How to Fasten Vinyl Siding

Unlike wooden siding planks and fiber cement siding, vinyl siding planks snap and lock into adjacent planks on their bottom edge and attach to framing by fasteners on their top edge. Although the special locking edge reduces installation time, the upper nailing flange requires special attention. Because vinyl siding materials expand and contract with regular temperature changes, nails or screws must allow siding planks room for movement. To facilitate natural movement, siding installers place fasteners at the center of the siding's broad nail slots and allow the fasteners' heads to sit slightly above the nailing flange's surface.

Hammer or power drill
Nails or screws
Chalk string line
Line level
Vinyl siding starter strip
Vinyl siding plank

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the installation height of the vinyl siding strip on the wall; while the bottom edge of the strip typically overlaps the foundation, the upper, or nailing, edge of the strip overlaps the wall sheathing. Drive a nail or screw into the wall's corner at the point that represents the position of the nailing strip's upper edge.
- 2
  Latch a chalk string line's tang around the nail's shank. Stretch the chalk line to the wall's opposite corner and attach a line level to the string line. Use the line level to level the string, pull the string taut and snap the line against the wall to lay out a chalk line across the wall's face.
- 3
  Align the starter strip's upper edge with the bottom of the chalk line. Beginning at a corner, drive a nail or screw through the starter strip's nailing slot. Center the fastener within the slot's opening, drive the fastener straight into the wall and allow approximately 1/32 inch of space between the strip's nailing flange and the fastener's head; installing fasteners in this manner allows the vinyl siding material to expand and contract.
- 4
  Drive fasteners through the strip's nailing holes across the length of the starter strip; space fasteners a maximum of 16 inches on center. Check the alignment of the starter strip as you nail; the levelness of the starter strip determines the levelness of subsequent courses.
- 5
  Position the bottom, or locking, edge of a vinyl siding plank beneath the bottom edge of the start strip. Snap the bottom edge of the plank into the bottom edge of the starter strip to lock the plank in place. Snap the plank into the starter strip across the wall's length.
- 6
  Press the vinyl plank's upper, or nailing, flange against the wall. Beginning at a corner, drive nails or screws into the plank's nailing slots. Center the fasteners in the slots, drive the fasteners straight and leave approximately 1/32 inch between each fastener's head and the plank's surface. Install fasteners along the plank's length at a maximum of 16 inches on center. Install subsequent planks by locking the planks' bottom edges and nailing the planks' flanges to the wall.

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