Siding With Staples vs. Nails

Best Types of Staples

• Staples should be made of aluminum, galvanized steel or some other form of corrosion-resistant material. Although thickness of the staple will vary depending on the type of siding used, anywhere from 1.75 to 2 inch 16-gauge staples are most common. Nothing under 16-gauge should be used, and they should be semi-flattened with an elliptical cross-section. Also, the staple should not penetrate less than 3/4-inch into the framing while still being wide enough to allow for some movement.

Best Types of Nails

• Like staples, nails should also be made of corrosion-resistant, non-ferrous metals. Eleven-gauge aluminum nails with a length of 1.5 to 2 inches are the most common for siding jobs. The nail head should have a minimum diameter of 5/16 inches and the shank should be at least 1/8-inch. A button nail, also called a wrap cap, is a special type of rust-proof siding nail that has a round plastic collar just under the head measuring about an inch in diameter. When hammered in correctly, button nails press firmly enough against the siding to force water away from the hole made by the nail.

Proper Installation Using Staples

• Staples should be installed at least 1/32-inch from the siding's nailing hem using a high-powered staple gun or hammer tacker. These are especially convenient in areas where it would be difficult or dangerous to install nails using two hands. Hammer tackers are swung just like hammers and require a modest amount of practice to ensure accuracy. Since an empty staple gun or hammer tacker sounds similar to a loaded one, users should avoid going too fast or else risk losing track of whether the gun still has staples in it. Staples guns are delicate instruments and should be treated carefully during the installation process to avoid jams.

Proper Installation Using Nails

• Nails should be installed with a small amount of clearance between the nail head and the siding, usually about the width of a dime. Since vinyl siding expands and contracts with the temperature, this space will allow it to breathe. Nails should be hammered in straight and level to prevent distortion or buckling over time. While standard nails are held between the thumb and forefinger with your palm facing away, the much shorter button nails should be held between the forefinger and middle finger with the palm facing toward you. This way, the bottom of the nail's plastic head will rest on the tips of those two fingers just as the nail becomes steady enough to be pounded in.

Pros and Cons of Each

• Using a staple gun to attach siding is often easier than hammering nails. Button nails in particular are challenging to install properly, require two hands and make the job take longer on average. However, each staple leaves two holes instead of one, which means there are twice as many areas where water can seep in. Also, staples typically provide less resistance against strong winds than do nails and should therefore be avoided in areas prone to hurricanes. Staples and nails are both comparable in price, while button nails are more expensive than both. Overall, stapling is a faster process, but nails provide greater longevity.