Vinyl siding is one of the most common types of siding to install for homes in Minnesota. They are relatively cheaper and are easy to install although that doesn’t mean they won’t require skill or knowledge. Vinyl siding installation still requires expertise to properly put them in place.
An incorrectly installed vinyl siding will put your property more susceptible to water intrusion, pest infestation, mold growth, and other issues. But if you have the skills and still want to do the installation on your own, here are some tips to save you from hours of frustration later on.
Use a wider starter strip
There are various starter strip alternatives available for vinyl siding installation. Most people are tempted to use the thinner starter because it is less expensive—but this is actually a bad idea.
Instead of opting for that, spend the extra money on a 3-1/2′′ starter strip. During installation, make sure that at least 1” of the starter strip hangs over the top of the house’s foundation, then drop it as low as you can while installing the strip properly.
The more the starting strip covers the foundation, the better the siding will protect the house from rain, snow, and strong winds.
Leave space on the end
Vinyl siding must be able to move slightly after installation. Because of that, it is critical to cut the end pieces carefully so you have a total of 1/4″ of additional room on both ends of the siding runs.
This is to help with expansion and contraction during the summer months, preventing the siding from buckling, warping, and causing other issues that may be damaging to your property later on.
Choose the proper nails
After the siding is completed, use galvanized roofing nails to keep them firmly in place. Make sure they are at least 2” long, but use longer nails if the siding is going over a rigid foam rather than up against the sheathing.
If the nails are not galvanized, the weather will corrode them faster than it should, resulting in the siding falling off your house. You don’t want that to happen. It will be more costly to repair and replace them by then so from the beginning, make sure you use galvanized nails.
Pull up as you nail
The last thing you want is for your siding to start falling apart after it’s been put in. That is why, when you nail each piece, you should lift it slightly.
Lift the piece up and nail it into place as you go. This helps in securely locking the pieces together and forming a strong bond between the siding sections.
Flash the window bottoms
Before you begin with the vinyl siding installation, it is critical that you flash the bottom corners of each window. Simply cut a piece of felt paper to fit right over the corner of the window and attach it in place with roofing nails.
Placing a tiny piece of roofing felt around each corner can help in preventing water from getting behind the J-channels and damaging the framing surrounding the windows.
Instead, any water that gets behind the channels will roll down the flashing and out on top of the existing siding. Just make sure that the bottom of the flashing extends over the run of the siding just below it, or it won’t work properly.
Need help with vinyl siding installation in Minnesota?
Storm Group Roofing can help! We are Minnesota’s top siding expert and vinyl is one of our expertise. We are trained, skilled, and highly experienced in its installation so it can withstand whatever mother nature throws at it. We always deliver quality results and excellent customer service every time. So call us today to get a free estimate!
