Cladding the facade with siding - the best step-by-step DIY installation instructions

The construction of a private house implies not only its interior decoration, but also the cladding of the outer part, that is, the facade. The most popular solution today is siding, that is, panels of different materials with a lock and an edge. It has a number of valuable advantages, excellent performance and attractive appearance. Siding can be smooth and glossy, imitate the structure of wood or stone, so it will perfectly fit into any landscape. The most important thing is to choose the right material and lay it according to all the rules.

Types of siding panels

Depending on the material from which the siding is made, it can be wood, polyvinyl chloride (vinyl), acrylic, fiber cement or metal (steel, zinc, aluminum ). All types of finishes differ in cost, durability, resistance to all kinds of damage and other characteristics.

When it comes to color solutions, the most common are pastel materials - they are much cheaper than bright siding (this is due to the addition of expensive components that prevent the finish from fading in the sun).

The vinyl material should be said separately, as it is considered the most practical and inexpensive option for finishing the facade of any building. It is made of PVC panels and is presented in a large assortment in any specialized store or in the construction market. In addition, vinyl panels are quite easy to install, so you can do all the work yourself.

Siding prices

Siding

Varieties and elements of siding

In order not to make a mistake when choosing and installing siding, it is necessary to deal with the varieties and additional elements of the material.

Depending on the design characteristics and installation features, siding is divided into several types.

Horizontal and vertical siding

Vinyl panels can be horizontal or vertical. The second type is less familiar to the domestic consumer, since in Russia, horizontal panels are more often used for finishing buildings.

To choose the right type of material, you should take into account some structural differences between horizontal and vertical siding.

1. Different geometry and configuration of elements.

   Theoretically, vertical siding can be mounted horizontally, but without the appropriate experience and knowledge, it is quite difficult to do this - the installation may end up being incorrect, which will lead to water leakage and other troubles.

2. No additional perforation. There is perforation at the bottom of the horizontal panels, while the vertical ones do not.

Otherwise, these types of siding practically do not differ from each other, since they are made of the same material, and also require compliance with certain rules during installation.

Wall panels

This type of material is intended for cladding vertical surfaces and, in turn, is divided into several types:

• ship board;

  

  Ship board

• herringbone (single, double, triple);

  

  Siding Herringbone Docke D5C

• block house.

  

  Blockhouse

The main difference between the ship board and the herringbone is the presence of a characteristic break in the center of the panel, with the first type being the most common in Europe and Russia, and the second in the United States and Canada. Siding types are marked with the Latin letters T (triple herringbone), D (double) and S (single). The lettering is followed by a number that denotes the width of the panel - for example, the mark S 4.5 denotes a single herringbone panel with a bend thickness of 4.5 inches (approximately 114 mm).

Block house prices

Block house

Basement siding

Basement siding is a material used to clad the bottom of a building. They are twice as thick as conventional cladding panels, due to which they are characterized by increased strength, not subject to deformation and all kinds of damage. At the same time, the mass of the panels is very small, that is, for their installation, it is not required to additionally strengthen the foundation.

Soffit

Soffit is essentially a ceiling siding, which is used to cover the protruding part of the roof and finish ceilings in attics and attics. Such panels not only give the building a perfect and finished look, but also protect the space under the roof from precipitation, insects, etc.

Structurally, they are divided into two- and three-lane, and in addition, they are perforated, mixed and non-perforated.

1. Perforated soffit is used to cover roof overhangs in any buildings. The holes create normal ventilation and air circulation, which is especially important in cases where solid material (for example, bitumen) was used for the installation of the roof.

   

   Perforated soffit

2. Panels of mixed type have not solid, but partial perforation. The holes are in the center and there are solid stripes on both sides.

   Any building can be sheathed with similar structures.

   

   Perforated corrugated soffit

   

   Roof soffit

3. Non-perforated material is used for finishing cornices and pediments of those buildings that do not need to be ventilated, that is, gazebos, awnings, etc.

