Siding is designed to keep moisture and drafts out of the home. Installing new siding requires a few special techniques to ensure it provides the necessary weatherproof barrier.

1. Barrier Repairs

Underneath the siding is the substrate cladding, often made of OSB or plywood. Over this is the weatherproof house wrap, which is designed to keep out any moisture or drafts that do happen to make their way under the siding. The substrate cladding rarely requires repair or replacement, but the house wrap may have tears and damage. Your siding installers will replace sections of damaged wrap and then tape over seams and small tears that remain in order to ensure a waterproof barrier is in place.

2. Trim Installation

The trim around windows and doors is installed before the siding panels go up. This ensures the siding overlaps so that there are no gaps for moisture to get in. Small z-shaped flashing strips are installed above the window and door frames, underneath the trim, which will route water runoff over the edge so it doesn't pool on top of the frames and lead to a leak. Once all is installed, the small gaps between trim pieces, the window and door, and the flashing strips are caulked to create a water-tight seal.

3. Penetration Sealing

Penetrations through your home walls include outdoor electrical outlets, house-mounted faucets, and holes where cable wires and similar utilities enter the house. Siding boards are installed from the bottom working up. When a penetration is reached, your installer will install a box bezel around the penetration. This is basically a single piece of trim that creates a frame around the penetration, which can then be sealed to the siding with caulk so that water can't leak in around the penetration. 

4. Finishing Details

Once all the siding is in place, your installers will caulk any small gaps that may exist where the siding meets the trim. They may also caulk where the siding meets the corner trim and anywhere else a gap in the siding was unavoidable. Vinyl siding and pre-painted fiber cement siding may not require painting, but wood siding and unpainted fiber cement will need to be painted with high-quality latex exterior paint after installation. The paint will ensure a waterproof surface so that moisture won't damage the siding or make its way into your home.

For more information on siding installation, contact a company near you.