Vinyl siding vertical edge question

[davidfite1978]

It's looking more and more like I will run out of money to pay someone to do my vinyl, so I will probably end up doing it myself. I was wondering what I should do for this scenario. The back half of my shop is about a foot lower than the front half, so there will be 2 spots where the siding has to step down. The first spot is pictured below. It's just to the right of the door. The left side will be level with the front half of the building, and the right side is where it starts the lower part. What I'm wondering is how I should do the edge so water is not a problem. Should I put some kind of z-flashing on it? Or just paint/caulk the edge and maybe overhang the j channel a smidge? or what?

 

[mimsey]

You could always move your starter strip on the left down where it's even with the right, and that might help. You'll have to trim for that vent but it's not hard.

 

[davidfite1978]

You could always move your starter strip on the left down where it's even with the right, and that might help. You'll have to trim for that vent but it's not hard.

If I do that, I'll still have the same problem, just further down the road from the door. No matter where it is, I have a 1 foot drop somewhere to account for. I googled for hours and couldn't find a single picture/reference for a vertical edge when installing siding. Only inside/outside corners. Plus I really didn't want to put the siding under the door (and subsequently stairs). Too much work and more potential for problems, not to mention I think it would look weird.

 

[KANSASBOY]

http://www.hometime.com/Howto/projects/siding/side_1b.htm

 

[G McKay]

You could always move your starter strip on the left down where it's even with the right, and that might help. You'll have to trim for that vent but it's not hard.

That's what I would do. Then remove the vent and put it on last, so it is on the outside. It will look a lot better that way.

 

[davidfite1978]

That's what I would do. Then remove the vent and put it on last, so it is on the outside. It will look a lot better that way.

LOL... maybe I need to get a better picture. Even if I DO move the starter strip down on the left side, I will still have the same edge to deal with, just further down the wall and not by the door. Forget the door, the vent, all that stuff... I just need to know how to properly seal/cover that edge.

 

[mtmgtz]

I think he's referring to the fact that the left edge of that piece of plywood will be exposed since your typical J vinyl trim mounts to the surface and doesn't wrap back around your sheathing.

I think you'll have to bend some aluminum flashing for that spot. Probably would be best to bend it around the front and back side of the plywood a few inches and put a bead of silicone at the joint between the flashing/CMU. You could then put your J-channel over that.

 

[trackwelder]

I would cover all the lower plywood with ice & water. then bend some flashing over that.

 

[Kevin54]

There is two ways to do it, depending on whether the low point is the longest run, or whether the highest point is the longest run.

If the high side is the longest run, then that is where you run your starter strip. The low point gets "J" channel.

If the low point is the longest run, then the high point gets "J" channel.

You can't run starter on both the high and low points. One or the other has to have "J" channel. The ONLY way you can get by with starter all of the way around would be if the difference between the high and low would be 8" id you are using "double four".

 

[Saw]

If you would like to use starter strip on both heights, you could use a piece of coil stock 6" wide to create your desired height on the shorter run. Attach it to your structure with starter strip screwed to it, adjusted to your desired height. It will give you the desired look rather than J Channel as a starting point.

One other thing I do is put on a full piece 12'6", half piece 6'3", three quarter piece 9'4 1/2" and a one quarter piece 3'1 1/2", repeat. Use a 4 foot drywall square to continue this pattern through the gable end if you like.

I can't stand using the end cut to start the next run, I'm more concerned in what I put on the house rather than what I put in the dumpster, jmo.

 

[nehog]

Just extend the J channel that will surround the door (on the right) down to the bottom. No siding under the door, use something else.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think he's referring to the fact that the left edge of that piece of plywood will be exposed since your typical J vinyl trim mounts to the surface and doesn't wrap back around your sheathing.

I think you'll have to bend some aluminum flashing for that spot. Probably would be best to bend it around the front and back side of the plywood a few inches and put a bead of silicone at the joint between the flashing/CMU. You could then put your J-channel over that.

I think you're understanding at what the OP is getting at.

