Installing Wood Siding Solo tips

[jconnor3]

Hey Guys,

I'm going to be putting up new wood siding to match the existing house and looking for some tips for doing this solo if anyone has some. I wish there was space to utilize a scissor lift, but that wont work in my situation.

Im trying to find either pine or cedar that has a rabbeted bevel to it so I would just have to set it down on the previous row, but so far that's been a little difficult to find. Ideally I would like to find it in pine to help on costs, but we will see.

I'll be doing this on a ladder and most likely solo so i'm trying to figure out the best way to go about it. Any tips....other than hire it out!?

Thanks!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

How tall are your walls? Are you scared of heights? Being scared of heights is good, you'll be less likely to take chances.

Look up "ladder jacks", they hang off a pair or more of ladders and then you set a walking plank on them. In Canada I can still find them for ~$100/pair. You can make a set of chain jacks if you have a welder. Similar to ladder jacks. Basically weld two U channels together in a "T" and string chain from the end up to a rung and loop with an "S" hook. If using more than two you have to step over the chain so that is a trip hazard.

You can also buy aluminum sawhorses up to [I think] 8' in height.

 

[maxpower_hd]

Pump jacks is another alternative and those feel a bit more stable to me. But they are a little harder to set up. You may need some help doing so.

I've never seen any siding with bevels in it like you describe although it is a pretty good idea. My thought would be to us a couple of self made spacers that have a notch in the bottom to set into the bottom of the last piece installed with another notch at the top to hold the new piece of siding. You would have to move the spacers every row but it would be easier than holding it up and nailing.

 

[KenC]

Light guage aluminum J-hook. long enough to tack in place from above the piece you're installing and the J under it. Tack in place, set one end of your board on it, hold the other while nailing. pull the tack, slide hook out, move to next.

Just bend them up out of a gutter scrap, anything at all. don't need to be pretty, just stiff enough to hold up one end of a 4-5 lb board.

 

[Boomer343]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/PAC-Geck...6-in-Siding-1-Set-Per-Package-SA903/202530064

Gecko makes a bunch of different siding gauges for solo install.

 

[nadogail]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/PAC-Geck...6-in-Siding-1-Set-Per-Package-SA903/202530064

Gecko makes a bunch of different siding gauges for solo install.

A partner and I used Gecco Gauges to install HardiPlank clapboard siding for the first time today. We were impressed with their simplicity and utility.

I am not sure if they would be as useful for shiplap or tounge and groove siding.

Hanging siding IMHO, is a two person job.

 

[Slednut]

I think I did the same as Kenc, but I made it, here is a picture (red circle), I would put a screw though the top piece of 2x4, the bottom 2x4 held the piece of siding. The bottom 2x4 had a piece of alumimun (lip) that would hold the siding from slipping to the ground. Just slide the siding through it and start nailing. I did most of it myself, the siding was 12 inches high and 16 feet long.

I added a side view drawing of the two 2x4s a scrap piece of siding and a small piece of aluminum for the lip.

 

[Kaizen]

wood siding is what I have put on my house and have done by myself. I've only had issue with longer the ten foot pieces as they get like a wet noodle. clap boards allow you to vary the reveal to space out the lines to fall on tops of windows and doors. I make a story pole and then mark both sides of the wall all the way up. I then use a chalk line to make sure i'm staying dead nuts esp when using multiple pieces. when I take the chalk line off I put in a couple of nails lightly right on the line. enough to hold but not enough to grab. So I can rest on end on them if needed to hold up a long piece. I nail at one end then work my way over. I bought pump jacks so I can use them on tall walls but I just did a 10 foot wall using a couple step ladders. just takes longer and more up and down. ladder jacks are a good investment or just a good 2x put into two step ladder rungs can be helpful. if you can afford it buy the primed boards but NOT the finger jointed ones. they are cheaper but not worth it. Not only can I see the joint but I've had them separate. I bought pine on my last job and primed it both sides before I put it up. put up Tyvek and tape good now that you have the siding off.

 

[maxpower_hd]

I think I did the same as Kenc, but I made it, here is a picture (red circle), I would put a screw though the top piece of 2x4, the bottom 2x4 held the piece of siding. The bottom 2x4 had a piece of alumimun (lip) that would hold the siding from slipping to the ground. Just slide the siding through it and start nailing. I did most of it myself, the siding was 12 inches high and 16 feet long.

I added a side view drawing of the two 2x4s a scrap piece of siding and a small piece of aluminum for the lip.

That's kind of what I was picturing in my head too but I don't think I explained it well. It looks a little simpler too.

I agree with nadogail that it is really a two person job but so aren't most things I end up doing alone. The problem is I don't often have a second person so I too have to find other methods.

Nice tip. I think this is the easiest answer.

 

[CNGsaves]

Light gauge aluminum J-hook. long enough to tack in place from above the piece you're installing and the J under it. Tack in place, set one end of your board on it, hold the other while nailing. pull the tack, slide hook out, move to next.

Just bend them up out of a gutter scrap, anything at all. don't need to be pretty, just stiff enough to hold up one end of a 4-5 lb board.

^ ^ ^ This.

Also, if you don't have scaffolding, you could put up 2 ladders and long 2x12 planks using ladder jacks. Be sure to tie everything down and be careful. Good luck.

 

[maxpower_hd]

^ ^ ^ This.

Also, if you don't have scaffolding, you could put up 2 ladders and long 2x12 planks using ladder jacks. Be sure to tie everything down and be careful. Good luck.

If you do this with 2x12s that are not actual planks I might suggest strong backing them with 2x4 on edge for added rigidity...not that I would EVER use non-OSHA approved planks...

 

[Joemctag]

I can’t remember what we called those we used to slap together like the ones in your picture. Worked great. Back in the 70s when a lot of small subcontractors didn’t have pump-jacks or ladder jacks. Or even ladders! A ladder was something you slapped together with the “rungs” a couple feet apart. Building cheap apartments in Houston in the 70s. Yeah, framing crews did not have ladders!