How to Put Up Aluminum Siding
Maintenance-free aluminum siding is pre-coated with a durable paint during the manufacturing process. Aluminum siding offers many design options and features and can be made to resemble multiple wood materials. Aluminum siding is an easy material to work with due to its manufactured nail slots and curved ends for hooking previous courses. Some features that set it apart from vinyl siding are the option of repainting when needed and the fact that it can resemble wood. On the downside, aluminum siding is more susceptible to dents than its vinyl counterpart. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Pneumatic coil gun
- Air compressor
- Hoses
- Tin snip tool
- Aluminum siding
- Aluminum trim
- Rigid foam insulation
- Roofing nails
- Metal drip channel
- Base line channel
Instructions
-
-
1
Fasten rigid foam insulation using washer-equipped nails. Using a hammer, drive the nails into the side of the building. If old siding is present,use rigid foam insulation to mold over the pre-existing material. Use the same method of fastening to the side of the building.
-
2
Using a chalk box, snap a level line around the lower perimeter of the building. The line, called a base line, is the bottom edge to the first course of aluminum siding. Level the siding using a four- foot level or a laser level. Lasers are set on an object or pedestal so that a set point of reference is possible and is economical in siding installations.
-
-
3
Cut the metal base strip and aluminum corner trim to length and install them. Install the metal base strip on the snapped base line around the perimeter of the building. Use weatherproof screws or nails with a hammer or screw gun to fasten the metal base trip. The trim runs from the top line of the siding to the metal base strip, and is fastened to all corners of the building using a pneumatic coil gun equipped with roofing nails or a hammer.
-
4
Use weatherproof nails to fasten drip caps above all door and window casings. Next, fasten aluminum trim around all doors, windows, and any other fixture that does not require siding, and over the metal drip caps. Electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, and other fixture types require prefab aluminum fixture housings. You can purchase these coverings to match the aluminum siding.
-
5
Cut the first course of aluminum siding to length and install it around the lower perimeter of the building. The bottom lip of the aluminum siding is designed to hook under the installed metal base trim. Use the pneumatic coil nailer to place nails through the slots located at the top of the siding. Adjust the gun to allow a small gap between the nail head and the siding, as the siding will expand and shrink due to heat and moisture. This gap also allows the siding to adjust to the movement of the building. Overlapping requires a minimum one and a half inches to provide adequate coverage. Repeat the process to the entire wall until finished.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Cutting the aluminum siding is accomplished with the use of tin snip tool or circular saw/miter saw equipped with a blade to cut metal materials.
