If your home’s siding needs replacing, you may have considered vinyl. It’s low-maintenance, affordable, and performs decently well in cold climates, making it a common siding material for Alberta homes.
Learn how to install vinyl siding in this step-by-step tutorial, from preparing materials and tools to cleaning your exterior walls and nailing your panels into them.
Next, read about common installation mistakes, the estimated cost of this DIY project, Edmonton climate considerations, and when it makes sense to hire a professional installer.
Can You Install Vinyl Siding Yourself?
Yes, installing vinyl siding yourself isn’t too hard if you have basic DIY skills, know how to safely handle and use carpentry tools, and have a great attention to detail.
If your schedule lets you take on this time-consuming project without disrupting your daily responsibilities, DIYing might be more cost-effective than hiring an installer.
What You Need to Install Vinyl Siding
Start by creating a checklist of all the materials and installation tools you’ll need, then head to your nearest home improvement store and make your purchases. This step ensures work doesn’t get interrupted or delayed because you’ve forgotten this item or that.
Vinyl Siding Materials
- Siding panels that match your exterior design vision
- House wrap (or any other weather-resistant barrier)
- Starter strips
- Flashing
- Corner posts
- J channel
- Undersill trim
- Galvanized or corrosion-resistant nails
Vinyl Siding Installation Tools
- Ladder
- Chalk line
- Tape measure
- Vinyl siding removal tool and pry bar (for making adjustments as you work)
- Level
- Hammer
- Tin snips
- Utility knife
- Circular saw with a fine-tooth blade
How to Install Vinyl Siding Step-by-Step
With all your tools and materials ready, it’s time to learn how to install vinyl siding on a house in 10 easy steps:
1. Prepare the Exterior Wall
Clear your exterior walls of any fixtures, shutters, or other elements that can get in your way. Ensure the surface is 100% flat to get an even look.
Afterwards, install house wrap according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Its job is to protect the siding from the effects of moisture that could get behind it. Plan your barrier around the openings accurately, and make sure the seams overlap correctly (at least 6 inches).
Use plastic-capped fasteners (cap nails or cap staples) when installing house wrap instead of regular nails or staples to effectively cover puncture points. Plus, plastic-capped nails or staples don’t void the warranties of most house wrap manufacturers.
2. Install Flashing Around Windows and Doors
Next, install flashing around penetrations in the wall: windows, doors, and the points where your roof meets your walls. Flashing is crucial for water management, as it channels trapped moisture out, preventing it from damaging your siding’s entire structure.
3. Install the Corner Posts
Before you install the corner posts, J-channel, and starter strip, use your level and chalk line to mark a consistent horizontal line all around the house.
This reference line marks where your starter strip will go, and you can use it to outline with the chalk where your corner posts and J-channel will be.
Don’t install the corner posts blindly; initial marking with your chalk ensures all lines are consistent from the bottom up to get a uniform appearance when you’re done.
Only then can you install the inside and outside corner posts, which give you clean edges that you can slide your siding panels into with confidence.
4. Install the J-Channel
The J-channel comes next; install those pieces around doors, windows, and areas where you expect the siding to end. Remember to leave some breathing room at the ends and tops of corner posts and J-channels to allow for the natural expansion and shrinking of your panels.
If you ignore this step, you expose your tightly-clustered network of vinyl siding to buckling as temperatures get too high or too low.
5. Install the Starter Strip
Now, install the starter strip along the aforementioned reference line to determine the height and level of the first siding panel you’ll be placing. The starter strip will interlock with the J-channel along the bottom of the siding panel.
When fixing the starter strip into place, avoid overdriving nails into it, but ensure a secure fastening at the same time.
6. Install and Nail the First Vinyl Siding Panel
Finally, you can hook the lower edge of the first vinyl siding onto the starter strip and carefully raise it into place. Then, drive your nails through the center of each nailing slot. Avoid nailing at the ends to allow for some expansion and shrinking as the weather changes year-round.
Always allow some minor side-to-side movement instead of a tight fit to prevent warping.
7. Continue Installing the Siding Panels
Repeat the previous step to continue installing the siding panels, checking with your level to ensure the lines are consistent and straight.
After getting done with the first course, keep moving up the wall, locking each panel onto the one below it and nailing it at the top portion. Work slowly and carefully, paying attention to how your panels overlap.
Try not to end up with overlaps in a pattern that doesn’t look eye-pleasing. Instead, aim for staggered seams to get a more natural appeal.
8. Install Siding Around Windows, Doors, and Other Openings
Measure carefully, then cut your panels so they’ll fit snugly around your windows, doors, and other openings. Take things slow in this step, as too-long or too-short panels will require extra time for adjustment and corrections.
Plus, if you make rough cuts of your vinyl siding panels around doors or windows, they’ll be easy to spot once the work is done. So take special care when installing siding around these openings.
9. Finish the Top Courses and Gable Ends
Your top courses will likely need to be trimmed to fit under your upper trim, so don’t hesitate to do that instead of forcing your panels into place. Plan for your top courses and gable ends accordingly; you want them to appear intentional, not placed there on a whim.
Here, you’ll need to use undersill trim to fix your top panels firmly into position.
10. Inspect the Finished Installation
After installing vinyl siding to all your home’s exterior walls, step back from your final result and look at it with a critical eye. Check panel movement, confirm clearance gaps between nail heads and hems (ideally 1/32-inch), verify your fasteners, and assess the overall appearance.
