The Sidding Guy

The Sidding Guy A self-taught solo siding installer who wants to make a difference in this world

12/27/2025

This is how I put soffit J-trim up - super easy. Snap a chalk line about 1/2” below the fascia level to account for the J trim thickness, then use my stapler to staple it up. You can use screws as well, but it you use staples, then make sure you set the depth properly. The staples must not even come close to piercing the trim or you’ll have problems later. This is also why I put in so many staples. The stapler is the Dewalt 20 volt narrow crown stapler (there’s a link in my bio - amazon favourites) and the tip on the nose of the stapler is from sidingtips.ca I use the tip because it’s narrower to get into the J-trim easier, and it doesn’t fall off. The stock tip falls off constantly as I used to buy replacements by the dozen. Also, they are made longer so that the staples don’t pierce the trim as the “loosest” setting on the stapler still pierces the metal sometimes since it’s so powerful. I also upgraded the end cap on the stapler with one from since I broke 4 stock ones within a 1.5 year period. The last time I posted about aluminum soffit, I was told that I’d lose all of my soffit in the next wind storm. Well, looking at many manufacturer’s soffit installation instructions, you do not need a wood backing strip nailed up, this is a valid method of installing. I live in a neighbourhood where I sided over 50 homes 18 years ago and I drive by many of those houses daily - guess what? We’ve had many 80 mph wind storms and all the soffit is still on there securely. And for those who say I’m a hack for not 45ing my soffit corners, the side is 12” overhang and this back is 18” - if mitred the lines won’t line up. After fire codes came into effect a few years back, I had to stop 45ing my corners due to the vented/plain soffit transitions. I hope this video is of value to you. Thanks for watching and let me know if you have any questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12/27/2025

This video shows a part of my process of laying out the siding lines. On the right side of that window is about 14’ off siding. I complete that largest section first so that I know where my lines need to end up as little pieces can get you off course quickly, then I make a little pencil tick on the other side of the window. This keeps everything nice and straight over the window so it doesn’t buckle or tilt that piece over the window. This isn’t a huge tip, but rather showing my thought process in keeping things straight. And if you’re wonderinf. The nailer is a Dewalt cordless roofing nailer with the patent pending vinyl siding adapter from sidingtips.ca . . . . . . . . . . .

12/23/2025

What a fun activity Sashco’s booth at the International Builder’s Show. I used their “Through the Roof” sealant a couple of years ago on my roof. They are a great company that puts their effort and resources to support young people learning the trades, as well as educators of the trades. Kudos to them! Thank you for the work that you do for the industry! . . . . . . . . . . .

12/23/2025

Here is a quick video showing the general idea of how i do large columns with no fastners showing. I came up with this on my own through trial and error and first did it on my own house 18 years ago. It’s fairly simple, but a bit tricky to figure out the bends on the brake (I showed a video on that last week). The corner pieces I’m spreading out a little bit as I accidentally over bent them in the shop. Having it spread out keeps pressure so it can’t come out on its own. It’s actually really difficult to try to get the corner pieces off once they’re snapped in place. Also, that right there is what I call a 1” heart attack. There are times where I’ll be shuffling along and forget there’s a little drop in my plank and think I’m falling 😂. That’s the worst feeling - especially when you aren’t expecting it. This here was completely my fault as I should’ve shrunk my plank a bit more to avoid it. Hope this video helps. Happy Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.

12/20/2025

I’ve never had a problem with oil canning of darker vinyl board and batten colours, but I’ve seen it a few times online where the installers appear to have installed it properly, and the siding ripples. I had. The opportunity to talk to the product developer at Westlake Royal during the International Builder’s Show in Vegas this week. I recorded this video right after speaking with him. This information might be good for you to know in case you or your customer is in the market for the dark vinyl board and batten siding. . . . . . . . . . . .

12/20/2025

As always I like developing new ways to get things done. After helping Siding Tips with the design of the magnetic fastener caddy, I thought a caddy half the size would work well for certain days on the job site, so here it is. The engineer and 3D modeller at Siding Tips are fun to work with and they’re always able to bring my thoughts to reality with their talent. I think I like this mini caddy more than the original as I’ll use it more (it’s not too often that I need finish nails for my work). They have limited quantities available now at sidingtips.ca . . . . . . . . . . .

