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Nailing vinyl siding to OSB

blair683

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Feb 21, 2017
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What are your guys thoughts about nailing vinyl siding to 1/2" OSB? I know the manufacturer does not recommend it. I have no choice as my pole building girts are spaced on 24" centers. I was thinking about maybe using screws and not tightening them tight (obviously). But I can't find screws with a big enough head. Menards has aluminum ring shank siding nails that I have been leaning toward. Any information is greatly appreciated. https://www.menards.com/main/tools-...80-c-8771.htm?tid=-4643323677744972472&ipos=3
 
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metschers

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Dec 17, 2010
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Billings, Missouri
FYI
I used Phillips head 1\2" lath screws. I tried nails but, kept smashing my fingers. The osb seemed real hard which made using roofing nails very difficult to start.
Plus the lath screws seemed to go faster.
They worked great got me.
 

n20junkie

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I use GRK cabinet screws. They are rated for treated lumber (corrosion resistant) and have a nice shallow washer head that fits nicely under siding. I use them on siding all the time.
 

matt_i

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I also used GRK cabinet screws with the T15 torx head. Was very pleased with their use, my only regret is buying small boxes of ~115 screws from Home D, I should have sourced a box of 1000 or so thru a commercial supplier or the lumberyard. I have about 20 short T15 drivers that are of no use to me (they don't have the ball detent for the impact tool).
 

AMCguy

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Ring shank nails nothing else. Bam bam bam, you're done. Messing around with screws and a driver will be a royal pain in the **** on any size of job.

If you are stuck with 24'' centres, you cant just nail through the vinyl when you come to a stud. The vinyl will distort as it expands and contracts. You have to get a slotted nail hole punch. Mine is made by Malco model NHP 1TW.
 
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blair683

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That's just it you have 16" studs. Yours should be nailed into studs not just osb. A pole building has horizontal girts there for most of the nails won't have a stud behind them.
 

alwaysFlOoReD

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Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
I also wonder why you shouldn't use shingle nails if you're hand banging. If the osb is already on use housewrap and then pencil a line on the studs. At 24" on center, as long as half of your nails hit studs you'll be golden. Personally I use staples. If it's a big enough job buy an air stapler meant for vinyl siding and sell it after. The time saved will pay for it.

Edit; I just saw the previous post. I'd use staples or if you have access, a screw gun that uses strips of screws like for decking...if they make a screw that works for you.
 
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blair683

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I think I'll go with the ring shank siding nails. A lot cheaper then screws and I think they work fine.
 

RVDan

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My house is 24" on center with OSB sheathing and I just replaced the stucco with vinyl siding held on with regular roofing nails.

Is it all going to fall off now?
 
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blair683

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My house is 24" on center with OSB sheathing and I just replaced the stucco with vinyl siding held on with regular roofing nails.

Is it all going to fall off now?

Yep! You're doomed! (Being sarcastic)
 
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6768rogues

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Are the girts horizontal or vertical? If vertical you can hit two to three nail slots on each one.
If you use a pneumatic siding stapler the staples will not blow out the back of the OSB. Staples are glue covered and stick fairly well. If the inside is exposed, you could bend over the other end. Also, staples are so easy that you can put in a lot of them.
Screws would hold the best. Look for truss head wood screws.
I would use a combination of screws and staples.
 
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n20junkie

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Ring shank nails nothing else. Bam bam bam, you're done. Messing around with screws and a driver will be a royal pain in the **** on any size of job.

If you are stuck with 24'' centres, you cant just nail through the vinyl when you come to a stud. The vinyl will distort as it expands and contracts. You have to get a slotted nail hole punch. Mine is made by Malco model NHP 1TW.


I can screw faster than nailing. A small milwaulkee or bosch drill fits in your pouch and unlike nailing, you only need one hand to screw which makes ladder work much, much easier.



Like others have said, my only regret is not getting a tub of 1,000 of them.
 

n20junkie

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My house is 24" on center with OSB sheathing and I just replaced the stucco with vinyl siding held on with regular roofing nails.

Is it all going to fall off now?

Did you use 2 inch nails into studs, or just go roofing style and nail only into plywood?
 

evildky

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Louisville, KY
I've put siding on with plain roof nails into OSB with no issues. I've also used exterior screws, sometimes called "deck screws" basically drywall screws coated for exterior use. Yes the heads are kinda small but it works and I've had no long term issues.
 

CTyankee

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1/2 OSB 24" OC? I'd use screws. You'd be nailing into a pretty "bouncy" wall IMO.
 

jhelrey

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When I replace sticks of siding here and there, I use screws. Trying to hold the piece of siding up, hitting a roofing nail with a hammer, etc. just doesn't work well. Screws and a magnetic tip. Easy!
 

couch67

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Ontario Canada
you will have no problem with ring shank nails on 1/2" osb with 24" studs oc. set appropriately (ie not tight). This application is very common and it wont bounce when nailing.

Just make sure to follow the nail spacing instructions for the siding.
 

Jazz1

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Thunder Bay On.
I used left over roofing nails to hang my vinyl siding on OSB 18 years ago and still have 25 lbs of nails. Have not had any issues. The screws would be easier.
 

BoostedOne

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Osteen, Fl
Did you put interior walls on?
Mine is pole construction but I didnt do gurts, I framed my walls between the posts with 2x6 sections and studs.
However, since you have gurts, if you still have access to the back side you can attach vertical strips to the OSB between your gurts at the desired spacing to give you more meat.
And yes, ring shank, galvanized or stainless nails.
 

pcmeiners

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Sided my house using stainless Philip screws from bolt depot. You are correct the heads are small, so I also ordered stainless washers. Though more expensive, made it easier, and will make it easier in the future using stainless.

Phillips pan head, Stainless steel 18-8, 8 x 3 $600 ( House is large)
Flat washers, Stainless steel 18-8, 10 $64
 
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blair683

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Ohio
I decided on the ring shank vinyl siding nails from Menards. I nailed one into a piece of OSB earlier and it is not coming out easy. I had to use the claw on the hammer to get it out and it still took a little force. They are only 10 dollars for 380 nails.
 

rnscustom

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Plympton MA
Bolt depot is a great place , yeah ring shank if it's not bouncing too much . Truss head or flanged screws would be the way to go if you use screws .
 

red61cj5

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West Virginia
back in the nineties I framed a lot of houses in MD and DE, and as far as I know, all of them that had vinyl siding had it nailed on with roofers. I watched the siding guys and as fast as they were going, and as stoned as they looked, no way they were finding studs to nail to. They banged that stuff up as fast as the guy on the ground could feed it to them. Some of these were pretty nice homes, too.
 
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blair683

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Ohio
Thanks guys. The siding will be started Monday as will the garage door. I will update when completed.
 

manwithtools

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Lebanon, TN
I used my Senco coiled roofing nailer to hand siding on the last house. 3/4" long nails, I adjusted the depth to leave the head 1/16" proud of the siding. It just so happened the shoe on the nailer lined up perfectly with the nailing flange on the siding I was using. That made it a breeze to hang the siding by myself.

It's still there 15 years later.
 
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