Directions for Vinyl Siding

Measure from the eave to the bottom of the house. Do not include the exposed foundation wall. Divide this number by 8 inches, which is the width of a typical piece of installation. If you need to make any cuts for the siding to fit, plan to install J-channel instead of utility trim above the top vinyl piece.

Snap a chalk line around the house to indicate the placement of the metal starter strip, which sits under the first vinyl siding panel and helps keep the siding level. Line up the bottom edge of a 3 1/2-inch wide piece of 1/2-inch plywood with the chalk line and secure it in place with nails. Line up the starter strip's bottom edge with the plywood's bottom edge and secure it in place with nails.

Nail 1/2-inch strips of rigid foam to both sides of all the house's corners. Set the vinyl siding corner trim over the rigid-foam strips and nail them in place. Measure the length of one of the house's walls, starting from a corner trim. Subtract 1/2 inch from this measurement and transfer this number to a vinyl siding panel. Cut the panel, if necessary, with tin snips.

Position the first vinyl siding panel's bottom lip over the metal starter strip. Slide the panel down until it rests against the corner trim. Drive a nail through the first hole in the panel's upper edge. Move down 16 inches and drive another nail through a hole in the upper edge. Move down another 16 inches. Continue until the panel's entire length has been secured to the house's side.

Add a second panel next to the first panel if the house's wall is longer than the length of one vinyl siding panel. Hook the second panel's lip over the metal starter strip. Slide the panel down until so it overlaps the first piece by about 1 inch. Nail the second strip to the house's side the same way you nailed the first panel.

Install the second row of vinyl siding panel on top of the first row. This row's bottom lip hooks under the first row's upper lip, located underneath the nailing flange.

Measure the length and width of all windows and doors you come across. Add 2 inches to the window's length measurement and 2 inches to the top width measurement for both windows and doors. Transfer these measurements to vinyl trim-channel pieces and cut them with tin snips. For a door, nail the two length trim channels in place. For a window, nail the bottom trim channel in place first.

Make 1-inch cuts on the two bottom edges of the length trim pieces if they are being installed next to a window. Bend the inner tab up so it sits under the window. Nail the trim channels in place. Skip this step when installing trim channels around a door.

Cut a 1-inch slit in both ends of the upper trim channel. Bend the tabs down toward the ground. Slide the trim channel onto the side trim channels, with the bent tab overlapping the side trim channels, and nail it in place.

Measure the length from the last installed vinyl panel to the door's side trim channel. Cut a vinyl panel to this length. Hook it onto the lower panel and slide it down so it hits the side trim channel. Nail it in place. When installing panels up to a window, cut a notch out of the panel's top edge so it fits around the window's bottom edge. Cut a utility trim piece to the length of the notch and slide it over the panel's cut portion.

Reverse Step 10 when you install vinyl siding panels above a window or door by notching the panel's bottom edge and sliding it down over the window or door instead of up against the window's bottom edge.

Nail strips of utility trim or J-channel, which you determined in Step 1, along the top edge of the house's walls. Measure the gap between the utility trim and the last full vinyl-siding panel. Transfer this measurement to a panel and snap a chalk line. Score along the chalk line with a utility knife and bend the panel to break along the score line.

Fasten aluminum clips along the cut vinyl-siding panel's top edge using a crimping tool. Place one clip every 16 inches. Hook the panel's bottom lip into the bottom panel's top lip and push the clips over the utility trim or J-channel until they click into place.

Apply a bead of silicone caulk where the vinyl siding panels touch each window and door.