How to Install Aluminum Vs. Vinyl Siding

Trim

• 1

  Nail starter strips into place along the base of the house. For vinyl siding, use galvanized nails and for aluminum siding, use aluminum nails. Insert the nails straight into the house, not at an angle.

• 2

  Install trim on each corner of the house. Use outside corner posts for exterior corners and inside corner posts for interior corners.

• 3

  Mount J-channels around the windows and doors. On windows, start by nailing the bottom trim. Proceed from the bottom trim out to the sides then do the top. On doors, start with the sides. The J-channel's top edges should be miter-cut to a 45-degree angle and positioned so they overlap with the ends of the side trim.

Siding

• 4

  Pick a location along the bottom of the house, just above the starter strip. Place the first length of siding along the base of the house so that the bottom of the course overlaps with the bottom of the starter strip. Place the edge of the siding so it overlaps with the part of the trim that is flush with the house. Leave a 1/4-inch gap between the face of the siding and the end of the trim. Pull up on the course of siding until you feel it lock into place with the J-channel on the starter strip. You may need a helper for this step, especially if you are working with aluminum siding because it is heavier.

• 5

  Nail the siding into the house as you did with the trim. Keep the nail heads loose against the siding so the material is able to expand and contract with the weather. Use a zip tool to pull the bottom of the panel over the top of the starter strip.

• 6

  Install the next piece in the first course of siding with nails. The pieces should overlap by 1 inch. Continue to nail in the first course all the way around the house. Use a circular saw with a fine-toothed blade to cut pieces of siding that are too long.

• 7

  Nail the next course above the first course. Place the siding panel above the first siding panel and pull up so the J-channels connect. Nail the siding into place then use the zip tool to pull the bottom of the top panel over the top of the bottom panel. Continue in this way until the siding has been fully installed.