How to Install Vinyl Siding on the Eaves of a House

While aluminum siding was a popular exterior wall covering in the 1950s and 1960s, it was largely replaced by vinyl siding. Although both materials appear identical from a distance, vinyl siding is generally less expensive and not as time-consuming as working with aluminum due to vinyl’s flexibility. A complete vinyl siding system includes a number of soffit panels designed to cover the eaves. The panels are held in place with channels, sometimes referred to as “F-trim” pieces. Installing the panels and F-trim pieces is a straightforward job that requires few tools.

Galvanized nails
Hammer
Measuring tape
Circular saw

Instructions

- 1
  Attach one inner channel to the top of the wall under the eaves. Position the inner channel against the top of the highest siding piece with the U-shaped slot at the bottom of the channel facing away from the wall. Drive galvanized nails through the slots at the top of the inner channel and into the wall with a hammer.
- 2
  Attach one outer channel to the bottom of the fascia board.Position the channel against the fascia board with the U-shaped slot at the bottom of the channel facing toward the wall. Drive galvanized nails through the slots at the top of the outer channel and into the fascia board.
- 3
  Measure the distance between the U-shaped slot of the inner channel and the U-shaped slot of the outer channel with a measuring tape, and subtract 1/4-inch from this measurement to allow the siding to expand and contract during temperature extremes. This measurement represents the length of each soffit panel.
- 4
  Transfer the measured distance to the soffit panels.
- 5
  Cut the excess material away from the soffit panels with a circular saw.
- 6
  Insert both ends of one soffit panel into the U-shaped slots of the inner and outer channels and slide the soffit panels to the opposite end of the channels.
- 7
  Insert the ends of the next soffit panel into the channel slots and slide the panel down the length of the channel slots until it reaches the previously installed slot. Note that the sides of the panels feature slots and tabs. Interlock the tabs and slots to secure the panels together.
- 8
  Install the remaining panels using the same method.

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