Using and Replacing Vinyl Siding

This is a house covered with vinyl siding. (Picture: Exovations)   When vinyl siding is properly selected, and properly installed, it should be indistinguishable from the street from conventional siding or even hardiplank.

    Vinyl siding used to conjure thoughts of trailers and substandard housing, and used to be rather thin.  However, now in both the US and Canada, vinyl comprises a thick durable product, in a variety of styles and colors, textures, which beading to simulate conventional siding, or without. . It is relatively easily installed, and may be easily repaired when damaged.  Now, some very expensive and gracious homes may be covered with vinyl siding.
       One of the benefits to vinyl siding, is its durability and ease in cleaning, hosing or mild power washing. Another is that depending upon the variety you select, and what you place under it, your energy efficiency can increase greatly, which means your utility bills can decrease !   If you are replacing pre-existing siding on a home, or if you are planning to place vinyl over a pre-existing siding, you should contact a certified installer.  It could be disastrous to place vinyl over a home with siding which has dampness, a carpenter ant issue, or worse, termites.   A family who must periodically paint a sided house, may save a fortune by replacing the siding, or occasionally having this siding placed over intact siding below.
         Although most of our outbuildings are sided in wood, many homeowners are choosing to side outbuildings and storage sheds with vinyl siding, and then learning to trim around the windows and doors. This is not only beneficial as a means by which to side one's outbuildings but in terms of learning how to replace siding in the event that you must repair siding on your home.
           Do your research and pick a quality vinyl siding.  Remember that a cheap product take the same amount of time to install and costs the same from a standpoint of a paid installation.  Use the right materials.
      

Vinyl siding comes in long strips which are fashioned as you see above.

As terrific as vinyl siding may be, this is what will happen should you barbecue on a deck nearby the siding itself. Also, when surburban homes have fires nearby, this can also happen.

This is an example of a properly selected, thick enough, vinyl siding, which has been properly installed.  Note the corner trim.

Vinyl siding installation should always start at the bottom of the project. The pieces are secured with a nail gun gently but not tightly as they must shrink and swell with the weather.  Pieces are generally cut using a power table saw. 

This is the Wiss tool for removing damaged pieces of vinyl siding.  It also is invaluable in anchoring them to other pieces after hanging.

This is the Kobalt vinyl siding tool sold by Lowe's.  My son who replaced some of these recently likes this tool for vinyl siding best.  It is relatively inexpensive at around six US dollars.

Each time a new row of two is installed, the lip is anchored to the lower piece using this special blade which can be purchased at many hardware stores.  This is an inexpensive and excellent tool to have should you have a home or building with vinyl siding.  (Picture: DIY Home Network)

This type of damage can occur, not only when one selects a cheaper product, but when one uses a weed whacker too close to the siding of the home itself.

This is an example of warped vinyl siding.  It was applied too tightly to the house, and has warped. Once it warps it cannot be corrected without being replaced.

This is the vinyl siding installation manual for download:

http://chicagohomeprimer.com/editable/uploads/File/Vinyl%20Siding%20Installation%20Manual.pdf