Install siding starter strip

Vinyl siding should be applied over a sheathing that provides a smooth, flat surface. Consult local building codes for sheathing requirements. Vinyl siding must never be applied directly to studs without sheathing. As an alternative, installation of specific types of drop-in contoured foam underlayments for various styles of vinyl siding are available. Some manufacturers of vinyl siding do not recommend the use of drop-in backers with certain vinyl siding configurations. Vinyl siding can be installed over common wood sheathings such as plywood, oriented strand board OSB , or other materials e.

Vinyl siding panels interlock as they are installed. The upper overlapping siding panel has a U-shaped lip that fits down around the locking channel of the previously installed piece of siding and is held in place as it is installed. The starter strip is the first strip of vinyl siding that is nailed to the wall. It is a small strip of vinyl siding that has a locking channel on it that the first full-sized vinyl siding panel attaches to.

Installing vinyl siding can help to reduce the amount of maintenance you have to do to the outside of your house. If you decide to install vinyl siding yourself without the help of a contractor , it's important to be as prepared as possible and to have a clear idea of what the installation process involves. See Step 1 below to get started. Next, measure and cut the siding to fit the measurements of your soffit, and push each panel into the J-channel. If necessary, bend the siding to fit into place.

Join us to get great money-saving tips, cool ideas, and valuable advice from home improvement expert Don Vandervort! This begins with techniques for preparing the existing wall and moves through installation of all siding and trim. Some of these mounting strips are the same for both horizontal and vertical siding.