I am in the midst of a basement remodel and need to install a new dryer vent and bath fan vent through the existing vinyl siding and just realized I’ve never had to go thru vinyl before. (I’ve managed to somehow avoid it for the last 15 years!)
What is the proper technique for installing a new vent cap thru vinyl siding?
Are there “special” vent retrofit caps available for vinyl? (If so, can you provide a source?)
Thanks!
Replies
4" hole saw, if you are using 4" pipe, through the rim joist on the inside of the building drilling out. When the pilot bit goes through the vinyl go outside and finish the hole.
They make a vinyl accessory piece in all colors that I know of that has a louvered face on it. The louvers open up when the fan turns on. This piece has a metal tail on it for hooking your pipe up to the vent cover.
It comes with a trim ring like a J-block does remove the trim ring and put the louvered face against the vinyl and trace out the outline of the face on the siding making sure that is level and plumb to the existing siding. Then make your cuts an 1/8-1/4" bigger in all directions for expansion of the siding.
Then use a siding zipper and "unzip" the pieces of siding the dryer vent goes through and carefully nail it in place. The put some flat aluminum stock under the bottom flange of the vent down onto the snaplock of the piece below so when water passes the trim ring it will run into the bottom flange of the lower piece and out the closest weepholes.
If this leaves you scratching your head don't hesitate to ask me or others what the heck I'm talking about. Good Luck.
In my experiance, go with a 4 1/4 hole saw, as a minimum...
Right you are man, I thought I typed that but I guess I left off the 1/4 part, that sheet metal doesn't hold up well to compression fitting into a hole thats to small.
Thanks for the replies. I was right with Stilletto you until this part:
"Then use a siding zipper and "unzip" the pieces of siding the dryer vent goes through and carefully nail it in place. The put some flat aluminum stock under the bottom flange of the vent down onto the snaplock of the piece below so when water passes the trim ring it will run into the bottom flange of the lower piece and out the closest weepholes."
What is a siding zipper and where can I get one? (Same store that sells sky hooks?)
Fabric store.Actually, any place that sells vinyl siding SHOULD sell them. Can't say that I've ever seen them on the shelf anywhere, though.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
http://www.tapcotools.com/SidingTools.php
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
Home Depot has em for about $5 or so. They are about 6" long, have a red handle and a 1" dull "blade" with a tight bend at the tip to engage the lip of the siding and allow you to "unzip" it, or un-clip it to remove.JT
Send me your address and I send you one if you can't find one. I think I have 5 so giving one away shouldn't hurt that bad. :)