When finishing the facade, you will have to think about how to cover the pediment with siding. Siding is a very relevant facade material, which today is the most used in low-rise construction. The main feature of siding coating is the excellent balance of price and quality. Among owners of private houses, this material has also earned recognition for its simplicity and speed of installation. This article will tell you how to qualitatively finish the upper part of a building with your own hands.
The pediment is the front part of the building between two roof slopes and a cornice. The original purpose of its existence is to protect the roof from premature wear. Today, residential attic floors are often installed in this part of the house, therefore, the pediment requires doubly protection. It can have different shapes.
Most often it looks like a triangle or trapezoid, but it can be multi-stage or even semicircular. The size of this part of the house varies from half a meter to two meters in height if the attic space is not used as a living space, and more than two meters if living quarters are arranged there. The eye is always drawn to this part of the house, so in addition to its protective properties, the finishing should be aesthetic.
Unusual decorative design of the pediment
Materials and tools for finishing gable siding
Siding coatings provide the most beneficial finishing effect. They can cover a house, including its gables, inexpensively and quickly. Compared to facade slabs, the installation of which may require special high-rise devices, siding is easy to install alone. The most common types of siding are metal and vinyl panels. Each material has its pros and cons. You can choose any of them as your finish will not be affected either way. Let us list the main quality characteristics of vinyl and metal siding in comparison.
Comparative characteristics of vinyl and metal coating
- Vinyl siding is made from PVC with the addition of additives to improve the quality of the material, and metal siding is made from metal with a polymer coating, which adds protection to the metal profile. Each of them, with appropriate quality, has a warranty period of at least 30 years. Manufacturers guarantee metal siding for up to 50 years. During this period, the panels do not wear out and do not lose their properties.
- Both materials do not allow moisture to pass through, which is very important for this part of the building.
- Both vinyl and metal siding have high frost resistance. Metal is higher, but this is understandable - PVC, if handled incorrectly or installed incorrectly, can crack in the cold. On the other hand, the pediment is located high and is practically not subject to mechanical influences. Therefore, it can be considered that both materials are suitable for areas with low temperatures.
- Metal siding has the lowest susceptibility to temperature changes. But if you correctly make gaps for thermal expansion during installation, then there will be no problems with vinyl. It will not deform during use and will not crack.
- Manufacturers promise two types of material to preserve the original shade throughout the entire period of use.
- The cost of steel siding is slightly higher, but it pays off with a longer service life.
Do-it-yourself gable siding
There are two things to think about before making your decision. Metal is still heavier. The panel weighs up to 4 kg. Mounting it alone at a height will be a little more difficult than attaching vinyl elements. Another feature concerns PVC panels; they do not burn, but melt at a temperature of 500 degrees.
Whatever material you choose to decorate the part of the house between the roof slopes, each will have its advantages.
- The gable covered with siding will be reliably protected from moisture and wind.
- It's beautiful and neat.
- This finish will not require constant maintenance.
- It won't cost you a pretty penny.
Calculation of wall panels
The calculation can be entrusted to a calculator or to managers who will sell you the material, but some measurements need to be taken in any case:
- For a gable roof, it is necessary to measure the height and width of the surface;
- For a multi-slope mansard roof, we measure: the width of the roof, the height to each break and the width between them, you will also need the height from the break to the ridge.
Measuring the Quantity of Siding Pieces
If you want to do the calculation yourself, it is done like this:
- For the first type, the width must be multiplied by the height and divided by 2.
- For the attic, the arithmetic is a little more complicated. You need to add the width of the roof with the width between the fractures and divide by 2. Now multiply by the height before the fracture. We will make the following calculation by multiplying the width between the fractures by the height to the ridge, and multiplying the product by 2. Now add the two obtained values and get the surface area that will need to be sheathed.
Types of additional elements for cladding
For a full cladding, you will need additional parts to finish every nook and cranny of the surface. Their number and names will depend on the type of roof. The easiest way is to photograph the pediment and show it to the specialists of the company that will sell the finishing. If in doubt, ask the finishing company. Perhaps everything will become clear to you after studying the installation instructions that we provide in this article. The types of additional or decorative elements can be seen in the figure, which shows an approximate installation of siding with a gable roof.
Set of tools and auxiliary materials for cladding
In addition to the required amount of siding, you will need a classic set of tools for installing vinyl or metal siding. This is a hacksaw with fine teeth, a screwdriver, a knife-cutter, metal scissors, a level, coated twine, a plumb line, a ruler and square, and a drill. It is quite possible that you will need a punch to make additional holes in the material, because you cannot screw the fasteners directly into the part. For fastening devices, self-tapping screws of different lengths may be required, but not less than 35 mm and with a diameter of at least 8 mm. If the walls are brick or concrete, then dowels and nails will be needed. To secure heat-insulating boards, purchase fasteners with large caps - “fungi”.
