Vinyl or Aluminum Siding Installation

Application Info: Vinyl or Aluminum
Siding Installation

For years, savvy siding installers have been using screws instead of nails to ensure a trouble-free siding job. The reasons are obvious: Nails are almost impossible to set to uniform depth, and siding needs to be able to slide under the fasteners as it shrinks and expands. Screws can be installed to a consistent depth without much difficulty, and if driven too deeply, a hand driver may be used to quickly back it out a fraction of a turn.

Fastener Recommendations: Fasteners for vinyl or aluminum siding should be corrosion resistant to avoid eventual streaking. Fasteners should penetrate the sheathing at least 3/4” (check local codes, though, for special requirements), have a 5/16” diameter head or larger, and have a flat surface under the head to minimize binding. Recommended fasteners for Vinyl siding include our #8 Pan Head, #8 Yellow Zinc Round Washer Head screws, and our #8 Pan Head Stainless Steel screws. If you must use nails, our Ring Shank Stainless steel roofing nails (RS4-0310 for example) are appropriate for installation of Vinyl siding.

Installation Tips: When installing siding, start in the middle of the panel and work toward each end, centering the fastener in the slot. To assure a uniform gap beneath the head, make a simple spacing tool from a scrap of siding with a “VEE” cut in one edge. Slip the “VEE” under the fastener head as it is driven, then remove it to leave a nice uniform gap between the fastener and the siding.