How to Install Vinyl Siding in a Gable

Vinyl siding on your home raises its value and allows you to choose from a wide array of virtually maintenance-free colors. At a competitive cost, vinyl siding allows homeowners to update the look of their home and in many instances, a handy homeowner can install the siding himself. The vertical sides of your home make installation a snap but siding the gables takes a little more work. Once you get the hang of it - you'll be able to install the vinyl siding into the gable like a pro.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. 
    

   Vinyl siding comes in horizontal pieces made to look llike two or three lapped siding boards. The standard variations include double-6 and triple-4, both named for the number of rows and the height of each row. For instance, double-6 has two rows of 6-inch siding and triple-4 has three rows of 4-inch siding. The more rows on one piece of siding, the stiffer the piece will be. In addition to the horizontal pieces, you will need matching vinyl J-mold, the length of the inside gable edges.

2. Expect the siding process of the gable to take at least twice as long as the siding on the straight sides of the house. Since the ends of a gable are angled, each siding piece will be cut on the angle and you will need to work from a ladder or scaffolding, slowing down the labor portion of the project. It helps to have an assistant on an additional ladder to assist with holding and nailing the siding.

3. The angle of the gable is the same as the pitch of the roof. This is the angle each piece of siding must have in order to fit smoothly along the gable sides. On the main portion of the house, pre-made vinyl corners hid the ends of the siding pieces but they are of no use in a gable. Measure the inside edge of the gable, just under the soffit, from the tip of the gable to the end of the roof. This is where you will cut matching J-mold and nail it into place, flush with the soffit.

4. Use a circular saw with a paneling blade to cut the angle of the edges of your vinyl siding. You can also use tin snips and cut the angle by hand. If you are not familiar with power equipment, use the tin snips.

5. Find and mark your underlying studs before you begin the installation. Unlike a vertical wall, studs in a gable may be on a different pattern. Draw a pencil line down each one. When you can't nail into a stud, make sure you hit plywood boxing. When nailing vinyl siding, leave a 1/16-inch space between the nail head and the wall to allow for expansion and contraction.

Tips & Warnings

• If your siding has a slight warp to it - you probably drove the nails too deep. Use a nail bar and carefully loosen them from only the uppermost siding piece.

[Tippy]

on 12/23/2008 Great article. I've been there! I like to make a template from a piece of siding with both sides cut tot he correct angle. Then I just use it to cut the rest of the pieces.


Thanks.