How to Add on Vinyl Siding Vents

Determine where you plan to cut the opening for the vent. Plan the path of the vent tube from the dryer to the exterior wall. Set the vent opening between a pair of studs, so you only have to cut through the exterior sheathing and vinyl siding.

Drill a hole in the middle of the location where you decided to place the dryer vent. Use the hole as your guide as you finish cutting out the vent hole, using a hole saw attached to a drill. Follow the specifications on the dryer vent’s J-block kit for the size of the hole.

Snap the front panel off the back panel of the J-block. Hold the front panel centered over the hole you just cut. Mark the outer perimeter of the J-block panel onto the vinyl siding. Set the J-block panel aside.

Insert the tip of a vinyl siding zip tool under the bottom of the vinyl siding piece nearest the bottom mark. Twist the zip tool slightly as you pull down on it to disengage the siding’s locking mechanism. Pull that piece of siding off. Continue using the zip tool until you remove all the pieces of siding surrounding the hole.

Use tin snips to cut away the area you marked in Step 3 from the pieces of disassembled vinyl siding.

Center the back half of the J-block over the hole you cut in the wall. Attach the J-block to the sheathing, using galvanized roofing nails. Do not nail the nails securely. Allow clearance the thickness of a dime between the nail heads and the plate.

Run a bead of silicone caulking around the outer perimeter of the J-block to keep moisture out of the sheathing. Attach the dryer's vent tube to the back of the J-block's opening.