How do I install siding? A person's house is measured, then panels are cut to fit the measurements of the house. If you've ever thought about buying siding for your home, you know there's a lot that goes...
If you've ever thought about buying siding for your home, you know there's a lot that goes into the installation process. The first question you might ask is, "Do I have to install the siding myself?" Different companies offer their own deals, but it's important to go with the company that fits your needs. Scott Seiler, Marketing Director for ABC Seamless with more than 33 years experience in the home improvement business, says customer service should always come first.
"Ours are unique products. We do the whole thing from start to finish so that the homeowner does not have to do anything. A lot of times both spouses are working and they don't have time to do it themselves, so we do it all. We come out to the home and we talk to the homeowners. We show them our model product; then, if they want to go with us, we go ahead and bring the material right to the house. Ours is seamless steel siding," Seiler says.
There are several types of siding panels in stores. The installation of each type varies from company to company.
"With other siding, you have to put it on 12-foot panels. So they have the splices with the seams on it. It is sort of like a seamless steel coil roll. It's as if you are wrapping a Christmas present and you use the Scotch tape dispenser. The tape is on a roll like that, and you can pull it out and use as much as you want. That is what is so unique about our product, that we don't have splices on our home panels. So if your home is 40 feet long or 100 feet long, we can roll out a steel panel 100 feet long with no splices in it and put it on your home. Other people would have to put a lap at every 2 feet, so ours gives a nice clean look. It also helps with the energy efficiency," Seiler says.
A good idea may be to ask the siding company how their installation process works to get an idea of the quality of work they are going to do. If you like their procedure, you can always choose to install your own siding.
"When our panels are installed, we start at the bottom of the house. We measure the length of the house itself, and if it is 40 feet long, we go to the coil roll and measure it out. Then, we roll out 40 feet, cut it off, and then the installers come and bring it to the house. That is what we call a nailing hem at the top; they nail that to secure it to the home. Then it's sort of like a building block. You just start from the bottom. You keep adding another panel until you get to the top of the house," Seiler says.
In the end, whether you decide to do your own siding installation or not, just remember to go with what fits your needs. Some companies may charge an extra fee for siding installation, so you want to ask all those important questions before you give away your big bucks.
