Installing vinyl siding can have a major impact on the overall look of your home’s exterior. Not only does it improve your curb appeal, but it can also increase the value of your home. In order to save time and money, you may wonder if you can install new vinyl siding over your old/existing siding. Let’s take a look at whether this is possible and something that you should consider.
You can put vinyl siding over old/existing siding as long as the original siding is still in good condition and is tightly secured to the home. If, however, the old siding is bowed, rotted, curling, warped, or delaminated, it will need to be removed before the new siding is installed.
If the old siding is damaged in any way, it’s best to remove all the old siding before installing the new vinyl siding.
Should You Put Vinyl Siding Over Old/Existing Siding?
It is possible to install vinyl siding over your existing siding, but that doesn’t mean it is a good idea for everyone or every situation. In some instances, installing new siding over old siding can lead to serious and costly problems.
Whether or not you should put vinyl siding over old/existing siding depends on the condition of your home’s current siding, as well as the condition of the substrate under the old siding. If you are not sure of its condition, it’s best to start fresh and remove the old siding beforehand.
What Tools Do You Need To Put Vinyl Siding Over Old/Existing Siding?
If you do decide to install vinyl siding over old/existing siding, you will need some tools to get the job done right.
To install vinyl siding over old/existing siding, you will need about the same tools as if you were installing the siding on new construction. These tools include a tape measure, square, folding ruler, level, screwdriver, hammer, pliers, line chalk, saw, and tin snips.
Keep in mind, however, that the exact tools needed may vary from one situation to the next and the tools you need for your project could be different than the tools needed to install siding on a different home.
What Preparations Do You Need To Put Vinyl Siding Over Old/Existing Siding?
Installing vinyl siding requires more than simply slapping the vinyl onto the exterior of your home. You will need to properly prepare the old/existing siding before the new siding is added. If you don’t prepare the exterior of your home beforehand, you could end up with a costly mess.
The preparations needed before installing vinyl siding over old/existing siding varies depending on the condition of the old siding, as well as what the old siding is made from. No matter what, however, you should always inspect the old surface to first ensure it’s in good condition.
You may also want to install a moisture barrier to help prevent water from leaking into the organic materials that are laying under the original siding. While vinyl is good for water resistance, wood siding isn’t as effective and not applying a moisture barrier could cause damage to the original wood siding, as well as the substrate underneath.
How To Put Vinyl Siding Over Old/Existing Siding?
Installing vinyl siding isn’t a job that should be taken lightly. While it isn’t one of the most difficult home improvement jobs and it is something that a do-it-yourself can tackle, there is a right way and a wrong way to install vinyl siding over old/existing siding. Let’s take a look at how to properly install new siding over the old siding.
To put vinyl siding over old/existing siding, you will first need to inspect the original siding for damage. Use furring and foam to fix any part of the original siding that isn’t flat. Some old sidings have bevels that make installing vinyl siding more difficult. Wood siding is notorious for this.
If you are installing a moisture barrier, this will need to be done after the furring and foam step has been completed but before you adjust any openings. Make sure you lay a moisture barrier over all sealed seams to help prevent water from seeping in.
Modifying the openings is needed in some cases, since installing new siding over old siding makes the exterior wall thicker than before. This means that door and window frames may have a deeper opening than they originally had, which can negatively impact the appearance of your home and even lead to structural damage in the future.
Installing the starter strip,which is the strip that will hold the bottom of the initial row of vinyl siding, is the next step in the process. You will also need to make a chalk line to ensure the strip is horizontal and not askew. A J-channel, which is a metal strip that holds the end of the siding, will also need to be installed. The last item that needs to be installed is the undersill trim, which stops the vinyl panels at roof soffits and the bottoms of the windows.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on January 10, 2023.
Now that the starter strip, J-channel, and undersill trim have been installed, you can finally start placing the vinyl siding panels in place. Remember, the panels may need to be cut to fit around doors and windows, so you will probably need a hand saw or power saw to cut the vinyl siding.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on January 10, 2023.