Do Not Face Nail Or Staple Through Vinyl Siding

Depending on who you may talk to there will be differing.
Do not face nail or staple through vinyl siding. Nail or staple i do very little vinyl work but did buy the impulse stapler and found it to be an excellent stapler. Do not drive the head of the fastener tightly against the siding nail hem. Allow approximately 1 32 0 8mm clearance the thickness of a dime between the fastener head and the vinyl. Staples can be easier to apply than nails.
I know a lot of siding contractor that do but it s just easier in the long run. I ve been hanging vinyl siding for 22 years and won t face nail it for that reason. Keeping siding straight and level. For more information refer to page 16 of the vsi vinyl siding installation manual.
Siding is installed with slight overlap between boards a bit like the way shingles are installed. These nails tend to be visible on the. In face nailing a nail is driven through the face of the board driving down through two overlapping layers into the substrate below. Leave 1 32 inch between the nail head and the vinyl.
The vinyl siding stapler gun is g enerally lighter which means gravity will contribute less force when lining up a staple correctly. In the winter those small trim nails pop and the siding will fall off. It dosen t set the staple tight so you have excellent control over the depth of setting. The wider head of a staple will allow you to drive it in a bit off center and still be effective.
Vinyl siding must be attached loosely. Do not nail any siding parts too tight. Do not face nail or staple through siding except for one nail needed to finish at the top of a gable. That overlap is very important when it comes to nailing techniques.
Even the smallest parts like nails and screws make a difference. Do not face nail. But the type of nails you use and your nailing technique is extra important when you install vinyl siding on your home. I guess i should have explained more.
Vinyl is a plastic product so it s a little bit more malleable than aluminum or wood particularly when the sun is shining overhead. I have always bought tools that make the job easier and don t get hung up on will it pay for itself. Nails versus staples is an age old question in the vernacular of construction work. Tight nailing screwing or stapling will cause the vinyl siding to buckle with changes in temperature fig.
Here in nh we have extreme temp. Homes function best when every element works in perfect harmony. Installing vinyl siding with nails vs. Keep in mind siding is only as straight and stable as what lies under it.