Metal siding not only improves the appearance of your house, but also gives protection to it. Installation it is easy, if you follow a step-by-step procedure. This article will provide the requisite information on how to install it.
These days, metal siding is preferred by many homeowners. This is because it has many advantages over other types of house siding like wood or vinyl siding. Firstly, it is energy-efficient and is resistant to temperature changes. It means that the heating as well as cooling costs of your home, will be much lower. Moreover, it is a highly durable material and is resistant towards fire.
Take correct measurements of all the exterior walls where you want to put up the siding. The measurements will help you to get an estimate of the quantity of siding materials required. Next, prepare the walls so that the siding can be installed properly and you get an impressive end result. Check out for protruding nails on the wall surface and if you find any, hammer them into the wall. If there is any rotten piece of wood on the wall, replace it. Clean up debris of old paint, putty or caulking residues from the wall. Any dent on the wall has to be filled up with wedges. Then select the right variety of the siding that suits the exteriors of your house.
Installing the Underlayment
Before installing the siding, you have to fix up an underlayment of aluminum foil on the wall which would ensure proper insulation. Select the underlay which has perforations so that the water vapor that forms inside will get an outlet to come out. Fasten up the underlayment with the walls. While doing this, take care that the two adjacent underlayment sheets are overlapped with each other, at least up to two inches. Moreover, give special attention to the corners of the walls and the edges adjacent to the openings like doors and windows as the sheets should be placed on these areas properly.
Fixing up the Siding
This is the most crucial step of the entire procedure. When you buy the siding materials, it is accompanied by a booklet that carries instructions for installation. You must read it carefully and then start the work. While installing it, make sure that each and every panel is placed in a straight line on the wall. For this, you should refer to the eaves and the windows and place the siding parallel to them. At all the horizontal as well as vertical joints, the sheets should overlap two inches with each other.
The sidings have holes made on them which makes the nailing job easier. You just have to put the nails into those holes and hammer them down. Galvanized steel nails of two-inch length should be used to secure the siding against the wall. Do not fix up the nails on the wall too tightly. This is because metal undergoes contraction and expansion when the weather becomes cold or hot. When fastened tightly, its movements will be hampered and the metal sheets get bent as a result.
While hammering, take care that the nail is positioned straight into the wall and not in any angular direction. Another thing that you must remember, is that you should not fix any nail near two overlapping panels of siding. Keep the nails at a distance of at least six inches from these joints. A gap of three-fourth inch should be spared at the corners of the walls for the corner caps.
Handle one wall at a time. Once you have finished installation on one wall, only then move on to the next one. When all the exterior walls are covered up with siding, corner caps should be placed. Put the rims of the corner caps under the border of the siding panels and hammer the nails so that the panels are joined firmly.
Hope now, the procedure is clear to you. If the fixing job is done well, then the siding would last for a long period of time. You can paint the newly installed siding to make it more attractive. To protect the metal surface against damage caused by moisture and weather elements, you can apply corrosion-resistant coats available for the same.