Do-it-yourself siding on a house: is it possible, how to finish it

Siding is made of different materials - vinyl, metal, wood and even ceramic. The work is done manually - first the surface is prepared and insulated. Then they place a starting plank, after which they successively cover the wall with other planks. A step-by-step description of the process and recommendations for material selection can be found below.

Which siding to choose

When learning how to cover a house with siding with your own hands, you need to consider several types of material:

1. Vinyl siding is very durable, lasting up to 50 years. It is easy to install, has an affordable price and a variety of colors. Completely resistant to aggressive chemicals and water. A house covered with this type of siding looks attractive and stylish. However, you need to take into account that the material fades in the sun, although quite slowly.
2. Metal is another way to properly sheathe a house with siding. It is a structure made of galvanized steel sheet. The top is coated with a polymer compound or paint. Thanks to this, the material becomes durable, resistant to moisture, temperature changes and UV radiation from the sun. But it is heavier than vinyl and requires a new coat of paint every 15 years.
3. You can consider how to decorate a house with wood siding.This material is MDF panels, which are made from pressed sawdust and other waste. They are affordable, come in a wide range of colors, and look aesthetically pleasing. But not as durable as the same metal or vinyl.
4. If we cover a house with siding ourselves, we can also consider ceramics. This is a modern material based on quartz sand, cement, plasticizers and other additives. It is resistant to water, temperature and sunlight, so it lasts for several decades. But it has a lot of weight and can break from a blow.

What do you need for work?

When learning how to cover a house with vinyl siding with your own hands, it is recommended to first calculate the cost. It's quite simple to do this:

1. Measure the height and length of each wall.
2. Add up all the wall areas.
3. Subtract the area that covers all windows and doors.
4. Just in case, add 10% to the resulting number.

To figure out how best to cover a house with siding, you need to prepare the following tools:

• screwdriver;
• ladder;
• building level;
• roulette;
• hacksaw for working with metal;
• perforator;
• metal ruler or corner;
• fastening element - screws, staples, nails;
• punch - a device that punches holes in the siding material to make fasteners.

Main stages of pontage

The work is carried out in several stages, usually 2-3 days are enough. Do-it-yourself wall siding begins with the installation of insulation, as well as a waterproofing membrane. To do this, use, for example, polystyrene foam or mineral wool and thick polyethylene film. Next, they begin to assemble the sheathing, install the starting strip, and then cover the entire wall.

Insulation and waterproofing

Sometimes builders doubt whether it is possible to cover a house with siding in the rain. It is better to work in dry weather, since you will first need to prepare the surface, lay insulation and waterproofing. First, the surface is cleaned of dust and the walls are sealed. Then the waterproofing membrane is attached and insulation is placed on top of it.

After this, waterproofing begins again. Moreover, it should not fit too tightly - it is necessary that there is an air gap. If you do everything correctly, you can be sure whether the house is rotting under the siding. Thanks to waterproofing and insulation, an optimal microclimate with a normal level of humidity is created under the panels.

Collection of sheathing

Regardless of what to replace the siding with, it is necessary to assemble the sheathing to clad the house. To do this, proceed as follows:

1. A frame is mounted from a profile or slats, which are placed horizontally or vertically at equal intervals, for example, 30 cm.
2. Additional slats are placed near corners and openings to make the frame strong.
3. Several more slats are installed next to the gutters.

Installation of the starting bar

Installation of siding without insulation is usually planned only in a warm house or in southern regions with a mild climate. In other cases, insulation must be installed. Moreover, the coating itself begins to be made from the starting bar. It is attached along the entire perimeter of the house, departing 3-4 cm from the bottom edge. The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Stretch the rope at the specified height.
2. Set the initial (starting) bar.
3. Adjacent fragments are not placed tightly, but at intervals of 5-6 mm, since an increase in size is possible due to expansion.

Installation of corners

When it is clear what kind of siding to cover the house with, you should start installing the corners (external and internal). They are placed at the junction of adjacent walls. Moreover, the lower edge of the corner should go slightly lower compared to the starting bar. First, the self-tapping screw is screwed into the upper hole of the fastener so that the corner just hangs, and then into the remaining holes.

Each corner must be aligned strictly vertically. The remaining screws are screwed into the center of the hole, but not all the way - you need to leave a small gap. The corners overlap each other by 20 mm so that the structure is strong.

Installation of planks

Now you need to sheathe the openings of the house - the contours of doors and windows. To do this, take J-type profiles and make cuts on the sides and install them on top. In the lower profile, a cut is made at an oblique angle (45o).

Vertical planks are also cut at 45 degrees. The platbands of each element must be connected so that the structure is sealed - the joints must be in close contact with each other.

Installation of main panels

Next, they set the main bars, the sequence of actions is as follows:

1. The first plank goes into the starting profile, then it is fixed to the sheathing. The remaining ones are stacked sequentially. This is the simplest stage that does not require special equipment or skills.
2. If the length of the planks is insufficient, several planks must be joined through an H-profile. It is pre-installed and also fixed to the sheathing, taking into account the intervals at the top and bottom (exactly the same as at the external corners).
3. Installation is carried out sequentially from the bottom bar to the top, as shown in the diagram.
4. “Hooks” are formed on the panel on top.
5. The end strip is fixed on top.
6. This is how a corner is assembled - soffits are placed between the J profile and the molding.

From this review it is clear how houses are covered with siding. The material is very popular because it is easy to install, durable, does not rot and practically does not fade in the sun. Installation can be done without special equipment, but it is important to do the insulation and sheathing correctly. The durability and strength of the structure depends on this.