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Siding Pattern

| Posted in Construction Techniques on January 16, 2002 01:57am

*
When I side with vinyl siding I like to use a set pattern opposed to using what is left at the end of a run to start the next row. I start with a full piece (12’6″) for the first row, second row is a half piece (6’3″), third is three quarter piece (9′ 4 1/4″) and finish with a quarter piece (3′ 1 1/2″) before I start this pattern again. This pattern keeps the joints three feet plus away from each other and three rows of siding before a vertical joint is duplicated.

On some walls the first piece may be subsututed with one of the others so that a full piece is not needed when you reach the rake set back.

I have seen siding jobs stair stepped which I don’t care for. Down and back where joints are one row apart all the way up a wall. And the what is handy method of that’ll work.

In my opinion, I’m more interested in what we are putting on the wall rather than what is going in the dump truck.

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  1. Richard_Utter | Jan 14, 2002 07:39am | #1

    *
    It appears that no one else installs vinyl siding or that we are all using the same method.

    1. Mike_Smith | Jan 14, 2002 07:58am | #2

      *rich.. it would appear you're right.. but your technique is still good wether it's vinyl or claps... or fiber cement or decking.. bad and unpleasing patterns can ruin the effect..when planning your layout, do you allow for "hollywood side" also ?

      1. blue_eyed_devil_ | Jan 14, 2002 08:46am | #3

        *Actually Richard, I prefer your method without duplicating that exact pattern. Your joints will line up every fourth course. I prefer to not have any line up exactly above another on the entire wall, if I can help it.I just clip off a foot or so and start the same sequence again. Usually windows helps me to break up a pattern.blue

        1. Boss_Hog | Jan 14, 2002 04:27pm | #4

          *I kinda like the stairstep look. Maybe it's the engineer in me........

          1. Richard_Utter | Jan 15, 2002 05:53am | #5

            *Mike, Hollywood is a couple thousand miles from here, what do you mean by the hollywood side?Rich

          2. Mike_Smith | Jan 15, 2002 08:19pm | #6

            *"hollywood side" refers to the false fronts they use on holywood sets... they only have to look good to the camera view...in a lot of things we do they look good from one angle and not so good from the other angles.. such as the joints in vinyl siding..as you no doubt are already doing.. you usually lay out and install your materials so they look good to the viewer who will most often see them...the view from the front walk.. the view as you walk into a room....the view as you are sitting at the eat-in kitchen counter... yada, yada , yada... doing your lay-outs based on these more preferable views is "the hollywood side"...

          3. Richard_Utter | Jan 16, 2002 01:57am | #7

            *I see. Yes we do install siding in that manner, just didn't know I was in the movies. I can't wait to drop that one on the guy's, it should be good for some confused looks. We are doing a room addition near here that has the all time (*&^%^&*( siding job that I've seen in awhile. I may take the digital camera for some pic's to share. Lap joints on top of each other, inside corners half a lap off, I don't know if this was a homeowner project or some half ass.

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