How To Estimate How Much Vinyl Siding Is Needed For A Home
Vinyl siding is a beautiful and cost-effective material to enhance your homes curb appeal and exterior look.
The first step to a vinyl siding installation is to estimate and order materials.
Finding the amount of material needed is a fairly simple process. Vinyl siding is sold by the square, which is equivalent to 100 square feet of material.
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To find the number of squares, measure the square footage and divide by 100. Start by measuring the height and width of each wall of the building. Multiply each length and height measurement to find the square footage of each wall, then add them together to find the total square footage.
Divide the total by 100 to find the number of squares of vinyl siding to order.
What Else Can You Use A Roofing Nailer For
The primary function of a roofing nailer is to drive nails into roofing made of asphalt, insulation boards, and fiberglass. As mentioned, you can also use aluminum or galvanized pins can also be used with a roofing nailer to secure siding. Here are some other functions of a roofing nailer:
- Driving in coil nails
Read on to discover other types of nail guns.
What Nails Do I Use For Lp Smartside
Nailing Requirements Using a nail gun makes quick work of installing LP SmartSide products. Youll want to use a minimum of. 113-inch shank diameter hot-dipped galvanized box-style nails with a minimum of 0.27-inch head diameter. The nails should be long enough to penetrate the structural framing by at least one inch.
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Nailing Guidelines For Vinyl Siding
Nails in vinyl siding can also restrict movement and causebuckling problems. To prevent this, do not nail the sidingtight. Instead, hang the siding by driving nails in thecenter of the nailing slots and leaving 1/32 to 1/16-inch between the fastener head and the siding.
Drive nails straight since the head of an angled nail canpinch and distort the siding. Use corrosion-resistant nailswith heads at least 5/15-inch in diameter, such as roofing nails,driven at least 3/4-inch into solid wood .
Standard nailing spacing for vinyl siding is 16 inches on-center for horizontalpanels, 12 inches for vertical panels. In high-wind areas,use extra nails and choose a product with a hemmed or reinforcednailing flange. Carson Dunlop’s photo demonstrates aluminum roofing nails used to hang vinyl siding on a building wall.
Experienced vinyl siding installers who want to avoid siding blow-off refer to “hanging vinyl siding” on the building wall rather than “nailing vinyl siding to the building wall” precisely to remind workers not to nail siding so tightly that it buckles when heated.
See VINYL SIDING INSPECTION & REPAIR
On a wall section long enough to have spliced sections of vinyl wall siding in a given siding course, if we see vinyl wall siding that is buckled, we also check to see if the siding moves freely left and right on the wall. It’s easy to either use the butt of your hand to try to slide a siding panel left or right – it should move about 1/2″ or so.
The Difference Between Siding Vs Framing Nail Guns
Today, let’s take a look at one of our frequently asked questions, “what’s the difference between a siding nailer and framing nailer?” When it comes to applications, such as siding or roofing, customers often don’t understand why framing guns aren’t the best tool for the job. Don’t get us wrong, framing nailers are extremely versatile in purpose, and can definitely pull their weight for more than framing . And, in appearance, a coil framing nailer and a siding nailer look nearly identical. But, when it comes to siding installation, investing in a siding nailer may be worth the expense – and here’s why.
The primary difference between a coil framing nailer and a siding nailer is nail size. Where framing requires much larger nails that penetrate deep and offer greater holding strength, siding does not require nearly as much support. Think of it this way, connecting 2×4 boards to frame a building requires much more holding power versus simply attaching thin planks to a wood base. Typically, you’ll see siding nails range anywhere from 1-1/4″ up to 2-1/2″ in length, whereas framing nails can go 3-1/2″ or more.
PRO TIP: If installing siding for the first time, be sure to research installation tips based on the type of siding you’re using. Siding nailers are popular for use with fiber cement and wood siding applications. On the other hand, vinyl siding is typically hung rather than nailed, as it needs to expand and contract.
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Whats The Difference Between Roofing Nails Vs Siding Nails
If youre fixing your siding or fixing your shingles, you should absolutely learn the difference between the two different types of nails used for either task.
At first, someone unfamiliar with the nitty gritty details of siding and roofing might assume the same nail is used for either project or make the mistake of believing nails are interchangeable. However, a roofing nail and a siding nail are designed for two distinct materials, so its best to know which one is right for your scenario.
Vinyl Siding Profiles & Textures
The rigidity of the siding, however, is morea function of its profile and particularly the thicknessof the butt edge, which typically ranges from1/2 to 3/4-inch
Our photo of ship-lap profile vinyl siding was provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates .
In general, more rigid products are easier to install,but they have more pronounced shadow lines at joints.
Siding panels come in several profiles, usually containingtwo to four courses of siding per panel. Panels range from6 to 10 inches in width and are typically 12 feet long, althoughsome manufacturers offer greater lengths.
Finishes found on vinyl wall siding range from completely smooth to heavily textured. Alightly textured finish most closely mimics painted woodsiding.