I'd do the same thing if I needed to by wrapping it with some coil stock.

 

[davidfite1978]

I think he's referring to the fact that the left edge of that piece of plywood will be exposed since your typical J vinyl trim mounts to the surface and doesn't wrap back around your sheathing.

I think you'll have to bend some aluminum flashing for that spot. Probably would be best to bend it around the front and back side of the plywood a few inches and put a bead of silicone at the joint between the flashing/CMU. You could then put your J-channel over that.

I think you're understanding at what the OP is getting at.

I'd do the same thing if I needed to by wrapping it with some coil stock.

This is what I was looking for. I kind of thought to do that, but just wanted to make sure I wasn't way off base.

Now the next question that was raised about using starter on one level and J on the other... not sure about that one. I've never done vinyl so I'm not sure why you can't use starter on both levels? As long as I measure and make the vinyl over the door meet at the same height, why can't I use starter on both levels? Or am I mis-interpreting?

 

[mtmgtz]

This is what I was looking for. I kind of thought to do that, but just wanted to make sure I wasn't way off base.

Now the next question that was raised about using starter on one level and J on the other... not sure about that one. I've never done vinyl so I'm not sure why you can't use starter on both levels? As long as I measure and make the vinyl over the door meet at the same height, why can't I use starter on both levels? Or am I mis-interpreting?

I don't know why you wouldn't use starter at the bottom of both sides of the door? You'll just need to make sure you are a full course (or more, not sure what width siding you're using) below the starter on the left side of the door so it meets up properly once you get above the door head.

 

[Jd34]

I don't know why you wouldn't use starter at the bottom of both sides of the door? You'll just need to make sure you are a full course (or more, not sure what width siding you're using) below the starter on the left side of the door so it meets up properly once you get above the door head.

Put the door in first. Break metal around the exterior door trim. J channel around the door trim... If the drop just so happens to be in the goldie lock zone by all means use stater strip on both sides (I can never get so lucky)-- if not, use j channel on the short side for the trimed siding to fit in. If use J, drill a few holes for drainage. Good luck

 

[Kevin54]

This is what I was looking for. I kind of thought to do that, but just wanted to make sure I wasn't way off base.

Now the next question that was raised about using starter on one level and J on the other... not sure about that one. I've never done vinyl so I'm not sure why you can't use starter on both levels? As long as I measure and make the vinyl over the door meet at the same height, why can't I use starter on both levels? Or am I mis-interpreting?

I don't know why you wouldn't use starter at the bottom of both sides of the door? You'll just need to make sure you are a full course (or more, not sure what width siding you're using) below the starter on the left side of the door so it meets up properly once you get above the door head.

Siding is a given width. The only way you could use starter on both sides of the doorway is if the bottom of each side of the opening is the exact same given width of the siding. Chances of that happening are very slim.

For example, you use "double 4". so your bottom of your piece to your lock at the top of the siding is 8"....the dimension from one side of the door, to the bottom of the opposite side of the doorway would have to be 8". Any dimension that differs from the 8" needs to use a "J" channel so the top of the siding remains level around the perimeter of the garage. At a door opening, it would really stick out and look like a hack job. plus the fact that once you get to the top of the doorway, you will have to have the siding line up.

The only way you can get by not having things line up correctly is for instance where a back wall and a side wall is broken up by your corner piece. But even with that, if you are off any more than a half and inch, it will really show.

You can cheat the siding a little bit by pulling one up tight or leaving it a little more loose, but by all rights, if you get your level line around the perimeter, you'll see where you have to use a starter strip, and where you have to use a "J" channel.

Any place that you buy your vinyl siding at will have complete instruction sheets that they can give you.

 

[Kevin54]

I have a question regarding this picture. On the left hand side of the doorway, why do you have flashing wrapped down instead of the sheathing coming down over the concrete block? And it looks like the flashing is on top of the block and not down over the block, or am I missing something?

normally you have a bottom plate, then your sheathing comes down about an inch over the block, and no flashing is necessary?