Siding Installation in West Chester, OH: Step by Step

Siding installation on a West Chester Township home follows the same basic steps every time. We measure and write an estimate, tear off the old siding, check the sheathing and house wrap, flash the windows and doors, install the new siding and trim, then clean up and walk the job with you. How long it takes depends mostly on the size of the house, the material, how much repair the walls need, and the weather.

Our office is on West Chester Road, so this is work we do close to home. Here is what each step looks like and what you should ask about along the way.

Step 1: Inspection, measurements, and a written estimate

A good estimate starts with someone walking every wall. We measure, note the windows and doors, and look for soft spots, water stains, and loose trim. We also look at the gutters and roof edges, because water from above is a common reason siding fails.

Your written estimate should spell out these items:

Hidden damage is the one thing nobody can price exactly before tear-off. Ask how it will be handled if the crew finds it.

Step 2: Choosing material and color

Vinyl, fiber cement, and wood each have strengths. Budget, the look you want, and how much upkeep you will do all matter. See our siding services page for an overview of the materials we work with. Ask to see full-size samples outside, in daylight, next to your roof and brick. Small color chips look different on a whole wall.

Step 3: Permits and scheduling

Permit rules for siding vary by city, township, and scope of work. Ask your contractor whether your job needs one and who will pull it. Spring and early summer are busy, and rain can move start dates. Expect your contractor to confirm the date a few days ahead.

Step 4: Getting the house ready

A few things help the job go smoothly:

1. Move grills, patio furniture, planters, and hoses away from the walls.
2. Take down pictures and shelves on the inside of outside walls. Tear-off and nailing can shake them.
3. Tell us about sprinkler heads, invisible dog fences, and anything buried near the foundation.
4. Plan where the dumpster or trailer will sit.

We cover plants and walkways near the work area before tear-off starts.

Step 5: Tear-off

The crew removes the old siding one wall at a time. On some houses, trim, shutters, light fixtures, and gutters come off too.

If your home was built before 1978, ask about lead paint before work starts. The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule generally requires anyone paid to disturb paint in pre-1978 housing to be certified. Small exterior jobs that disturb 20 square feet of paint or less are an exception. Siding removal can disturb painted wood underneath.

Step 6: Checking the sheathing and house wrap

This is the step that tear-off makes possible. Once the old siding is off, we can see the sheathing, the panels nailed to the studs. Soft, stained, or rotted sheathing gets replaced before new siding goes on.

The Vinyl Siding Institute manual says vinyl siding "must never be applied directly to studs without sheathing" and needs a smooth, flat surface. A wavy wall makes wavy siding.

Next comes the water-resistive barrier, often called house wrap. Siding sheds most rain, but some water always gets behind it. The wrap stops that water from reaching the wall. The Residential Code of Ohio, in section 703.2, requires a water-resistive barrier "over studs or sheathing of all exterior walls." It also says the barrier must be continuous to the top of the walls.

Step 7: Flashing windows, doors, and roof lines

Flashing is thin, water-shedding material that directs water out and away at openings. Hidden wall rot often starts at a window, a door, or where a roof meets a wall.

Section 703.4 of the same Ohio code requires flashing at exterior window and door openings, installed to the window maker's instructions or another approved method. The Vinyl Siding Institute manual also calls for flashing at inside and outside corners and where walls meet roofing. If your old windows were never flashed well, this is the time to fix it.

Step 8: Installing the siding and trim

Each material has its own rules. Here are a few that matter most:

• Vinyl moves with temperature. The Vinyl Siding Institute says it can expand and contract 1/2 inch or more over a 12-foot-6-inch length as temperatures change. Nails go in the center of the slot, with about 1/32 inch of space under the nail head. Panels need room at corners and openings. Nailed tight, vinyl buckles.
• Fiber cement needs flashing behind butt joints, where two boards meet end to end. James Hardie recommends 6-inch-wide flashing that overlaps the course below by 1 inch.
• Wood should be primed and finished on all sides, with corrosion-resistant nails.

After the siding goes up, the crew finishes trim, reinstalls fixtures and shutters, and puts gutters and downspouts back.

Step 9: Cleanup and final walk-through

We haul debris and run a magnet over the yard and driveway for nails. Then walk the house with your contractor. Check for:

1. Panels that lie flat with no waves or bulges
2. Clean, straight lines at corners and around windows
3. Trim and fixtures back in place and secure
4. Gutters and downspouts reattached and draining
5. No nails or debris in the yard, beds, or driveway

Ask for the product names, colors, and warranty paperwork for your records.

How long does siding installation take?

It depends on the size of the house, the number of windows and corners, how much sheathing needs repair, the material, and the weather. A small repair can often be done in a day. A full house takes longer. Your contractor should give you an estimate for your house once the scope is set.

How Shamrock can help

We install, replace, and repair vinyl, wood, fiber cement, and aluminum siding across West Chester Township and Northern Cincinnati. Our office is at 6511 West Chester Rd. Ste B, and estimates are free. See our siding services, request a free estimate, or ask about financing options.

FAQ

Can new siding go over my old siding? Sometimes, but I usually recommend tear-off. You cannot check sheathing or house wrap you cannot see. The Vinyl Siding Institute notes that uneven original siding may need furring or removal to give a smooth surface.

Do I need to be home during installation? Not the whole time. Someone should be reachable, and we like to walk the job with you at the start and the end. Expect noise during tear-off and nailing.

Will my gutters come down? Often, yes. Gutters and downspouts may need to come off so siding and trim can go in behind them. Your estimate should say so.

What if storm damage is the reason I need new siding? Document the damage first. Our guide to hail damage on siding covers what to look for and what to photograph.

Related guides

• Siding repair or replacement in Cincinnati
• Hail damage on siding: what to look for
• Ohio homeowners insurance claims guide