Back Porch
Siding the East Wall
With the long sill finally finished, the east wall gets its Flagstone siding and the porch starts looking whole again.
Well, the heatwave in the Northeast finally broke and although it was still very hot outside, the humidity was almost completely absent, making for a very comfortable but...still hot...day. So we got an early start to take advantage of this break in the weather to see how much we could accomplish on the East wall. Let's get into it.
Where We Left Off
Just to reset, let's take a quick look at where we left off back on July the 7th. Up to now, the South wall had a new window sill and the siding's done. On the East wall, a new window sill's been crafted, installed and painted. All that said...it's finally time to get to the siding!
Making Room to Work
Before we could really get started installing the siding, we had to do a little prep work. And when I say prep work really all I mean is, we had to move the steps away from the back stoop because they're very close to the wall we'll be working on.
Fortunately back when I re-did the stoop in 2016, I had the foresight to not attach the steps to the stoop itself. The steps are so heavy, I knew they would never go anywhere. Besides, they were also attached to the stoop in the sense of the railings being attached, so I never had any fear of them moving. To get them out of the way for the siding installation, all I had to do was remove the railings that went from the stoop down to the bottom step, and muscle them out of the way.
Getting the Starter Strip Right
There were really only two serious considerations to keep in mind as we started on the East wall. The first was to make sure the rows (courses) line up with the courses of the siding on the South wall. The only other thing to really keep in mind and be very fastidious about was keeping the courses level.
To do that, we spent considerable time setting the starter strip to make sure - #1...that it was at the right height to set the courses around the corner were aligned, and #2...to keep the entire wall level.
This was one of those steps where spending twenty extra minutes at the beginning could save an hour of aggravation later. Once that starter strip was set, every row above it would follow. If we got it wrong, the mistake would just keep repeating itself all the way up the wall. And because the south wall was already finished, any mismatch around the corner would stare at me every time I walked past it.
So yeah...we took our time.
Rather than snapping a chalk line for level, I used my 72 inch spirit level that, my cousin bought for me several years ago. Now, I have to say that if you own an old house like 173 and do any work yourself, you just gotta invest early in a 72 inch level. If your place is anything like 173, nothing's square, plumb, or level and a long level will come in handy in more ways than you'll ever realize.
As a matter of fact, get every size you can, small to large - you'll need 'em all at one time or another!
Working Up the Wall
Once the starter course was in place, the rest of the courses went up fairly easily. I say "fairly easily" because there were spots where we ran into dips or voids for which we had to improvise by shimming here and there. And for whatever reason, when I really get going on a project I forget to take progress pictures, and the same holds true here. So, this next picture showing one and a half courses to go was the first time I thought about it.
The East Wall Is Sided
And that's that... the siding is on!
Adding the Band Board
The what? A band board, also known as belly band siding or beauty boards, is a decorative trim that runs horizontally across a house. It's usually installed at the first floor level, but can also be installed on the second floor. Here at 173 I decided to use decorative bands at the bottom of all the slate gray siding. This works with the white corners giving what I think is a bit more of a striking look!
Without that white band, the dark siding would simply stop at the bottom of the wall. The trim gives it a visual ending and ties the whole thing back into the white corner boards and window trim.
As it turned out I had two nice leftover boards from the front stoop, so of course I used them here on the East wall.
And here's the band board on the now-sided East wall! I think the band board really makes the whole thing pop!
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Standing Back for a Look
I think this wall took us about 3.5 to 4 hours, greatly slowed by the need to problem solve and improvise. Nonetheless, it was a nice day to be outside!
I love the whole process of a project, but there isn't much more satisfying than standing back and admiring the results of the time and work!
And that’s the east wall.
A few hours of measuring, leveling, fitting, shimming and problem-solving later, the siding is finally up and the white band board gives the whole thing a finished edge.
After all the time spent on the sill, it was especially satisfying to stand back and see the wall actually looking complete.
There are still details to finish, of course.
There are always details.
Next up: trimming the windows.
Hey, thanks for stopping by... see ya' next time!
Here's the problem with putting nice straight siding on an old house: suddenly you discover nothing else is straight. 😂
You get one course perfect, then look at the window. Fix your eye on the window and now the corner looks crooked. Eventually you just stand in the yard squinting at the house like you're trying to solve a Magic Eye poster.
Getting those courses to meet around the corner was worth the extra fuss, though. Nobody will ever walk by and compliment that detail.
They'll just think it looks right.
Which, after four hours of measuring and second-guessing yourself, is about the best compliment you can get. - Michael S., Petersburg
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the starter strip so important when installing vinyl siding?
The starter strip establishes the height and alignment of the first course. If it is out of level, every course above it can exaggerate the error.
Do siding courses need to line up around corners?
For the cleanest appearance, yes. Aligning courses around adjacent walls creates a more continuous and intentional look.
Can vinyl siding be shimmed over uneven walls?
Minor irregularities can sometimes be corrected with careful shimming or furring, but the wall should provide a reasonably flat and secure fastening surface. Larger problems should be corrected before siding is installed.
Why use a long level on an old house?
A long level helps average out small irregularities and makes it easier to establish reliable horizontal and vertical reference lines across longer spans.
What is a band board on exterior siding?
A band board is a horizontal trim element used to visually separate or terminate sections of siding. It can also help create a more finished transition between materials or colors.
Why does siding installation take longer on an old house?
Old walls often have dips, uneven framing, previous repairs, and out-of-square openings. Much of the time goes into measuring, fitting, shimming, and adjusting rather than simply fastening siding.
Keywords
back porch siding, east wall siding, vinyl siding installation, CertainTeed Flagstone siding, starter strip, siding courses, band board, old house siding, porch rehab, exterior trim, DIY siding, House 173