Vinyl siding installation and movement
My house has vinyl siding. I’m having replacement doors installed and the installer wants to caulk between the siding and the door trim. Is this an acceptable substitute for J-channel?
I also have vinyl shutters that are attached with screws into the exterior sheathing. Do these screws interfere with the movement of the vinyl siding during changes in temperature?
Replies
Caulk is not a substitute for J channel.
Yes they will pin the siding and stop it from moving. Which may not be a problem if the siding can move everywhere but where it is pinned.
Keep looking for an installer.
It's very easy to unzip the siding and nail in J-channel.
I'm only half as dumb as I look.
For the screws, the holes in the siding can be enlarged slightly to allow for movement.
Don't forget to have your installer flash the door head casing.
J-channel isn't flashing, either.
Tell your installer to hit the pavement running and get a real installer!
"...the installer wants to caulk between the siding and the door trim. Is this an acceptable substitute for J-channel?"
No. If you let the installer do it, then we want pics. Would rank up there as one of the hackier hack jobs.
"Do these screws interfere with the movement of the vinyl siding during changes in temperature?"
In theory, yes. But often it does not. As one of the above posts says, maybe there is enough freedom of movement to each side of the shutter.
One of the mysteries of vinyl siding for me is that if you nail it too tight or cut it too long, the expansion/contraction will make it look like crap in short order. But shutters, downspouts and other things are routinely attached without allowance for movement and nothing noticeably bad happens.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.