Need a siding nailer ASAP

[PCustoms]

So need to put the vinyl siding back on the gable end of my house (longish story not for here). Painfully obvious today that hand nailing is a bad idea as it makes the wall bounce. Will also be re-siding house in the next year.

Need a bailer recommendation that won't break the bank, going to be used for 1-2 jobs...

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I would use a stapler. 1/2" seems to be standard but I use 3/8" on an upward angle. Just be careful that the staples aren't tight. The siding needs to slide back and forth for expansion and contraction.

 

[PCustoms]

I would use a stapler. 1/2" seems to be standard but I use 3/8" on an upward angle. Just be careful that the staples aren't tight. The siding needs to slide back and forth for expansion and contraction.

Yes, I know how to handle nail siding.

Had to pound a few nails in around the windows and was a little surprised how bouncy things were. Don't need to fix screws pops in drywall...

Not clear how the stapler would work.

Also doing some reading and not sure a nail gun exists for this. Seems many use a roofing gun with a special tip

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I have the roofing nailer and bought the tip, but never did use it. Too heavy for me. I went out and took a couple pics of my stapler I use. The swivel on the end is very handy. So is the aluminum L to hook onto your belt. And in the second pic you can see how to adjust for depth.

 

[Lorydr]

Rent a nail gun from the local hardware or tool shop.

 

[PCustoms]

I have the roofing nailer and bought the tip, but never did use it. Too heavy for me. I went out and took a couple pics of my stapler I use. The swivel on the end is very handy. So is the aluminum L to hook onto your belt. And in the second pic you can see how to adjust for depth.

I guess I've just never seen staples for siding though...

Do you staple across two nail holes?

 

[sparky 1971]

Do you have a Horrible Fright nearby? I have no personal experience with them but the guys that roofed my house last summer had HF roofing nailers and said that bang for the buck, couldn't be beat. Several years ago at my old house, the vinyl siding was installed using roofing nailers; I don't know if they used a different tip or not, didn't care. All that mattered in both instances was that I wasn't doing it.

 

[PCustoms]

Do you have a Horrible Fright nearby? I have no personal experience with them but the guys that roofed my house last summer had HF roofing nailers and said that bang for the buck, couldn't be beat. Several years ago at my old house, the vinyl siding was installed using roofing nailers; I don't know if they used a different tip or not, didn't care. All that mattered in both instances was that I wasn't doing it.

Yeah might look at what they have.

Kills me that I'm going to waste time putting the old siding back up, but trying to re-side this fall is not in the cards time wise.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I'll see if I can find a scrap siding piece. I just did a dump run tho...

 

[PCustoms]

I'll see if I can find a scrap siding piece. I just did a dump run tho...

I found a video, I see it now.

 

[mm08822]

See if you can nail closer to the studs to eliminate some of that bounce. Even start holes with an awl so at least you can keep your fingers clear.

Im assuming this is a small amount of existing siding being re-hung.

 

[PCustoms]

See if you can nail closer to the studs to eliminate some of that bounce. Even start holes with an awl so at least you can keep your fingers clear.

Worth a shot...was trying to set a nail around the old window and was shocked how much things bounced. Of course knowing how other things were done here who knows if there's a king stud...

Im assuming this is a small amount of existing siding being re-hung.

24'x8' or so.

Ended up pulling everything off to just above the windows, adding wrap and tape flashing then re-did 1 window so far

 

[GeoBruin]

I bought a HF siding nailer for a shed project a few years ago. I ended up using again for another shed, then another, then to reclad my guest house.

Hasn't failed me yet. They have a couple lines with "Banks" being the more affordable and "Pierce" being higher end. Mine is the pierce. They're expensive at first glance but you can almost always get them on sale or with a coupon. Like this weekend everything is 10% off, or 20% off if you're an ITC member.

 

[PCustoms]

Might grab this:

RIDGID Pneumatic 15 Deg. 1-3/4 in. Coil Roofing Nailer R175RNF - The Home Depot

Be ready to take on any roofing job with RIDGID's Coil Roofing Nailer. Dry-fire lockout feature extends the motor life and prevents misfiring nails.

www.homedepot.com

Need to see what's out there for tips

Also asking around to see who might have one. Pretty sure I know someone that does, but spending $150 to not deal with him is worth it.

 

[mike93lx]

I bought one of these for my shed but I didn't use it for vinyl. It ran a bunch of coils without any drama

I bought a tip for lp lap siding but didn't end up using it as I used panels instead. I imagine there is a tip for vinyl as well

https://a.co/d/f3BoZUU

Edit... Yep https://www.sidingtips.ca/shop/p/bostitch-siding-adapter

 

[PCustoms]

I bought one of these for my shed but I didn't use it for vinyl. It ran a bunch of coils without any drama

I bought a tip for lp lap siding but didn't end up using it as I used panels instead. I imagine there is a tip for vinyl as well

https://a.co/d/f3BoZUU

Edit... Yep https://www.sidingtips.ca/shop/p/bostitch-siding-adapter

Yeah found those tips earlier....not sure I want to spend $60 for a printed part

 

[mike93lx]

Yeah found those tips earlier....not sure I want to spend $60 for a printed part

To be fair, it's 60 Canadian pesos...

 

[PCustoms]

To be fair, it's 60 Canadian pesos...

Right forgot to carry the 1...

 

[Retired dozer fixer]

Sounds like you need more than siding on a spongy wall?

 

[PCustoms]

Sounds like you need more than siding on a spongy wall?

Huh?

 

[PoorUB]

Another vote for Horrible Freight. I have a couple air nailers from them and they have worked flawlessly.

