Installation Guide

J-channel
undersill
trim
Nail at the
top of
the slot.
(top slot only
)
Center
remaining
nails in
the slots.
3/8
˝
1/4
˝
50
vertical siding installation
If a wall requires more than one
course of vertical siding, use two
lengths of J-Channel, back-to-back
and flashing, at the joint between the
two courses (Fig. 1).
If a wider wall is being covered, then
you can start with a full width vertical
panel. In this case you can install that
first piece by utilizing a starter strip
on the cut nailing hem of a vertical
panel. (Fig. 1)
If a smaller wall is being covered,
you should try to create a balanced
appearance.
• To create a balanced appearance
(Fig. 2) divide the length of
the wall by the exposure of the
vertical panel to be used. For
example, if the wall requires 20
full panels plus an adeditional 8”
(203mm), then the first and last
pieces installed would be cut to a
new width of 4” (102mm). Make
sure to allow for proper depth
in the receiving channels of the
accessories at both ends when
measuring.
• To install the siding, if partial
panels are required, mark the
line to cut by measuring from the
edge of the lock of the panel and
cut the panel to the proper width.
This will leave a panel with
an intact nail hem and proper
exposure.
The top J-Channel must have a
minimum of 3/16” (4-8mm) diameter
weep holes drilled no more than 24”
(610mm) apart to allow for water
runoff.
Step 1
Panel installation should begin at
the end of a wall section at a corner
post or J-Channel. An undersill trim
piece should be installed and fastened
inside the opening of the corner post
or J-Channel to secure the edge of
the first and last course of siding.
Snaplock punch the cut edge every
6˝ to 10˝, and snap the edge into the
secured undersill trim. Cut and install
last course in similar fashion. (Fig. 3)
Step 2
TIP: A furring strip may be needed behind the
undersill trim before fastening to shim it out
and maintain the lines of the vertical panel.
Maintain a 1/4˝ gap at each end of
panels where they butt to trim pieces
such as J-Channel. Failure to maintain
this gap may result in permanent
panel warpage. Maintain a 3/8˝ gap
if installing at temperatures 40º F or
below.
Step 3
Fasten panels every 12˝ through the
middle of the nailing slots. Maintain
1/32˝ minimum clearance between the
fastener crown and nail hem of panel.
Special note for vertical panel
installation: Vertical panels should
be cut to allow clearance as specified.
Panels should be positioned on wall
allowing equal clearance top and
bottom. One fastener should be
placed at the top of a nail slot within
the upper 12˝ of the panel when
installed. The panel will hang on
this fastener and will expand in both
directions rather than only upward.
Balance of fastening should take
place in the center of the nailing slots
(Fig. 4).
Step 4
Undersill trim should be installed
inside J-Channel, or built-in window
receiver on the sides of windows and/
or doors to secure cut edge of vertical
panels. Vertical panels should be
snap-locked before insertion into the
undersill trim (Fig. 3). A furring strip
may be needed behind the undersill
trim to maintain the lines of the
vertical panel.
Vertical siding
Vertical siding
J-channel
J-channel
Flashing
3/8”
1/4
”
Fig.1
Fig. 3 Start and or finish
Fig.4
Balanced wall
Same width
Unbalanced wall
Different widths
Fig. 2