Porches
Siding the South Wall
The new sill goes in, PVC replaces the old bottom trim, and the first wall finally gets its long-awaited Flagstone siding.
Now that the window sill for the south wall was sorted out, it's finally time to get it done! Time to put the sill and the baseboard(?) in place and get the siding done. Let's give it a go!
Finishing the New Window Sill
When last we met, I had made a new window sill that would go under the two windows on the south wall. I also filled all the little flaws, the small knots, and the marks left from my, "Happy little accident." So the next stop was simply taking the sill outside and give it a good sanding.
I also wanted to get the first coat of primer on it before installing the sill. Because the south side of the house gets the sun all day I invested in a quart of very high quality oil-based primer from Sherwin Williams.
I'll probably put at least one more coat of primer on it before painting, but in the meantime, I went ahead and installed the brand spanking new window sill.
Replacing the Bottom Trim With PVC
The next step was the bottom trim board. I'm not sure there's one universally correct term for it in this application, but ‘skirt board’ seems close enough, so that's what I'll call it.
Back when I originally put the cedar shakes on the back porch, I used a pressure treated board for the skirt board which worked out well all these years.
More importantly, it won't absorb moisture the way wood can. That lower edge is one of the places most likely to stay wet from snow, splashback and general Northeast weather, so using PVC there seemed like one of those occasions where modern material actually made more sense than trying to stay traditional just for the sake of it.
Finally, the Siding Goes Up
So at long last - at least it seems like it's been a long time coming, in fact, if you count all the years that I should have already done this project.
Nonetheless, the time had come. The first step was to put in the starter strip.
Because of the location of the access panel where you can get underneath the porch, the first several rows were tricky. They took a lot of measuring, fitting and rechecking.
Four Hours Later
While it may have taken a professional an hour or less to put the siding on the south wall, it in fact, took us approximately 4 hours to do it. Nonetheless, it's up! If you take a close look at this picture, you might notice it looks like some of the rows are a different color.
When I was young, summers stretched so long, as if they'd never end. Days were like marathons of time, riding bikes until my blisters had blisters, endless energy, and not an actual care in the world aside from when 'Paul' could come out and play. Days now feel more like minutes, almost game show like. - Mark Brand
But these rows were from a box opened back in 2016 and stored under the porch and had just gotten dirty.
We didn't take the time to clean them yet, but we'll give it a good cleaning and it'll all look brand new. There's a small punch list of details to do but they'll come when the east wall is done.
It's exciting to have the siding up on the south wall and we're well on our way at this point in this project!
And I have to admit, standing back and seeing that wall finished was more satisfying than it probably should have been. The siding had been sitting under this very porch since 2016, waiting for us to finally get around to using it. Eight years of walking past it, moving things around it and occasionally thinking, Yeah, we really ought to finish that someday.
Well, someday finally showed up.
It's only one wall, and there are still details to finish, but for the first time the back porch is starting to look like the version we had in mind all those years ago.
South Wall Done
And that's the south wall.
The plants took a bit of a beating, Cyd had to be temporarily relocated by means of what can only be described as a two-person crab walk, and the job took considerably longer than a professional would probably admit was possible.
But the sill is in. The PVC trim is in. The siding is up.
After eight years, one wall is officially done.
Next comes the east wall, which is longer, more visible and, naturally, has more windows.
What could possibly go wrong?
Hey, thanks for stopping by - see ya' next time!
This is the kind of project nobody else understands. You finish the wall, stand back feeling ridiculously pleased with yourself, and your neighbor says, 'Wasn't there already a wall there?' 😂
But you know.
The sill is right. The bottom is trimmed properly. The siding finally looks like it belongs there. And that little spot that's been nagging at you every time you walked past it is officially off the list.
That's a pretty good afternoon.
Although I'm convinced old houses secretly add two new jobs every time you finish one. - Maggie
Frequently Asked Questions
Should exterior wood window sills be primed before installation?
Yes, especially when the sill will be exposed to weather. Priming all accessible surfaces before installation can help protect the wood from moisture and makes later painting easier.
Is oil-based primer good for exterior wood?
Oil-based primers are often useful on bare exterior wood because they penetrate well and can provide strong adhesion and stain blocking. The best primer depends on the wood species, paint system and exposure.
Can PVC trim be used near ground or snow exposure?
Yes. PVC trim is commonly used in areas where moisture exposure is a concern because it doesn't rot like wood. Proper installation still matters, particularly for expansion, fastening and sealing joints.
What is the bottom trim board on an exterior wall called?
Depending on the design, it may be called a skirt board, water table, band board or simply exterior trim. The exact term varies with how the board functions in the wall assembly.
Why can stored vinyl siding look like a different color?
Dust, dirt and oxidation can make older stored pieces look slightly different from freshly cleaned siding. Cleaning the surface often reveals that the color itself hasn't materially changed.
How long does it take to install vinyl siding on a small wall?
For an experienced installer, a small uncomplicated wall may go quickly. For a DIY project with access panels, trim transitions and custom fitting, much of the time is spent measuring, cutting and working around obstacles rather than simply attaching siding.
Keywords
back porch siding, vinyl siding installation, CertainTeed Flagstone siding, exterior window sill, PVC exterior trim, skirt board, back porch renovation, old house siding, porch rehab, exterior trim repair, DIY siding project, House 173