If you own your own home, you don\’t have to hire a professional to install vinyl siding, if you have the right tools, follow the instructions that will come with the siding and have a few friends to help you out, you should be able to do your installation and save yourself some money.

You first need to prepare for the installation. You need to make sure the surface is smooth and in good shape. This would be a good time to replace all the old caulking and repair any rotting or damaged wood on your home. You also might want to consider installing a little extra insulation under the siding. The best would be foil backed which provides a barrier against moisture and will increase the value of your home. Install some furring strips too. This will help to hold your panels in place and give you a good nailing surface.

The trim pieces for your siding is going to go on first. The trim needs to be placed wherever there are going to be panel pieces that will be coming into contact with windows, vents, other walls and doors. This will begin by installing the starter strip. This is the piece of vinyl that will run around the entire house and it holds the base of your first row to the walls.

Now you can measure down for your top plate at each corner and do a chalk line between each mark. Take the starter strip and install it along your chalk line. Make sure to nail in the center of it\’s nailing slots at 10 inch intervals. Make sure to leave a one quarter inch gap between each end of the sections of the starter strip.

Next step is to install your J-channel around your windows and doors. Take the bottom piece and install it first and then do the sides and install the top last. You should miter the corners at a 45 degree angle making sure your top piece overlaps the sides. Now install the corner and outside posts where they are needed.

Take your first panel starting at the bottom and install securely in the starter strip. Push it up until the interlock engages with the strip and fastens in place. Put some nails in about every 16 inches. Now you can install the first row on the wall working your way up the wall installing each panel by interlocking them to each row below.

Horizontal panels need to be overlapped by about an inch. Make sure they are also one quarter inch away from windows and corners. Make sure that you offset the ends of each panel so that no two rows are vertically aligned.

When you fasten the panels leave a gap no thicker than a dime between the head of the nail and the panel itself. Vinyl will expand in heat and contract in cold so you need these gaps to leave room for these changes. Make sure to drive all your nails straight in and never at an angle, center them in the slots and begin at the center of each panel and work your way out to the ends.

A company that provides superior quality products for the Rev