 

[PCustoms]

Another vote for Horrible Freight. I have a couple air nailers from them and they have worked flawlessly.

I've used a framing nailer in the past. Worked, but was certainly heavier then other brands.

Which model do you recommend?

 

[nadogail]

I use Harbor Freight 18 gauge brad nailers to build my Planter Boxes.

I bought a Harbor Freight 3 in 1 Framing nailer to build fences with, I am very pleased with it. The 3 in 1 Nailer alowes me to use what ever angle nail that is on sale, I felt that feature was worth the small difference in price.

 

[Just_Steve]

I feel your pain.

 

[bluedog225]

This is why they make those big silver tarps.

 

[PCustoms]

I feel your pain.

My "big" project for this year was going to be correctly rebuilding the garage wall and getting something on it for siding. I had closed it in ~10yrs ago fast and cheap before 1st winter to stop the mouse/chipmunk invasion.

Then I had a window break (mower? BB gun?) so I decided to replace the two windows as they are 40+ years old.

While waiting for them to arrive I decided to add an eyebrow/awning over the door.

Now here it is end of summer and I need to start fall things

 

[Just_Steve]

My "big" project for this year was going to be correctly rebuilding the garage wall and getting something on it for siding. I had closed it in ~10yrs ago fast and cheap before 1st winter to stop the mouse/chipmunk invasion.

Then I had a window break (mower? BBQ gun?) so I decided to replace the two windows as they are 40+ years old.

While waiting for them to arrive I decided to add an eyebrow/awning over the door.

Now here it is end of summer and I need to start fall things

I lost the siding on that side of the house after a wind storm I had the roofers already coming due to old roof and they threw in residing for no added cost. I'm a repeat costumer, second roof. Company has been around since I moved to the area.

 

[KnurledNut]

I would hand nail and hang it back up in the order it came off, reuse the old nail holes, and add one on each end and maybe one in the field. The vibration shouldn't affect your drywall. If it does you already had bigger problems. I’ve done dozens of siding jobs.

 

[PCustoms]

I would hand nail and hang it back up in the order it came off, reuse the old nail holes, and add one on each end and maybe one in the field. The vibration shouldn't affect your drywall. If it does you already had bigger problems. I’ve done dozens of siding jobs.

You know, I had planned to use them just to keep the alignment, but hadn't considered the easy/light nailing...

When I went to pound the nails flush where the window flange was (WTF, 2 nails almost on top of each other?) it looked like banging on the wall was a bad idea

Have to see how it goes. But either way, not looking forward to hand nailing all the siding next year

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

There are different shank sizes on nails. Depends on manufacterer. And some with sharper points. It might be worth your while to look for skinny shank and sharp points for hand nailing.
And there is a technique for bouncy walls... Best I can explain is the first tap sets the nail. The second is a sharp rap with the edge of the hammer head just hitting the bump out just below the nailing slots. This prevents hammering the head of the nail too tight but allows a fairly heavy swing.
And I have definitely used old nail holes to keep alignment. But you also need to make new ones...

 

[PoorUB]

I've used a framing nailer in the past. Worked, but was certainly heavier then other brands.

Which model do you recommend?

No idea which one would work in your case. I will let you do the final selection.

 

[PCustoms]

No idea which one would work in your case. I will let you do the final selection.

Ok, so you were just recommending a store

 

[PoorUB]

Ok, so you were just recommending a store

No, I recommended their nailers. I don't recommend everything from HF. I don't know which one will work for you, but the HF nailers have held up well for me, so consider them. I never have tried to nail vinyl with an air nailer, so I don't know if you need a roofing nailer or a framing nailer.

 

[mike93lx]

I don't know if you need a roofing nailer or a framing nailer

A siding nailer would be the correct one

 

[PCustoms]

A siding nailer would be the correct one

See this is where I get thrown off...

Other places/people have said a siding nailer isn't for vinyl. I assume the head of the nail is too smal

 

[mike93lx]

See this is where I get thrown off...

Other places/people have said a siding nailer isn't for vinyl. I assume the head of the nail is too smal

Equipment and Tools for Vinyl Siding Installation

www.certainteed.com

Certainteed calls for a minimum head diameter of 5/16". I can't find my siding nails right now, but I don't think they are that large, but I didn't buy them for vinyl.

A framing nailer is definitely the wrong tool. Roofing nailer would be the much better choice of the two

Without a special tip, I don't think any gun is really the best choice. Hand nailing is

 

[PCustoms]

A framing nailer is definitely the wrong tool.

I know you didn't post that originally, but "no ****".

Roofing nailed would be the much better choice of the two
Without a special tip, I don't think any gun is really the best choice. Hand nailing is

Roofing nailer with the tip is the long play here I think. Probably leave the wrap up and get the siding on next weekend

 

[mm08822]

I would hand nail for now. See if you can locate the old nail hole rows for now, at least to keep the coarses from walking.

Watch different YouTube videos over the winter for various mfrs of siding/roofing nailer and users' opinion of each.

 

[mm08822]

Sounds like you need more than siding on a spongy wall?

Osb can be trampoline when not nailing over/close to a stud or rafter.

Ever try nailing flashing into the side of a dormer at the intersecting roof line?

 

[PCustoms]

I would hand nail for now. See if you can locate the old nail hole rows for now, at least to keep the coarses from walking.

Now that I put this fancy new house wrap up that's gonna be harder...

But still the plan.

2nd window in.

Hanging wrap and installing windows on the 2nd story solo *****. Had help lined up for next weekend but weather looked like possible rain and this far into the year didn't want to wait much longer.