Watch out: some thin or possibly poorly-formulated thin-wall vinyl siding products maybe more prone to warping, buckling, or failing to stay locked in position. Details are
at VINYL SIDING BUCKLED WARPED
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Power Tool Cost And Efficiency
Powered staplers and nailers, recommended for siding, come in a wide variety of designs. In general, a high-quality stapler will cost more than a high-quality nailer. Staples are loaded in strips, while nails are loaded in coils. Coiled nail holders hold far more nails than staple guns hold staples. You will be able to nail in more pieces of siding at a reduced tool cost if you use a nailer.
Why Are Galvanized Nails Important
Galvanization is a process by which a coat of zinc is added to another metal. The addition of a layer of zinc, which is another more resistant type of metal, works to protect the nail from the elements. Galvanized nails have a longer lifespan since they will take much longer to rust than non-galvanized nails. If you want to avoid having rusty nails completely, you should explore stainless-steel nails as an option.
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Inch Vs 5 Inch Vinyl Siding
The 4 inches and 5 inches options for vinyl siding are different compared to the others because they both come with a double option, or they have two courses or edges on a single panel. If you would like to utilize a double for your home, look for the D4 or D5 label on your local hardware store.
Four inches or D4 vinyl siding is 8 inches or 20 centimeters wide, while a double 5 inches or D5 is 10 inches or 26 centimeters wide. In terms of the comparison to the size, there is no relevant difference between the two aside from an inch of size between in the width of the vinyl siding.
For the price, siding is usually valued by its width, and since there is only an inch difference, there will be no significant savings by opting for one or the other.
Heat Damaged Vinyl Siding
at VINYL SIDING BUCKLED WARPED we discuss the range of sagged, rippled, and damaged vinyl siding and suggest most likely causes such as heat or bending.
There we collect reader comments, guesses, and opinions about what caused the weird wrinkled vinyl shown in our photo at left.
Clue: this is not thermal expansion.
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Vinyl Siding Material Composition: Plastic Polyvinyl Chloride & Additives
Vinyl siding is composed of the plastic polyvinyl chloride blended with a number of additives for specificproperties: plasticizers for flexibility stabilizers to preventoxidation UV radiation absorbers, such as titanium dioxide,to prevent fading and degradation and pigments toadd color.
Fillers are added to hold down costs, and theresin is extruded into a wide variety of the shapes thatmimic natural siding materials. PVC is inherently fire resistantand carries a Class 1 fire-rating.
Our photo shows a 1920’s home that was re-sided with vinyl by the editor Poughkeepsie, NY.
Watch out: for an understanding of plastic or odor issues and potential health concerns
and VINYL SIDING or WINDOW PLASTIC ODORS
Galvanized Roofing Nails Are Ideal For Installing Siding
Violent wind, pouring rain, and excessive heat can cause fasteners to rust. You need to choose high-quality, galvanized nails to prevent the vinyl siding from sailing away during a strong storm.
Preparing for these weather conditions is a necessity, and galvanized nails can help you keep your home secure.
Roofing nails are an excellent choice for vinyl siding installation projects. Longer shanks, flatter nail heads, and sharper points are features of roofing nails that make them conducive to installing vinyl siding.
You can easily use their extra sharp points to nail them into vinyl siding panels.
Builders suggest using nails that measure at least 1 ½ when installing vinyl siding. Roofing nail heads must have 5/16 minimum in diameter.
The nail shanks should be at least in diameter.
Galvanized nails are often made of steel, and this is superior to aluminum. Aluminum nails may not be strong enough for installing vinyl siding.
Using roofing nails to install vinyl siding is perfectly fine if you follow the simple suggestions above.
The major problem is warping and buckling caused by expansion and heat, so you should avoid these problems by following the recommended guidelines.
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Can You Hammer A Nail Into Vinyl Siding
Yes. In order to install vinyl siding over wood, it is best to use galvanized nails. They are corrosion-resistant and can be hammered into the vinyl siding. But always test the nail before hammering it into the board to make sure it is long enough. Save your time using a nail gun to penetrate the nail through vinyl siding. But it is better to use a hammer when you want to remove the old vinyl siding.
How To Replace A Damaged Panel
To remove a panel for any reason, follow the steps below:
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Slip a zip lock or unlocking tool behind the bottom lock of the panel above the one to be replaced and unzip it from the lock on the damaged panel.
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Gently bend out upper panel. Take the nails out of the damaged panel and remove it.
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Lock on the new panel and nail it up.
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Use the unlocking tool again to zip the upper panel over the lock on the new panel.
For more information, refer to page 38 of the VSI Vinyl Siding Installation Manual.
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Panel Ends Require Extra Space
If you are installing vinyl siding and it touches window trim or door frames, you need to allow extra space at these points of contact.
Every section of the vinyl siding you install requires extra room to expand due to excessive humidity and heat in the summer months.