   

   Soffits for the roof

Spotlights prices

Spotlights

Additional elements

For siding cladding to look attractive, it is necessary to use not only panels, but also profiles and accessories that give it a complete look.

These additional elements include:

• starting profile is used for installing the first row of panels, from which installation work begins;
• finishing profile for fixing the row under the roof;
• the outer corner and the inner corner cover the edges of the cladding panels laid on the outer and inner corners of the building;
• J-bevel is used for cladding the top of the facade and gives it a finished appearance;
• J-profile is an accessory used in conjunction with J-bevel;
• H -the profile connects the panels in the middle of the wall, closes their edges and is used to implement all kinds of design solutions;
• molding is a cross between the finish and J-profile, and is necessary for fastening the vertical sheathing at the transition to the spotlights;
• window profile is used for facing window and door openings;
• the role of the drainage cornice;
• the platband is necessary for decorative finishing of door and window openings;
• the slope is an auxiliary profile used in combination with the platbands;
• the edging profile provides cover for connections and joints between panels, and can also replace the starting profile or vertical panels.

It should be noted that all of the above accessories for siding panels may differ in width, length and configuration, and these characteristics are unique not only for the products of a particular manufacturer, but also for each line of facing material.

Installation of siding

Installation of siding panels is a fairly simple, but painstaking and time-consuming task that requires not only accuracy and accuracy, but also strict adherence to installation rules.

General rules

The technology and sequence of installation of siding panels depends on the characteristics of the material and surface, but there are several general points that should be kept in mind when performing work.

1. Installation of siding can be carried out in three ways: on an aluminum surface, directly on the facade and on the crate. The first method has one serious drawback - a high price, and it is possible to mount the siding directly on the walls of the building only if they are made of wood and have a fairly flat surface. The easiest way to install the panels is to pre-clad the facade with crate, which will not only make the cladding even and neat, but also speed up the work.

   

   Fastening the siding to the crate

2. In the case of log buildings, all cladding works are carried out only when the structure completely shrinks ...
3. Vinyl panels are recommended to be attached exclusively to factory holes - do not punch the material, as this may adversely affect its service life.

   

   How to work with siding

4. Wooden elements are fastened with galvanized hardware, otherwise the wood will quickly rot.

5. For beginners, it is better to start installation from the back of the facade, so that by the time you move to the front, the person has already developed some experience and skills.
6. Installation of siding panels is carried out from the rear corner with an overlap in rows from top to bottom, which makes the joints between them less visible.
7. When carrying out work, it is necessary to control the evenness of every third installed row, otherwise all the others will also be skewed.

   

   Do not forget to control the horizontalness of the panels

8. A very important point is that under the influence of temperature, the panels can expand and contract - if incorrectly calculate the strength of the fasteners, the panels may subsequently deform.
9. Fasteners are driven exclusively into the center of the factory hole.

   If this is not possible, you should carefully widen the hole with a puncher (you cannot drive nails into the end of the hole, otherwise you can seriously damage the panel).

   

   Error 1. Installers screw the self-tapping screw not into the center of the perforation

10. Siding elements do not need to be nailed tightly - they should move slightly from the side to the side.

    

    Error 2. Installers screw the self-tapping screws all the way into the perforation, this cannot be done

11. When attaching the panel to the frame, no need to press on up or down: the force is applied from the bottom up until the connection of the upper element snaps into the lock of the lower one.

12. At the joints of the cladding panels with additional elements, a gap of 6-12 mm should be left. If work is carried out at low temperatures, the gap width should be at least 10-12 mm.

    

    Remember thermal gaps

    

    Thermal gaps

13. The fasteners should be driven in as straight and straight as possible so that the panels do not deform or warp.
14. If a crack appears on the panel, it is better to replace it with another one, as the crack will expand over time.

The process of installing siding panels consists of several stages, and they must be performed in a specific sequence - only in this case the result will fully meet expectations.

