I want to trim out an access hole I cut in my office wall for a room air conditioner. My question involves the vinyl siding. How do I attach the j channel to the osb panels underneath the vinyl siding? I plan on using brickmolding around the opening an then the j-channel around the brickmolding.
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To attach the J channels, you must first dislodge the vinyl siding. After cutting your hole, measure the width of your intended brickmold...to that measurement, add another 1/4 inch. using that final measurement number, hold a level in place that distance from the opening, plumb the level down in place, and mark the siding panels with a pencil.
After marking, dislodge any visible siding nails. Use a siding tool, or a flat head screw driver to pull apart the siding that is curently interlocked to one another. After "freeing up" the siding, use tin snips to cut each panel that you had earlier pencil marked.
Now that the vinyl siding has been cut back, install your brick mould...use trim head screws and screw it to the house sheathing. After the brickmold has been installed, cut your J channel like you normally would for trimming out a window opening, and install the J next to the brick mould. on the sides,Slide the J channel from the bottom up....slipping each vinyl siding panel into place as you go. Drive a few exterior screws or use exterior trim nails to hold the J channel in place. You can anchor the J to the sheathing if possible, otherwise, attach to the brick mould itself. Use just a few fasteners as possible to hide from view. After installing new J around the perimeter, the vinyl siding needs to be snapped ( locked back in place) back together. Use the heel of your hand, and strike downward to re-lock the siding. Drive nails wherever possible back into the siding hem tabs before locking them back together. Don't worry if not every piece is re-nailed...it will be impossible to do so anyway...the J will keep the siding in place. Tension between the vinyl siding and the brickmould will help keep the J channel tight...this in turn will keep the siding held tight as well.
Good luck.
P.S. A pair of both right-hand and left hand snips are very useful in this situation.
Davo