Installing the Vinyl Siding

Installing the Vinyl Siding

They started installing the vinyl siding while we were at the beach.

They started on the siding while we were at the beach. - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Project Small House
They started on the siding while we were at the beach.

We drove to the house before we drove home. Everything was set up. Were they working after 7:00 on a Sunday? There were no trucks. We called and no one answered. Did something happen and they had to drop everything and rush off the job? No. This crew just leaves at the end of the day. They drop everything and drive away. They say they have never had anything stolen. Maybe people see everything and think they must be there somewhere. We did.

Installing the Vinyl Siding - Building Our Schumacher Home - Project Small House
Installing the Vinyl Siding

We researched a lot of options before we decided on vinyl siding. Even after we were sure this was the most low maintenance practical choice, I was still not sure.  We love it!

The post on how we chose vinyl siding over lots of other options is here: Choosing the Siding >

The crew that installed the siding was the most cheerful bunch of guys I’ve ever seen. They sang and laughed every time I was there.

“They’re gonna put me in the movies. They’re gonna make a big star out of me” is still going through my head. They started singing it every time they saw me taking pictures.

One guy was new and they kept telling him what a good job he was doing. They all just really seemed to be enjoying working together.

Quality Control - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Project Small House
Quality Control

They were very conscientious. One place had a slightly crooked cut to it. The supervisor checked everything and marked it to be replaced. Gotta say, we are really impressed with their work.

How Vinyl Siding Is Installed

Starter strip at the bottom of the wall - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Project Small House
Starter strip at the bottom of the wall

Here is what they did. First, they nailed down this starter strip along the bottom.

Corner Posts and Decorative Trim on Front - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Project Small House
Corner Posts and Decorative Trim on Front

Then they nail these pieces, corner posts on the sides. The corner posts start just below the starter strip and run to just under the eaves. They made sure the corner pieces were perfectly square and straight.

J-channel flush against the window casing with the dutch lap vinyl siding fitted in, then nailed. - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Building Our Schumacher Home - Project Small House
J-channel flush against the window casing with the dutch lap vinyl siding fitted in, then nailed.

J-Channel

They put J-channel around windows and doors. It was flush against the window casing.

Guys worked from the ground up. There was a crew on every wall of the house working up as high as they could. They would call out their numbers and there was a guy on either end of the house cutting the vinyl for them.

Measuring and cutting the angles - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Project Small House
Measuring and cutting the angles

These guys were working on each side of the house.

Cutting Vinyl Siding - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Project Small House
Cutting Vinyl Siding

They call out their numbers and he cuts the vinyl. In a lot of places he figures and cuts angles.

Then a guy runs the vinyl to the guy nailing it to the wall.

They leave a little bit of a gap. This is because vinyl siding expands and contracts with the temperature. The pieces are overlapped a little bit. There are slots in the vinyl siding for the nails.

Once they got higher than they could reach, they set up ladder jacks and scaffolds. They install the siding from the platform.

Pulling up A Piece of Siding - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Project Small House
Pulling up A Piece of Siding

The guy attaches the piece of vinyl to a bungee to pull up.

Soffit

This is the soffit. Some areas have vent holes, other areas are solid. The soffit is cut, then fitted into J-channels.

Putting up the Soffit - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Project Small House
Putting up the Soffit

They nailed J-channel under the fascia. Then they installed these white pieces. It looks like they just popped it between the channel pieces. They are vented for some areas. They followed the house plans to know what went where.

Fascia

Putting up the Fascia - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Project Small House
Putting up the Fascia – Before

There are lots of little pieces that have to be measured, cut, bent and fitted together.

Installing the Vinyl Siding - Building Our Schumacher Home - Project Small House
Putting up the Fascia – After

The fascia is made of aluminum. The aluminum came in a flat coiled strip.  They took the measurements and bent the fascia pieces to fit perfectly with this machine.

Siding brake to bend aluminum trim coil to create the fascia - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Building Our Schumacher Home - Project Small House
Siding brake to bend aluminum trim coil to create the fascia

This machine bends the aluminum.

Ceilings

The front porch ceiling with the completed fascia and soffit - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Building Our Schumacher Home - Project Small House
The front porch ceiling with the completed fascia and soffit

Here the vinyl is finished on the front porch.

Ceiling in the carport - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Building Our Schumacher Home - Project Small House
Ceiling in the carport

First they nailed up wood.

Ceiling in the carport - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Building Our Schumacher Home - Project Small House
Finished ceiling in the carport

The porches and carport are made out of the same vinyl as the soffit.

Installing the Vinyl Siding - Building Our Schumacher Home - Project Small House
Back Porch ceiling

Then they put in white vinyl pieces.

Putting up the fake vent - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Project Small House
Putting up the fake vent

These vents aren’t real. They are just for looks.

Decorative Vent, Ladder Jacks with Ladder as a Scaffold, The Soffit and Facsia - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Project Small House
Decorative Vent, Ladder Jacks with Ladder as a Scaffold, The Soffit and Facsia

These vents aren’t real. They are just for looks. If they opened them up and they were real vents, they would interfere with attic ventilation system.

Before the corbel - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Building Our Schumacher Home - Project Small House
Before the corbel

At first I thought they put the vent on the front in the wrong place. It looked too low.

After the corbels - Installing the Vinyl Siding - Building Our Schumacher Home - Project Small House
After the corbels

But once they got the corbels on, it looked right. You would think as much as I have stared at the photo, I would remember.

Almost everything is Dutch Lap. The front of the house has Board & Batten above a trim board over the windows.

Next: The Back Porch >