Prices for popular models of screwdrivers

Screwdrivers

Step-by-step instructions for installing siding

Installation of siding begins with calculating the required amount of material. To do this, you can use special calculators on construction sites or a simple formula. The building should be broken down into simple geometric shapes, their areas should be measured and the resulting numbers should be summed up.In addition, it is necessary to draw up a detailed diagram of the building cladding, which will indicate all the necessary profiles and accessories, as well as their location. It should be remembered that approximately 10% of the total material will be used for trimming and trimming, and if the work is done for the first time, some elements may be damaged.

After purchasing siding, you can proceed to the main stages of work, and the first of them is the preparation of improvised tools and materials.

Stage one. Preparation of tools and materials

Siding panels for installation and materials for the manufacture of the battens must be absolutely intact, without cracks, chips and flaws. If the work is planned to be carried out in the winter, the siding should be allowed to "lie down" outside at a temperature of at least 15 degrees.

In addition, you will need to prepare fasteners (screws, nails, staples) that will not fit into the material less than 20 mm, and a range of tools needed to clad the building.

1. Electric saw. To speed up the cutting of siding, it is best to use an electric saw (hand or stationary), with the blade set to reverse (when working with wood, the tool is used as usual). If installation is carried out in a cold season, move the blade as slowly as possible.
2. Shears for cutting metal. Polyvinyl chloride and other materials from which siding panels are made (especially for polyvinyl chloride) are quite simple to process, and with the help of such a tool, you can easily give the panels the desired shape.

3. Punch. Required for drilling holes for fasteners.
4. Punch. It is used for punching holes (so-called hooks) on the sides of panels when installing siding under the roof or under the openings.
5. Tool for removing siding.

   It happens that when working with panels it is necessary to dismantle one or several of them, so it is better to get the necessary tool in advance, something like a hook.

In addition to all of the above, you should prepare a hammer, jigsaw, level, tape measure and a piece of chalk to perform the work, and it is better to protect your eyes with special glasses.

Stage two.Surface preparation

Proper preparation of the walls is a guarantee that the siding will look neat and attractive. It is best to mount the panels on top of the moisture-proof material (it is not necessary to lay the waterproofing, but experts recommend protecting all the places where the siding will come into contact with the building walls and holes).

Before starting work, the old finish must be dismantled from the surface, as well as all elements that may interfere with the installation: shutters, gutters, etc., and the surface of the walls must be cleaned of dirt and dust.

Stage three. Making the battens

Before installing the battens, check the reliability of all building elements: for example, replace all loose and broken boards. For the construction of the frame for siding, dry and straight bars of appropriate sizes (usually 4x6 cm) are taken without signs of rot, stains or deformations, and they should be pre-treated with antiseptics and fire retardants (substances that prevent combustion).

A more reliable, but rather expensive solution is a galvanized profile, which is mounted in the same way as a wooden frame.

If horizontal siding is used for cladding, the frame guides are fastened vertically, and vice versa. The distance between them should be 30-40 cm (in regions with difficult weather conditions - about 20 cm). Additional slats are installed around door and window openings, below and above the facade, as well as where additional accessories (for example, lamps) will hang.

All parts must be mounted evenly, from time to time checking them with a level.

You can fasten the lathing elements in any way, but ordinary nails are the best option. If the frame is mounted on concrete or brick, holes should be made in the walls with a puncher in advance. Places where siding will come into contact with building materials should be reliably sealed to protect them from moisture and frost.

Stage four. Installation of panels

The most important stage of building cladding is the installation of panels on the crate.

It should be carried out as accurately and accurately as possible, in compliance with the rules listed above. The actual algorithm for installing siding panels is as follows.

Step 1. Determine the point from which the installation will start. To do this, find a point in the lower guide of the frame, step back 50 mm from it, put a mark and screw in the self-tapping screw slightly.

Move consistently along the perimeter of the building, continuing to mark and screw in the screws. They also need to be screwed into the corners of the building.