12/19/2025

I posted in my stories about a free level given out at a trade show that wasn’t accurate. Someone messaged me and asked how to check it. This is how I check every level at a store before I purchase it - find a relatively level surface and make sure it reads the same both ways when you place it in the exact same spot. I use to buy the cheap plastic Swanson 8” speed square with the built in level before I made my own and I found that about one in 12 were actually accurate. It was quite frustrating. I hope this video helps for the next time you buy an inexpensive level to make sure it’ll read accurately for you. . . . . . . . . . .

12/18/2025

I never knew that I made weird faces when I installed siding until I started filming videos 😂. It’s as if I’m expecting the siding to break when I bend it like that. I typically don’t use a level even though there’s one on my speed square. I just measure from the top. The lines do line up to the other door as it’s verified with the same measurements on both doors, the angle of the camera and angled door bottom plays tricks on the eyes. Using a tape ensures that everything is pleasing to the eye and lines up even though these doors may not be level. I hope this makes sense. It is nailed on using hot dipped galvanized roofing nails with a Dewalt DCN45RN roofing nailer with the winter vinyl siding adapter tip from sidingtips.ca . . . . . . . . .

12/18/2025

I’ve had this 80 volt cordless Greenworks snowblower for 2 winters now. I can definitely say it’s made life easier. Years ago I had a gas blower and it wasn’t ever fun to start (especially at the beginning of the season). This electric blower been more than enough for my property (about 130 ft of sidewalk plus 2 car driveway). My son did some commercial snow clearing last winter and it was definitely enough for all the snow he cleared with only 2 batteries. This video shows 100 ft of light snow cleared in 2 minutes. I couldn’t do that even with a shovel and it was a bit too much for a leaf blower. As nice as it is to use, hopefully I don’t have to pull it out again this spring. We get snow up until the 3rd week of May here. If I didn’t live on a corner lot, then I would definitely be fine with hand shovelling everything. Where I live, it’s the bylaw to clear all the sidewalks where you live even though the city owns that land. Have you jumped onto the cordless snowblower platform yet? . . . . . . . . . . .

12/17/2025

This is how I fold the outside corner of the aluminum fascia. I prefer not to use hand benders simply because they weigh a lot and they aren’t in my tool bag. I just got used to bending it with a square. I staple the fascia on only when I know the staples will be hidden by the gutters. I personally don’t worry about expansion and contraction in these situations because the gutters are fastened right through and even if I made slotted holes, the gutters won’t let the fascia move freely. After the fascia is stapled on, I’ll finish it off by nailing underneath with stainless steel colour match ringed shanked fascia nails. What you see here is a very standard practice in my region, as well as the builders using pre-manufactured fascia. I do realize other regions do it differently. This method works well, the builders and homeowners are happy and the fascia stays on. I hope this video was informative to you. Thanks for watching and have a great long weekend. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12/17/2025

Don’t you had it when the nailer jams? I’ve had very good success with the Dewalt 20 volt roofing nailer not jamming. I find the only time it has jammed in the past almost 3 years is if it can’t feed the nails. A few reasons the nails won’t feed are: 1. The end of the coil is bent in (like shown in the video) 2. If you load a coil that has been dropped or squished. If it’s not circular, the nailer will have trouble feeding the nails through 3. Wrong nails. I have seen a few people buy “siding nails” and try to use them for this nailer. Siding nails are a different gauge with a different head size and used for Hardie and other types of siding or fencing. I hope this info is helpful. Some would say it’s common sense, but if you didn’t know, then it might not be to you. In case you’re wondering, the decking in this video was done well after the siding was done and I came back to patch that first row of siding in. There is an adapter tip on the nose of the nailer specifically designed for J-channel and corner posts from sidingtips.ca . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address

711 Southside Lane
Los Angeles, CA
90017

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Sidding Guy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category