How to Cut a Range Vent in Siding

As far as building homes goes, there are always things that need to be cut, ranging from window cut-outs and doors to range vents and fixtures. If you need to cut siding around a range vent, it is a straightforward process that requires only basic carpentry knowledge and access to some basic, everyday tools. The type of tool you use depends on the type of siding you are working with, and while you should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cutting tools based on your type of siding, there are some basic guidelines you can follow.

Safety glasses
Work gloves
Dust mask
Tape measure
Pencil
Carpenter square
Circular saw
Electric shears

Instructions

- 1
  Install your siding according to the manufacturer’s instructions up to the point where you need to make cuts around the range vent. Use the tape measure to measure from your full pieces of siding up to the range vent, and mark those measurements on the piece of siding you need to cut. Mark the piece with the pencil and carpenter square.
- 2
  Cut down wood siding with a circular saw. While the saw is unplugged, adjust the depth of the blade so that you are only cutting as deep as required by the thickness of the siding. Set the piece of siding up on scrap pieces of wood so you have a cutting space. Plug the saw in, pull the trigger and push the blade through the wood siding along your marks to cut the siding.
- 3
  Cut down metal, vinyl, concrete fiber and composite siding with a pair of electric shears. In essence, these are an electric pair of scissors that you can hold in your main hand while you stabilize the piece of siding in your off hand. Push the electric shears into the siding and let the machine do the work while you guide the blades along your marks.

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