2 Quick Vinyl Siding Nailing Questions
Here’s what you all need… another question!
I am a remodeling contractor and I enjoy branching out and trying new stuff every now and then and I have happened upon a vinyl siding job.
Here’s my thing. In the past I have hung vinyl siding but not more than a square or two but I was just awarded a 17.3 square job. I am installing it over old asbestoses shingles, so I know that I need to use fir strips but that’s not my main question. I have 2 questions…
First: do I need to set the strips on 16†OC or can I get away with 20†or 24†OC strips?
Second: can I use a pneumatic roofing nailer to attach the siding (I don’t currently own one, but now’s as good a time as any to buy one) or do I need to hand drive them? I figured that I could back down the air pressure a bit to give the little play in the nails allowing the siding room for expansion and contraction).
What do you think?
David.
David H. “Splinky” Polston
Founder of Sawdust, Norfolk, Virginia
Replies
yoy putting any backer over th furring ???
if no 12" OC...
roofing will cost you more in aggrevation and time than it is worth...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
You know... I wasn't even thinking about the vinyl rippeling. 12" OC it is.BTW: The removal of the old siding was the first thing the property owners shot down. I tried to sell the abatement process.David H. "Splinky" Polston
Founder of Sawdust, Norfolk, Virginia
There are attachments you can buy to hang vinyl siding with a roofing nailer. Just backing down the pressure will be inconsistent at best.
Have an abatement company tear off and dispose of the old siding. Don't bury a health hazard.
Bostitch makes an accessory nose for their roofing guns, around 30 dollars. Probably find it on Ebay cheaper. All you do is take the old nose off and put the new one on.
There is a learning curve with it but it speeds up the process a ton. Slide the "nipple" into the nail slot, angle the gun about 15 degrees toward the sky and pull the trigger. This allows for the angle of the roofing nail.
Personally I think 16" OC is fine but check with the manufacture. Definitely not 24" OC.
Regarding nailing, basically you need a positive placement nailer. I wasn't aware there were add on attachments, but that sounds good. Bottom line - ya gotta hit the slots.
16 OC clear span will telegragh really bad unles there is backer..
also a gust of wind will pop the siding really easy id it's clear spanned..
12" nailing is pushing it but should work...... 8 to 10 is better..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
After reading your first post, specifically about the backer, - I stand corrected - or at least will say that I don't know about installing vinyl siding on firing strips.
it shouldn't be but it's done that way...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Around here we foam the wall with 1/2" then side over that.Whats with the fir strips?
The fir strip thing is because of the asbestos siding on the house now. I didn't think you could just nail overtop of this material. I prefer NOT to use fir strips, but I don't think I have a choice. I am open for people to tell me it's okay to do a direct nail over!David (home with the 4 day flew!)PolstonDavid H. "Splinky" Polston
Founder of Sawdust, Norfolk, Virginia
Don't just nail over the old. I asume it is lapped? When your courses fall in the low spots, it will nail too tite, and suck in.
Flatten the wall with fan fold insul or infill w/3/4 foam between furring. Siding is nailed 16 OC all the time, but the wall is flat, and that backs up the unnailed areas.
If ya just fur it out only, Imerc is right. 12''.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Shooting rubber bands at the Moon
asbestoes siding is brittle..
keep this in mind when you nail thru it... pieces will break off and slide down... if several of these pieces get together in the same place bulges will form under the siding...
fan fold or leveler board direct to the siding will work fine and skip the furring...
if....
if you nail to the studs and sheathing (if you have real sheathing) you can get a 8 - 10" nailing schedual..
check to see if you have real sheathing and not Homosote or a like product under the siding to be able to pull this off...
if you have Homosote you won't have anything to hold the nails for the siding or furring strips.. glueing and counter nailing to the siding alone won't work well either..
no real sheathing ya say.. (plywood or the like) and you will have to strip the siding to get an accepticale job...
if you use furring DO NOT use PT.. it will corrode the new siding's fasteners unless you SS roofers and SS rings to fasten them to the house.... also the furring methog will work better if you use a 1x3 and not a 1x2..
you could wrap the house in OSB instead of fanfold, backer board, foam board or furring strips.. you get a flat surface and something to nail to at the same time... probably the fastest way too in the scheme of thing...
at the current price of OSB that may be the cheapest and easiest way out...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Thanks everybody. I'll let you know how it turned out.David (I think I'm almost over the flu) PolstonDavid H. "Splinky" Polston
Founder of Sawdust, Norfolk, Virginia