The trim and the vinyl siding panel should have about ¼ of open space. Covering the expansion with this space will ensure that your vinyl siding does not warp in the summer heat.
What Kind Of Nails Do You Use To Put Up Vinyl Siding
Use aluminum, galvanized steel, or other corrosion-resistant nails, staples, or screws when installing vinyl siding. Aluminum trim pieces require aluminum or stainless steel fasteners. All fasteners must be able to penetrate a minimum of 1 1/4 into nailable material, such as wood sheathing and framing (Fig.
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Can You Nail Trim Into Drywall
Use trim nails that will penetrate at least 1/2 inch into the studs. To choose the right-sized nail, add to that 1/2 inch the thickness of the drywall, usually 1/2inch, and the thickness of the trim board. Standard finish nails usually work fine. However, many carpenters prefer to use galvanized finish nails.
Leaving Room To Move Is Key To Successful Vinyl Siding Installation
Vinyl siding expands and contracts in warm and cold weather. It is important that the siding have enough flexibility to move as needed to prevent it from buckling. Siding has fairly wide pre-drilled holes for nailing. Use only these holes for nailing and never drive nails through the face of the siding. It is recommended that the nail be placed directly in the middle of the nail hole to give it space to move from side to side.
When attaching your siding, its very important that the nail not be pounded in completely tight. Doing so prevents the vinyl siding from being able to slide left and right as intended. Use only galvanized or roofing nails that wont rust. You can also choose to use screws, as long as they also arent installed too tight.
As you work your way up the wall, make sure the lip of each siding panel gently locks in to the one below it.
Find more information and installation resources at the Vinyl Siding Institute.
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Other Details To Keep In Mind When Using Nails On Vinyl Siding
- The wide head of roofing nails is ideal to ensure the secure hold of the vinyl siding
- Nails should have a little room to let the vinyl move and not driven all the way down on the wood sheathing pinching the vinyl siding
- Every nail should be placed in the middle of the slot on the vinyl siding. This will ensure the siding can move side to side, which will help avoid future buckling when the siding expands and contracts
- Generally, nails should be placed at least every 16
How Do You Nail Vinyl Siding
Start nailing vertical siding and trim pieces in the top of the uppermost slots to hold them in position. Place all other nails in the center of the slots. Space nails a maximum of 16 inches apart for horizontal siding panels, every 12 inches for vertical siding panels, and 6 to 12 inches for accessories.
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Shaun,
What does the siding manufacturer advise?
FWIW. When I had one-inch furring strips installed on my last home, they were aligned with the framing. That was necessary to handle the weight of the cement siding.
Vinyl siding is built with a substantial degree of cross-ventilation Most people seem to consider it “almost as good as a vented rainscreen” when installed normally.
suggests that the furring strips are advised, but that they’re more about mechanical support for those nails than about venting:
“Q. “Also, Martin: I was hoping you might elaborate on why vinyl needs a rainscreen when put on top of more than 2 inches of foam. Is because of fastener length? Or some simple practical reason or is it building science based?”
A. Basically, it has to do with fastener length. Vinyl siding can’t be fastened tight to the sheathing — the fasteners need to be just a little bit loose, so that the siding can expand and contract lengthways to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction. This is hard enough to do when you are installing the product directly over OSB if you are doing it over 2 inches of foam, it becomes even more challenging. Joe Lstiburek says that 2 inches is the limit before you need vertical furring strips. I might even be more conservative, and limit the thickness of the foam to 1 inch before switching to furring strips.”
Vinyl Siding Installation: Materials And Tools
While you can expect differences among manufacturers, siding systems generally include 12-foot lengths of siding, window/door trim channel, J-channel, utility channel, corner moldings, and metal starter strips. In addition, vented and unvented soffits, as well as fascia covers, are available.
The siding must be installed over a flat surface, so unless youre siding a new home, or have removed the old lap siding, youll need to line the wall with sheets of rigid-foam board, usually 1/2-inch thick. While rigid foam offers some insulation, its primary function is to provide a flat nailing surface. Both the rigid foam and siding can be nailed in place with galvanized shingle nails.
Vinyl siding comes in several styles and in a variety of colors. We chose a Dutch lap style, which has the look of tongue-and-groove car siding, because of its distinctive profile.
All vinyl siding and vinyl soffit and fascia can be cut with tin snips, a circular saw with a plywood blade, or by scoring it with a knife and breaking it.
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Importance Of Proper Nailing For Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is made of plastics which is different than other sidings like wood siding or aluminum siding. This is why precise nailing is very necessary otherwise, it can break easily.
Also, when installing, you have to keep in mind that vinyl siding can crack it up in the change of weather. If you do not save enough space between sidings, things can go wrong. The purpose of installing siding might not work out.
Proper nailing of vinyl siding can be more durable and attractive cladding for homes. Though it is a bit costly, it will protect your house for a long time if you can install it properly.