Common Vinyl Siding Installation Mistakes to Avoid
For first-time vinyl siding installation DIYers, knowing what mistakes to steer clear of can save you time, effort, and money otherwise spent on correcting errors or buying new materials:
- Fastening panels too tightly and not leaving clearance room, which results in waviness.
- Incorrect measurement strategies.
- Poor cutting of vinyl panels, making your finished result look rough and unprofessional.
- Prep work done in a rush (or skipping essentials like house wrap or flashing).
- Uneven alignment of panels due to inconsistent or crooked reference lines.
- Cutting your panels with a regular saw blade, leaving their edges jagged.
How Much Does Vinyl Siding Installation Cost?
The cost of vinyl siding replacement varies depending on the type of siding being removed, the profile of the new siding, the colour of the new vinyl, and the trim options selected.
Horizontal vinyl siding profiles, such as Dutchlap (Designer) or Traditional (Lap), typically cost CAD $6–$9 per square foot for labour and materials. Board and Batten (Vertical) vinyl siding costs $7–$10 per square foot, while vinyl shake costs $12.50–$15 per square foot.
The cost of removing and disposing of existing siding also varies by material. Existing vinyl siding typically costs $1 per square foot to remove and dispose of. Wood siding costs $2–$3 per square foot, while stucco costs $8–$15 per square foot.
Colour can also affect pricing. Lighter colours cost less, while darker colours typically have a $0.50 per square foot price difference.
Trim choices can also affect the total cost. Homeowners may choose options such as aluminum capping around windows and doors, upgraded aluminum corner posts, aluminum trim across the gable (belly band), or aluminum trim along the soffit line (shadow band).
Overall, vinyl siding replacement costs approximately CAD $9–$14 per square foot installed.
Installing Vinyl Siding in Edmonton’s Climate
Edmonton is known for its freezing winters, with up to 127 cm of snow per season on average and high winds. The summers are scorching hot, with sunlight that’s only gotten more severe in the past few years.
What does this information mean for your vinyl siding installation project? Here are some important considerations to keep in mind:
- Try to install your siding in fair weather; late spring or early fall should work perfectly.
- Steer clear of mid-summer to avoid the effects of intense heat and sunlight exposure: peeling and discoloration.
- Similarly, deep winter with its high moisture levels, increased chances of hail, and powerful winds jeopardizes your installation efforts.
Why Professional Vinyl Siding Installation Matters in Edmonton
Many homeowners lack the hands-on experience needed to install vinyl siding properly, while others simply don’t have the time to take on such a demanding project. Even experienced DIYers may find that their busy schedules make it difficult to commit the time needed for the job.
This is where professional vinyl siding installation comes in handy, especially in Edmonton’s extreme climate. Leaving installation to the experts means every effort will be made to ensure your siding remains firm in the face of high UV exposure, precipitation, and strong winds.
Also, a trained team of installers will source high-quality materials from trusted suppliers, use industry-grade tools, and make quick, clean cuts to the panels without a moment’s hesitation. Their naturally efficient workflow ensures the project is finished in a timely fashion.
While DIYing your vinyl siding is more budget-friendly, hiring installers takes the guesswork out of the equation and gives you more peace of mind.
Professional Vinyl Siding Installation in Edmonton
Since you’ll be subject to Edmonton’s unforgiving climate, you need a service provider who’s familiar with Alberta home requirements and confident in their installation processes. Contact Let It Flow Exteriors: Edmonton’s trusted exterior services specialists.
Our team is ready to handle vinyl siding installation from start to finish. They’ll take care of the initial inspection of your exterior walls, estimation of all costs involved, surface preparation, fixing the panels into place, and cleaning up afterwards.
Give your home that new look today, and don’t worry about the tough weather!
FAQs
How long does it take to install vinyl siding on a house?
The duration of your vinyl siding installation ultimately depends on the size of your home and whether you’ll need extra time to take down your old siding or make surface repairs.
Typically, you should expect a professional crew to take 3–7 days to get the job done. On your own, it could take longer: 5–10 days if you work full-time or 2–3 weeks if you’re limited to the weekends.
Can vinyl siding be installed over existing siding?
Yes, vinyl siding can be installed over existing siding, but it needs to follow certain criteria first.
The existing surface has to be 100% flat and even, free of water damage, mould, mildew, and pest damage, and firmly secured to your exterior walls.
Does vinyl siding need insulation underneath?
No, vinyl siding doesn’t require thermal insulation underneath. However, it needs a weather-resistive barrier to prevent the accumulation of moisture beneath it, which is where house wrap comes into play.
Can vinyl siding be installed in cold weather?
Yes, vinyl siding can be installed in comparatively cold weather, but not lower than 4°C (40°F) because that’s when the vinyl gets too stiff. Even low-temperature caulks won’t cure properly at too-low temperatures.
If you’re asking about Alberta’s cold, with extreme winter temperatures that might hit -46°C to -54°C, then the answer is no.
How long does vinyl siding last?
Standard (builder’s grade) vinyl siding could last 20–30 years, although frequent exposure to harsh, direct sunlight, hail, heavy rain, and high winds could shorten its lifespan.
More homeowners are flocking to premium vinyl siding instead. Its additional durability prolongs its lifetime to 40–60 years.
Is vinyl siding difficult to install?
It’s not too difficult to install vinyl siding on your home’s exterior walls, but it still requires basic DIY skills that someone with zero home improvement experience won’t possess.
If you lack the time or patience to do that, hiring a professional installer is a more reasonable option that promises top-notch quality and timely delivery.