner so it is flush with the edge and secure it in place every 6 to 8 inches with nails. Place the second strip on the opposite wall and push it toward the corner until the edge is flush with the first corner strip then secure it in the same manner. Install additional strips on all corners of the home and around all doors and windows.

Caulk all seams in the siding with a 1/4-inch-wide bead of exterior-grade caulk.