Before beginning any home improvement project, whether it is painting or putting on your new vinyl siding, you need to prepare. This means having the right tools and a plan of action. If you have never installed vinyl siding before, knowing which tools are required can be difficult.
That is why you should make a complete vinyl siding installation checklist like the one below:
Make a Summary of Needs and Equipment
First thing you should do is make a list of everything you have prepared and what you need. Do you think you will require extra materials? Are you anticipating repairs? Do you think you could make a mistake? Once you account for what is needed, you can make a list of all the pieces you have. List all the things, including the trimmings, flashing, fascia, channels, and more.
From there, you calculate the surface area of the walls, dormers, and gables. Do the same for soffits and trim. This will tell you if you ordered the correct amount of supplies or how much you will have leftover.
From there, gather your tools. Here’s the equipment you will need:
- Steel tape measure
- Mason’s line level
- Tin snips
- Carpenter’s square – a tool for marking edges to cut
- Felt tip pens – for marking
- Hammers
- Fine-toothed hand saw
- Power saw
- Electric drill
- Utility knife – for scoring
- Safety glasses
- Staples
- Nail hole slot punch
- Snap lock punch
- Fasteners
- Caulk
- and whatever else you deem necessary.
Prepping For Siding Installation
You will need to make sure your house is prepared for the installation. Depending on the season and the weather, you might have to split up the days you work on the siding. Be prepared for the unexpected.
Here are some steps to follow to ensure you are ready for siding installation:
- Check the local weather forecast. Choose a day when the temperature is favorable and there is no chance of rain (or any other kind of inclement weather).
- Remove shutters, downspouts, and other fixtures from the building. Clear any other items that could get in the way, like decorations, patio furniture, plant boxes, and so on.
- Replace or repair any sections of wood that have rotted or come loose. Repair cracks in trimming and siding that aren’t being replaced. If you have hired a contractor, have them do an inspection at this time.
- Trim or tie back any plants near the house to prevent damage to the new siding.
- Get rid of any old caulking around doors and windows.
- Re-caulk any areas that are susceptible to water damage.
- Check if you need to apply furring strips to walls. These help level out walls that are uneven.
- Order a dumpster so you have someplace to put garbage.
- Section of the work area and keep children and pets away.
- Look at building codes. Make sure you have gotten any necessary permits.
- Install new flashing before siding. Similarly, install drywall or any other heavy materials prior to installing your new vinyl siding. This will help prevent floor-plate compression (buckling) or any other issues.
Conclusion
Follow these tips and steps to make your next home improvement project a success. You don’t need to hire a professional siding contractor to help when you know what to do, but it is always smart to have a helping hand. Just remember that a little preparation goes a long way! With that, you’ll be able to install your vinyl siding with no problems.
