If you want to upgrade your home, using vinyl siding is a great option that is cost-effective and attractive.
The advantage of vinyl siding is that it can be installed over existing siding without harming the existing material and is a lot cheaper than removing it first.
While metal siding on a home must be removed to install new vinyl, old wood siding can be covered with vinyl siding without being removed. It does take a lot of preparation to install vinyl over wood siding, and it could be necessary to modify window and door frames to fit a wider wall.
Because vinyl siding is relatively affordable, simple to install by DIY enthusiasts, resistant to decay and insects, and never needs painting, it is a popular choice among homeowners.
It is often put on top of wooden wall sheathing in new homes that have been covered with rigid foam insulation and a moisture barrier.
Should You Put Vinyl Siding Over Cedar/Redwood Wood Siding?
If you decide to install vinyl siding over your existing cedar or redwood siding, then there are a few things you should look out for before starting the job.
For the best results, the existing wood siding must be secure to the wall studs or sheathing, in excellent condition, and free from any rot or mold. Defective boards must be replaced. Any door, window, or other trim, such as that on corners, must also be removed.
It is also preferable if the walls are reduced to their bare wood siding so that the surface is easy to reach and free from any protuberances.
Rigid foam boards can be used to provide the level surface that the new siding needs, and if they are fitted correctly, can also add enhanced moisture protection.
Install the foam so that it is sandwiched between the vinyl siding and wood siding by nailing the furring strips to the wall about 16 inches apart.
If there is no moisture barrier underneath the wood siding, the home will need to be covered in polyethylene or some comparable material.
Vinyl must have a moisture barrier underneath to prevent unwanted water getting into the walls.
Typically, a stiff foam is covered with house wrap, which is then fastened in place with broad-headed nails that have plastic washers under the heads. To complete the barrier, it should also have tape at the seams to seal it completely.
To accommodate the thicker walls, you have to modify the window frames, door frames, and other openings.
This is done by measuring the current wall, the vinyl panels, and any foam insulation width to establish how wide the new frames must be.
Once you have the measurements, you can use brick mold (wood trim) or any other comparable frame boards to make up the new frames.
Make sure that metal flashing is installed around the windows and doors to prevent moisture from getting underneath the siding.
Don’t forget to include flashing around the electrical boxes, water taps, or other utilities that may provide a route for moisture to seep into the walls.
What Tools Do You Need To Put Vinyl Siding Over Cedar/Redwood Wood Siding?
Vinyl siding comes in a variety of different profiles and sizes and, depending on the condition of the existing walls, you may require a full set of tools to install it.
Vinyl siding installation requires the use of standard hand tools including a hammer, fine-tooth saw, square, chalk line, level, and tape measure. For eye protection, safety glasses are advised. A power saw will speed things up and a utility knife and tin snips will come in handy too.
You’ll also need a few specialty tools that you can purchase at your local hardware store.
A snap-locking punch is used for the top or finishing course at the top of a wall or under a window. Lugs are punched into the cut edges of the siding using a snap lock punch.
A nail hole slot punch is used when extending the nail hem slot so that it can make contact with a stud. To take into account the expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, the hole is lengthened using this clever tool.
The zip lock tool is used to unlock and lock a panel in place when you are removing or replacing a siding panel. Hook the tool’s curved end onto the buttock’s back lip by slipping it under the end of the panel. Pull the tool down and along the length of the panel to release the lock and reverse the process to relock it.
What Preparations Do You Need To Put Vinyl Siding Over Cedar/Redwood Wood Siding?
While installing the vinyl siding is relatively straightforward, the quality of the job will depend on how well you prepare the existing walls.
Before attaching vinyl siding, every damaged board has to be replaced. Additionally, all doors, windows, and other trim, including that on the corners, must be removed. The surface must be completely smooth, so attach furring strips and foam if necessary and add a moisture barrier if required.
The fact that the outer wall becomes thicker when the original wood siding is preserved is a slight drawback.
This requires that you extend the frames around your windows, doors, and other openings, which may also impact how they open.
In particular, if you have a casement or sliding windows, an additional layer could get in the way and prevent the windows from opening fully.
You also need to repair the flashing around all the door and window openings as well as any electrical boxes and faucets you’ve modified.
How To Put Vinyl Siding Over Cedar/Redwood Wood Siding
Once the proper preparation work has been completed, installing vinyl siding is a matter of following fairly straightforward instructions.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on December 21, 2022.
You must measure accurately before the panels are cut to ensure a neat and professional finish.
To install the vinyl siding, start by attaching the foundational strips that hold the vinyl panels in place. They are made up of the starting strip, the J-channel, and the utility trim. After installing the strips, place each panel in place, keeping the joins away from the doors and windows.
Start by drawing a chalk line about an inch from the ground at the bottom of the wood siding before installing the beginning strip.
To indicate where to start your installation, draw a line around the house in a straight line.
Start installing the vinyl siding strips once the starting strips, J channels, and under-sill trims have been installed. Just be careful not to fully drive the nails into the slots since the vinyl siding strips will stretch and compress at high temperatures.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on December 21, 2022.
Make sure to have all the necessary equipment ready before you begin, since you will need to trim the slats to fit around windows and doors as well. Depending on where they need to be installed, the panels might be sliced longitudinally or across.
Starting from the back corner of the home, install vinyl panels one strip at a time.
When the first panel is level, press the end of the panel into the J-channel, attach the bottom securely to the starting strip, and fix it with broad-headed nails in the middle of the nailing strips.
Panels should overlap by about 4 inches from the front overlap. At each end, on corners, and openings, leave a space of 1/4 inch to give space room for expansion and contraction.
Work around the house if you can – it will be simpler for you to maintain panel alignment at the corners.
The installation method you choose is up to you. However, working around the house as opposed to one wall at a time, guarantees consistency and maintains the rows’ level.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on December 21, 2022.