Siding - Materials and Tools

Siding Terms
Nail Flange
Common to most vinyl siding products (includes horizontal
and vertical sidings, soffits and most accessories).
Lock
Common to most vinyl siding products (includes horizontal
and vertical sidings, soffits and some accessories).
Panel Projection
Common to products with multiple faces (i.e. Double 4 or
Triple 3). It is the dimension required for the proper selection
of receiving channels (e.g., J-channels and corner pieces).
Butt Leg / Locking Leg
Common to most vinyl siding products that lock into one
another (e.g., siding into starters or siding panels into
siding panels).

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Starter Strips
2-1/4" Vinyl Starter Strip
Secures the first course of siding to the home. For use with all
sidings except Monogram 46, Monogram 46L, CedarBoards,
CedarBoards XL, and Cedar Impressions.
2-1/2" Metal Starter Strip
For use with all sidings except CedarBoards and Cedar
Impressions.
5" Metal Starter Strip
Designed to be used on remodeling jobs to help level the first
course and span areas that cannot be nailed. For use with all
sidings except CedarBoards and Cedar Impressions.
4" Metal Starter Strip
4" metal starter to be used with Cedar Impressions.
Starter Strip for Insulated Siding
Vinyl starter strip that accommodates 1-1/4" thickness of
insulated siding.
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Corner Starter Strip
Secures 3-1/2" and 5" lineals and quarter round insert to
create a 4-piece corner.
New Construction Window and Door Starter
Butts up against protruding window and door jambs and
overhangs for installation of 3-1/2" and 5" lineals.
Remodeling Window and Door Starter
Holds 3-1/2" and 5" lineals in place around window and door
openings. Used in re-siding applications where existing
casings have not been removed.
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J-Channels and F-Channels
3/8" J-Channel
7/16" J-Channel
1/2" J-Channel
3/4" J-Channel
1" J-Channel
1-1/4" J-Channel
Universal siding and soffit receiving channel for use around
utility openings, under eaves, etc.
3/4" Flexible J-Channel
Specialized 3/4" siding receiving trim; particularly useful
around curved windows and ventilation treatments.
5/8" and 3/4" F-Channel
Receives soffit panels.
2-1/2" Window and Door Casing
A 2-1/2" wide-face J-Channel that accentuates windows and
doors. Designed to accommodate new construction window
flanges and fit snugly against window and door frames. This
accessory is also ideal for gable trim applications.
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Utility Trim
Undersill Trim
Helps secure trimmed siding panels under windows
and eaves.
Dual Undersill Trim
Secures trimmed siding panels under windows and eaves
regardless of the profile or where in the panel face the panel
has been trimmed.
Cornice Molding Receiver
Installed under eaves to hold the Cornice Molding in place.
Does not receive soffit panels.
Cornice Molding
Held in place by the F-channel or Cornice Molding Receiver,
this accessory hides the installation of the topmost siding
panels. With the help of a nail slot punch, topmost siding
panels can be installed with nails every time. Can also be
used under windows. Great for use with Cedar Impressions
and Restoration Shapes.
Vinyl Fascia
Installed with F-channel and Undersill Trim to provide a
virtually maintenance-free fascia board.
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Miscellaneous Accessories
Crown Molding
Used in conjunction with 5" lineals to create a custom
molded window or door header. Can also be used with 3-1/2"
lineals and 3/4" pocket J-channels. Crown has a 2-1/4" top
exposed edge.
Crown Molding Cap
Caps the ends of a crown molding with minimal cutting.
NOTE: Shown already cut in half – one piece makes a left
and right-end cap.
Cornice Molding Cornerpost Cap
Used to cap Cornice Molding over Mitered Cornerposts.
Soffit Cove Trim
(Shown as if secured to trusses or soffit nailers.)
A decorative soffit receiver featuring a 9/16" receiving pocket.
(Shown as if attached to wall substrate. This profile can also be used as an
inside cornerpost. Will not work for all profiles.)
Aluminum Trim Coil
24"-wide PVC-coated aluminum.
Drip Cap
Acts as a flash over windows and doors.
3/8" H-bar
1/2" H-bar
Joins soffit panels. Particularly useful on porch ceilings and hip
roof applications.
3-1/2" Double Channel Lineal
5" Double Channel Lineal
Exposure matches 3-1/2" window and door surround lineals.
Lineal Options
3-1/2" Lineal
For use with a New Construction Window and Door Starter
around windows and doors as a casing. The 3/4" channel
receives siding panels. Can also be used as a cornerpost.
5" Lineal
Two lineals create a corner system when installed with a
Corner Starter and corner insert. Can also be used with a
window starter strip as a window/door casing. The 3/4"
channel receives siding panels.
Quarter Round Insert
Installed with a Corner Starter and lineals as a decorative
corner treatment.
Band Board
7-1/4" decorative trim used with CedarBoards, Cedar
Impressions Rough-Split Shakes, and Northwoods.
Corner Block
Used with 3-1/2" lineals to finish corners around windows and
doors.
