How to Install Vinyl Siding on Dormers

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Things You'll Need

  • Vinyl siding

  • Vinyl accessories (J-Mold, outside corner piece)

  • Measuring tape

  • Hammer

  • Carpenter's level

  • Siding nails

  • Pencil

  • Tin snips

  • Chop saw (optional)

Dormers present a siding challenge.

Vinyl siding is relatively easy to install but dormers present a unique challenge with their sharp angles and inverted siding configuration. Since the eave line of the dormer is the widest part, the siding process is the reversal of that used on a gable. Fortunately, there are some easy ways of getting the angle correct without having to be a whiz in geometry.

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Step 1

Install the trim pieces first.

Attach matching vinyl J-Mold to the angled side of the dormer along the roof line and at the top of the siding area. On the front side of the dormer, install a preformed outside vinyl corner piece from under the eave to the roof line, angling the cut in the back for a tight fit.

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Step 2

Level the piece of siding.

Use a professional siding trick to determine the angle of cut for your siding pieces by placing a piece of siding anywhere on the side of the dormer. Make sure the bottom inside corner is in contact with the roof. Level the piece of siding with a carpenter’s level and use a couple of nails to tack it lightly in place once it is level. Since this is going to be a template, it doesn’t matter if it extends over the front end.

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Step 3

The line is an exact duplicate of the roof angle.

Place another piece of siding along the slant of the roof, covering the end of the tacked-on piece. While holding it in place, carefully draw a pencil line along the edge where it crossed the first piece of siding.

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Step 4

Tin snips make cuting angles a snap.

Remove both pieces of siding from the dormer and use tin snips to cut along the line. This line is a correct representation of the angle of the roof and you will use this piece to draw a line on each subsequent piece of siding before installing.

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Step 5

This is your template.

Place your template on top of a short piece of siding that will serve as your starter piece. Draw another line along the angled cut to transfer the guideline for the first piece.

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Step 6

Leave a gap between the nail head and the wall to prevent buckling.

Measure and cut the length of your siding and install the first small piece, using the provided nail strip at the top to secure it to the sidewall of the dormer. When you nail vinyl siding, do not hammer the nail flush with the wall beneath. Instead, leave the head of the nail 1/8 inch from the wall. There is a small flange on the top of the nailing strip that indicates the necessary gap.

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Step 7

Finished siding is level and angled correctly.

Repeat the cutting and installation process with the subsequent pieces of siding. Each one will be slightly larger as you progress but the angle will remain constant. Trim the top from the uppermost piece and tuck it into the J-Mold at the top to secure.

Tip

If your last piece of siding breaks along the middle ridge, you will install an additional Under-Eave molding on top of the J-Mold to hold it snugly and cover the cut.

Warning

Safety first. The steeper the roof, the more dangerous it is. Use OSHA approved tie-off to secure yourself while siding the dormer.

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