First Floor Additions: More Room More Happiness
(Part Seven: Vinyl Siding and Shutters – Icing On Your Addition’s Cake)

by: Liz Roberts

Now that your addition is finished.(more or less), it’s time to put the last finishing touches on it. You can now install vinyl siding followed by decorative shutters. These are the icing on the cake, and if done properly, blend in with the look of the main house. Your addition will also be well protected from the weather along with looking professional.

Before you even begin installing your siding, take a very good look at the main building. Does it still has asbestos shakes, aluminum or vinyl siding 111? Then it’s time to consider residing the entire house. Doing this will not only make your home look fresh , it will also prevent mismatched siding if the new siding doesn’t quite match up with the old.

Once you’ve decided on what you’re going to side, then head over to your local siding supplier. (I’ve checked Home Depot out on this and unfortunately they don’t sell siding to the public) Bring exact measurements for what you want along with measurements for the J channels and caulking. Everything will be delivered to your house. When you start, remember to have assistants to help you (at the very most three). Siding a house or addition is not meant for the loner handyman.

If you are re-siding your entire house, then you’ll have to remove what’s already on. Vinyl, aluminum and, yes, even steel siding is not enough strong enough to nail through again. Sheathing that is cleared of all exterior coverings is the best surface to work on if you’re working solely on your addition. There should be a weatherization membrane added that fits as a protective wrap under the siding and on top of the sheathing. This will be wrapped around the home or addition and taped at the seams. Door and window allowances are cut later. Once this is on securely, the next step is installing the J channels that will be installed around window and door openings. J channels conceal the siding’s outer edges. Before nailing them in place, remember to trim and bend them to exactly fit the openings.

Now you can nail the starter strips of your siding’s first course. Use the provided slots to fasten the starter, nailing only to within 1/32nd "of the vinyl’s surface. This allows for the panel to move freely as it expands and contracts with your area’s varying temperatures. Snap the lower edge of the first full row of siding over the lip of the starter strip, pushing up on the siding butt to lock it into place. Nail this into place through the top flange. Position and install additional strips, overlapping panel end joints by a 1 inch minimum and nailing through the center of flange slots at a ninety degree angle. Again leave nails loose enough so that they move with the siding’s expansions and contractions. Mark and trim the siding to fit around the windows and other openings. Use aviation snips (a type of cutter with plier like handles) for vertical cuts and a regular utility knife to score and snap horizontal cutouts.

If you want you can now install decorative exterior shutters. There are several styles that come in a variety of colors to match or compliment your new siding. Again, as with the siding, it’s important that you have someone helping you with the installation.

First hold the shutter in place beside the window. Mark locations for the top screws 3” to 5” from the top of the shutter in the center of the side rails. Locate screws near the bottom edges of the lapped siding to provide more material fore the screw to grip. Repeat this process for the bottom screws marking their locations 3” to 5” from the bottom of the shutter. Depending upon your shutter’s height, you may need to have additional screws. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for further guidance. Any additional screws should be evenly spaced between the top and bottom screws. Now remove the shutter and drill a 3/16th “ diameter hole through its’ face in each marked screw location. Reposition your shutter, using the holes as a template. Mark the hole locations on the siding by starting them with a drill. Drill only enough so that you can find the marks after removing the shutter. Remove the shutter again and drill 1/8th” diameter pilot holes at least 2 ¾” deep at each screw location. Now you’re ready to attach the shutter to the siding. With it back in place, secure it with the provided screws. Tighten the screws only until the head is flush with the shutter’s surface. Some shutter manufacturers include screw caps that match the shutter’s color and snap over the screw heads. If the cap will not stay in place, back the screw out about half a turn and try again. Repeat the entire installation process for all remaining shutters.

Now your addition is truly finished. Sit back and toast yourself and your assistants for creating a great room from the foundation right up to the shutters. Above all enjoy your new room for many years to come.