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Strips of undersill trim must be installed beneath windowsills. This special trim covers the horizontal edge of a siding panel and locks the panel in place. Cut each trim piece to fit between the two side J-channels, then nail it flush against the underside of the window. If the panel beneath a window needs to […]

Thanks to the work you did in the previous step, panel installation can go quickly, especially when you have a good-size crew, as we did on this job. The first panel course is always the bottom-most course. Start against the corner on one side of the house (preferably the back corner). Pull up the first […]

The installation of vinyl siding begins with different trim elements: starter strips, inside corners, outside corners, J-channel, and so on. The various trim details are designed to hide or interlock with siding ends and edges. As with other homebuilding phases, if you get started right, the next steps follow more smoothly. The critical first step […]

The most important thing to keep in mind as you’re installing vinyl siding is that it expands and contracts significantly with tem­perature changes. All siding components and installation details are designed to cope with this temperature-induced movement. Review the installation information discussed through­out this chapter. Make sure you comply with the manufacturer’s instructions that come […]

Before you install the siding, soffits, and exterior trim, it’s important to resolve some ventilation and electrical details. For example, this house has a rectangular attic vent centered beneath the ridge in each gable-end wall. If you chose to sheathe the gable-end truss on the ground, this is the logical place to cut the hole […]

In addition to vinyl siding, there are three more exterior finishes to consider if you’re interested in affordability, low maintenance, and attractive appearance: COMPOSITE WOOD. These planks are made the same way as OSB sheathing panels, but they look like solid — wood clapboards or horizontal lap siding when installed. This siding comes with a […]

The setting process anchors the windows and doors in their final positions. Complete instal­lation happens later, when we move inside the house and work on the interior trim. The windows and doors used in affordable hous­ing are mainly vinyl and vinyl clad, though aluminum-clad frames are still installed in some areas. Some codes require that […]

Covering the wood house frame with house — wrap, a thin protective layer, is the next step be­fore finish siding is applied. You can use the old, reliable housewrap—rolls of 30-lb. felt paper, or you can try one of the modern housewraps, such as Tyvek®, Barricade®, and Typar®. These are lightweight, fabric-like materials that come […]

Horizontal siding panels are usually 12 ft. 6 in. long, though some companies make longer panels. Siding is sold by the square, or the number of panels needed to cover 100 sq. ft. To estimate how many squares of siding you’ll need, calculate how many square feet of wall surface you need to cover, add […]