Step 2. Pull a string between the corner marks, mark on the battens of the battens the places where the corner profiles will be installed (it is with them that the installation begins). Attach a profile to the corner of the frame and place the marks along the edges with chalk, and then attach it to the crate.

The rest of the corner profiles, external and internal, are fastened in the same way, and the fastening must be started from the upper hole, from top to bottom.

Step 3. After the corner elements are installed, you can proceed to the installation of accessories on window and door openings: platbands, ebbs and finishing strips.

Step 4. Moving along the rope perimeter, make a 6 mm indent from the edges of the corner profile and attach the start profile and then the first start panel.

If it is attached correctly, all the rest of the siding will also fit as it should. Be sure to leave a centimeter gap between the elements to compensate for possible thermal deformation of the vinyl. Do not fasten the panels too tightly - there must be a gap of at least 1 mm between the head of the fastener and the surface of the material. Also, do not pull the panel upwards, otherwise it may crack or deform.

Step 5.

After attaching the accessories, installation is performed cladding panels, which is performed from the bottom up, starting from the starting ones. The panel is inserted into the first in a row and mounted to the frame with hardware, and they must be driven in, starting from the center and moving towards the sides. The panels should be placed one on top of the other in height: the lower lock of the higher element enters the lock connection of the lower one. Panels can be assembled into sections of arbitrary height and width, depending on the design solution. If the panel covers the opening of a window or door, it is necessary to cut off the extra piece so that it fits between the casing or other accessory.

Step 6. The last top row is installed only after finish line. It is necessary to nail the J-profile close to the roof, measure the distance between its lower part and the panel lock of the penultimate row. Subtract 1-2 mm from the obtained figures for the gap.Take the whole panel, mark it so that it fits between the J-profile and the bottom panel, cut off the top part together with the lock.

Step 7. On the top of the prepared panel, create so-called hooks every 20 cm - make small cuts and bend them to the front side. Insert the cut part into the bottom panel and snap it into the lock joint with a slight movement.

Step 8. The final step is facing the roof gables.

The work is carried out as follows: the J-profile is attached along the corner of the pediment (if more than one element is required, you need to attach the second 2 cm overlap).

Step 9. Measure the angle slope the roof and cut the siding appropriately. Most likely, the last panel will have to be nailed with a fastener. This is the only case when it is allowed to drive a nail or screw a self-tapping screw directly through the panel.

This is where the installation of siding panels is complete. If everything was done as needed, the result of the work will be an aesthetic, reliable and durable cladding.

It should be noted that vertical siding is installed in a similar way. The only difference is that the lathing for its installation should not be vertical, but horizontal.

Dismantling of damaged panels

If the panel has been damaged and a new one must be replaced, work is performed as follows .

..

1. Insert the dismantling hook between the two panels: the damaged one and the one above.
2. Hook the lock and pull the tool down along the edge to release the damaged panel.
3. Pull out the fasteners with a nailer - if they are too tight, you can simply drive them into the frame members.

4. Remove the panel, put a new one in its place and fix it with hardware.
5. Using the same hook, slide the top panel onto the lock when laid down, and snap it into place.

Caring for siding panels

Maintenance of siding panel cladding is much easier than maintenance of other cladding. It needs to be rinsed from time to time with a hose, and use a soft brush or rag to remove stubborn stains. In order not to damage the material, do not use abrasive household products and hard tools at hand.

In addition, you should not clean siding with chlorine bleach, organic solvents, substances that contain acetone or are used to polish furniture. Contaminants from its surface are well removed with a solution of water with washing powder, as well as any water-based cleaners. If you need to remove the chewing gum from the panel, you can use a solution of water and vinegar.

Siding is one of the most modern, practical and inexpensive facing materials for facades of any buildings. In addition, as you can judge from this article, the installation of siding panels is a painstaking but doable task, so we can confidently say that finding the best solution for your own home will be very difficult.

Video - Installation of siding