Rosette
Attaches to Corner Block as a decorative treatment.
3-1/2" Snap-on Lineal
Used with J-channel.
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Cornerposts
Outside Cornerposts
3/4" Outside Cornerpost – Woodgrain and Matte
7/16" Outside Cornerpost – Woodgrain
1" Outside Cornerpost – Woodgrain
1-1/4" Outside Cornerpost – Woodgrain
with Foam Insert
The 3/4" cornerpost can be used with all sidings except
CedarBoards, D9" Rough-Split Shakes, and Northwoods.
The 1" cornerpost may be used with D9 Rough-Split and
Northwoods. The 1-1/4” cornerpost is used with CedarBoards
and Cedar Impressions Rough-Split Shakes.
3/4" Inside Cornerpost – Matte and Woodgrain
Used where siding meets at inside corners; provides
a finished look.
1-1/4" Inside Cornerpost – Matte
Use with CedarBoards, Cedar Impressions Rough-Split
Shakes, and Northwoods.
Fluted SuperCorner
Fluted corner design with foam backing.
3/4" and 1-1/4" Traditional SuperCorner
Wide decorative traditional corner treatment
with foam backing. The 1-1/4” is used with CedarBoards,
Cedar Impressions Rough-Split Shakes, and Northwoods.
Beaded SuperCorner
Wide decorative beaded corner treatment with a foam
backing and optional beaded insert.
Mitered Cornerposts
Corner treatment for use with Cedar Impressions.
3/4" SuperCorner – Beaded and Fluted
Bay Window Cornerpost
Adapts to odd angles of bay windows.
5" Corner Cap
Used to create corner systems.
Equipment and Tools
Fasteners
Use only corrosion-resistant nails (aluminum, stainless or
galvanized roofing.) Nails should have a minimum head
diameter of 5/16". Staples should be a minimum of 16 gauge.
If screws are used, use non-corrosive, self-tapping, pan head
or washer head screws or oval head with countersunk washer
screws with at least 5/16" diameter head, 1/8" (3mm) diameter
shaft, and at least 1-1/8" (29mm) long.
To determine the length of nail required, measure the thickness
of the sheathing material. Then add at least 3/4" to allow the
nail to penetrate the solid wood substrate (studs or existing
wood siding). For more secure fastening, add 1" to sheathing
thickness. The minimum nail size should be 1-1/2".
Example: If you’re applying siding over 1/2" sheathing, use
a nail at least 1-1/2" long (1/2" sheathing + 3/4” stud
penetration + nailing hem thickness + minimum 1/16" between
nailing hem and fastener head).
To determine the quantity of nails required, complete the
following:
Total square feet of siding required: ___________
(if using aluminum nails) x .005
(if using galvanized roofing nails) x .01
Pounds of nails required: = ___________
For nailing instructions, see page 23-25.
Tools Required
Hammer Tin snips Tape measure Square
Chalk line Level Utility knife Shears
Power circular saw with sharp, fine-tooth plywood blade
mounted in reverse direction.
Ladders and scaffolds
NOTE: If you will be using an extension ladder during
installation, be sure to cushion the upper side rails to
help prevent damage to installed siding.
Cutting table
Portable brake
Essential for bending aluminum trim coil to fit around fascia
boards, window sills, window and door casings, etc. Please
refer to the brake manufacturer’s instructions for metal
bending techniques.
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Transporting and Storing Vinyl Siding
CertainTeed’s standard shipment method incorporates
palletizing and stretch wrapping all products.
• The pallet is a double-faced, reversible, Grade M,
SPEQ®-certified pallet constructed of quality materials
that meet NWPCA Uniform Voluntary Standards
(Sec. 5.1, Table 1).
• Customer racking should be at least 46" deep x 157"
long to accommodate CertainTeed pallets.
• Do not store pallets by more than three units high.
• Vinyl and polymer siding should be stored indoors and
away from direct sources of heat and sunlight. Storing
products outside may result in damage.
If you are transporting vinyl siding to a job site, make certain
to keep cartons flat and supported along their entire length.
At the job site, take the following precautions when storing
panels:
• Store on a flat surface and support the entire
length of the carton.
• Keep cartons dry.
• Store away from areas where falling objects or other
construction activity may cause damage.
• Do not store in any location where temperatures may
exceed 130° F (e.g., on black top pavement during
unusually hot weather, under dark tarps or plastic wraps
without air circulation, or in unventilated storage trailers).
Special Tools
Nail Slot Punch
Punches elongated holes to allow nailing the cut edge
of a panel. Also used to enlarge an existing hole to allow
proper nailing.
Snap Lock Punch
Punches tabs in the cut edge of a panel used as a finishing
course at the top of a wall or underneath a window. The tabs
lock into undersill trim. For best results, we recommend using
an SL5 punch, which is designed specifically for vinyl
applications. You may also use a redesigned and improved
version of the SL5 punch. To be certain you’re using the right
model SL5, make sure it was manufactured after November
1987.
Zip Tool
Locks and unlocks panels.