Siding a settled home

mnsider

Hi,

I am looking for some advice on a problem I ran across with siding my home. First I tackled our detached garage. Took me a full weekend to do by myself but it went like a breeze. I started on my house yesterday and hit a bump in the road. I have been installing Certainteed Monogram vinyl siding exactly how the directions say to. I finished up to my first window, stepped back and could obviously tell the window was a shade out of level. I then measured down from my fascia board (house has no soffits) to the last piece of siding installed. The left side of the last installed piece measure 59 1/2" from the fascia. The right side of the same piece measures 60 3/4" away from the fascia. The piece is perfectly level which tells me the house has settled. I have a few questions on how to remedy this:

1. Instead of installing the siding level like the instructions (which is going to create an eyesore at the top because the reveals won't look the same at each end), would you instead measure down from the fascia boards an equal measurement to run your starter strip?

2. By doing this, it should also help the window "look" level correct?

Tom Struble

yes thats a small difference and most likely your panel will still be very close to level


bigger differences need different options tho,i personally will not run my new siding to far out of level to accommodate this

framingrailman

when I install siding on an old house, I figure where I want my siding to end at all top corners of house. Pull down a measurment for a starting point and go. If the house is not level neither should your siding, leave your level in the truck.

Tom Struble

let me ask you something,suppose you finish siding a house like that and the homeowner likes your work so much that a month later they ask you to install new windows and doors

do you now install them ''with the siding''?


there are other options a pro can use that can be brought into play that can minimize the look of out of level conditions

kwikfishron

That’s a loaded question with many variables but assuming were talking about small differences I would install the replacement windows so they work with the existing interior trim of the room which by some great coincidence will more than likely match the siding outside. How about you tom?

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Tom Struble

i will install them level/plumb

i tend to keep my levels close by

kwikfishron

Interesting…..

Square, yes but a plumb window in a crooked hole???

My level gets the day off for that one.

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Tom Struble

reveals can always be tweekedi see no alternate install instructions for a crooked house

kwikfishron

Which is exactly what I’m doing.

What are you talking about, fixing the opening, moving trim, exposing paint lines, stretching siding, creating new reveal issues in the room?

I’ll pick up the house and straighten it out first If all of that’s in the budget.

Are you telling me you have “never” deviated from the “instructions” to make a window look right?

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Tom Struble

maybe we are just speaking about the same thing differently

my units will be plumb and level but my trim may or may not

i will run my siding level but will adjust my trim to help visualy make the windows appear level,frieze boards slightly tapered,soffit hung to more equal reveals all can be used to achieve this

and many times settlement is not the issue,walls are built wacky new windows in new construction installed out of level,i don't think running my stuff out of level is the right way to address these problems