How to Hang Siding

Siding is one of the most popular house looks, as well as one of the most original. Once people stopped using logs to build their homes, they were made from siding. The original siding was made from split logs, but current wooden siding is much thinner and more sophisticated than that. Red cedar clapboard siding is probably the best material for the price, so these instructions are based on using that kind of siding. These instructions tell you how to install wooden siding. Aluminum siding or any other material of siding will be installed differently, and will need a different set of instructions.

Things You'll Need

• Red cedar siding boards (any other wood siding will work as well)
• Chalk line
• Hammer
• 4d nails
• 7d nails
• Tape measure
• Extension ladder
• Felt splines
• Rubber sealant for prepping the walls
• Stapler and staples
• Table saw
• 45-degree scarf joints
• 1x3 plank at least 6 feet long
• Waterproofing membrane

Instructions

1. Measure the height and width all of the walls that need to be covered. Subtract the area of the doors and windows. This is the guide that you will give the lumber yard so they can tell you how many linear feet of siding you will need.Staple the felt splines to the corners of the house, as well as around the doors and windows. Locate the studs of the house with a hammer, and chalk the lines at the stud locations. Bend the flashing over the water table and secure at the studs with the 4d nails. Seal the joints with the rubber sealant. Staple the felt strips around each of the studs. Staple more felt around the water table.

2. Cut 1 ½ inches of clapboard with the table saw. Place this over the water table at the bottom of the wall. Use 7d nails to secure to every other stud. Get a full sized board and place on top of the small strip. It should sit right above the water table. Apply sealant to the corner boards, and fit the siding ends into it. One inch above the bottom of the siding board, nail one 7d nail per stud. For shorter boards than the wall, use the 45 degree scarf joints to join them. Use sealant and nails for this.

3. A swing stick is made so that the boards can be lined up evenly. Use the 1x3 and mark lines about every 4 ½ inches. This matches the amount of exposure that each board will have. Make an arrow at the start of the lines. Make a chalk line at the bottom of the window edge. Set the board on end between the corner board and window. When a line matches the window chalk line, then mark the board lines onto the wall. You may have to tilt the stick to accomplish this.

4. Use a piece of siding that is as long as the wall. Stand it on end next to the marks on the wall and add them to the board. Put it at the corner of the wall and transfer the marks back to the wall. Do this for all corners.

5. Apply sealant vertically at the edges of the walls. Using the wall markers, align the siding boards according to the marks. Make sure to get the edges in the sealant. Nail the boards to the wall as in step 2. When you get to the window, cut a notch out of the siding so that it will fit under the window. If seams are necessary, stagger them throughout the length of the wall. Apply sealants around the bottom of the window seal. Maneuver the siding in place and nail along the studs.

6. Hold the story stick beside the window. Align the marks on the stick with the top of the last clapboard. Transfer the marks to the wall in the middle and ends of the wall. Do this for both sides of the window. Hand siding until the top of the window is reached. Put a piece of 8-inch wide waterproofing membrane along the window casing. Put 3-inch wide flashing over the membrane, and hold it in place with 4d nails. Continue installing siding to the top of the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• This project will go much faster with multiple workers.

• Do not omit the steps of applying the sealant and felt as this is important to the longevity of the siding.