The siding is laid on the sheathing, so you need to calculate and buy material for it. These can be wooden bars or galvanized metal profiles for outdoor use. You will need brackets to install the frame on the wall. And finally, insulation. It is worth purchasing a high-quality heat insulator, it can be polyurethane foam or mineral wool. The number of slabs is required based on surface area calculations.
Standard set of tools
Installation sequence
Surface preparation
Work on preparing the surface for installation is quite common. Clear the wall of the old finish if it is not a new house that will be sheathed. Not only the old casing must be removed, but also the protruding parts. For example, if there are windows, then dismantle the trim and sills on them. Possible balconies must be cleaned and cleared of debris, and the cash on the doors must be removed.
Stone walls do not need to be leveled, but it is advisable to use a special primer that will protect against mold, stone destruction and other troubles. The wood must be cleaned and impregnated with antiseptic and wood primer.
Manufacturing of sheathing
Now let's start installing the frame. This is done from a wooden beam 40x60 mm or slightly larger, for example, 50x70 mm. The wood is cut to size and impregnated with an antiseptic. It is better to cover the bars with drying oil, then the sheathing will last longer without rotting. Installation is carried out using fasteners that match the wall material. It is possible to mount directly to the wall or on brackets. When fixing the planks, use a building level.
Advice! Never use old boards to make a frame. The wood must be clean and dry so that it does not change size after installation. There should be no rot or blackness on the surface of the bars.
Vertical sheathing device
Instead of a wooden block, a metal profile made of galvanized steel is used. If you are going to attach lightweight vinyl siding, then you can use an aluminum profile for drywall - it is lightweight and does not bear the load on the facade and foundation. The metal frame will last longer, it does not require additional processing and is lighter than wood. True, it is more expensive, but this is compensated by the duration of use.
The grille can be installed vertically if the siding has horizontal fastenings.
If you are going to install vertical siding or make a mixed finish of horizontal and vertical siding, then the lattice needs to be made horizontal or mixed, respectively.
Horizontal sheathing device
Insulation
Thermal insulation can be of two types, it all depends on the use of the attic space. If there is a living room, then the insulation must be complete and of high quality. To do this, use polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam or mineral wool slabs. It is best to install mineral wool. This is a modern insulation material that breathes and perfectly protects rooms from noise and cold. In summer, mineral wool slabs protect against heat, which is very important for the roof structure.
Thermal insulation is laid between the sheathing beams, and the fasteners are made on the “fungi”. A wind barrier must be placed on top. It will be an additional protective layer for the material of the walls and interior rooms.
Mineral wool after installation must be covered with wind protection using staples
Step-by-Step Guide to Finishing Gable Siding
Now it's time to start installing the siding elements.
- We begin work by installing the starting profile along the base of the roof. This is one of the most critical steps in the entire installation. The rest of the process depends on how smoothly the starting bar is screwed. If there is a skew, then all the panels will be installed unevenly and not only the aesthetics, but also the integrity of the facade will suffer. Don’t be lazy, always check the level when you screw this element. When screwing any part, try to maintain an ideal vertical position, since even a small bevel can lead to the destruction of the entire skin or a crack in the panel.
Important! Never screw in fasteners all the way. You should always leave 1.5-2 mm for thermal expansion.
Correct installation of siding
Framing the gable with siding panels should take into account thermal expansion
- There are parts on the gable that are almost always made of wood and need protection - these are wind boards. For their cladding there is an additional siding element - a chamfer. The sequential process of finishing wind boards is clearly shown in the figure.
Making wind boards with a chamfer
It should be noted once again that we must not forget about the thermal expansion of materials. Before installation, be sure to take the siding elements outside for several hours. Covering the gable with siding is still high-rise work. Protect yourself from falling with a reliable ladder, and possibly a climbing belt.
Video: Instructions for covering a gable with siding panels
Now you know how to cover a gable with siding and you can do it efficiently and beautifully. The main thing is to follow the sequence of work and installation tips.
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The pediment is the front part of the wall of a building from the ridge to the cornice. It is the pediment that ends the space of the wall of the building, which is limited on the sides by two slopes of blood. Usually, decorative finishing of the pediment begins at the final stage of building a house. Moreover, special attention is paid to this aspect, because the design of the pediment from a visual point of view has a huge impact on the final appearance of the house.
Thus, the most popular finishing of the pediment today is siding: a wide variety of colors, textures, colors and visual volume. Thanks to this, you can advantageously emphasize the exterior of the entire house or focus your attention on the pediment. The siding itself is also valuable because it is easy and pleasant to work with: cut into the necessary elements and installed at such a dangerous height as the roof. See for yourself:
- Constructive. The pediment serves as a support for the floor beams and is necessary to achieve the required rigidity and stability of the roof.
- Protective. The pediment protects the building from scorching sun rays.
- Thermal insulating. If there is an attic under the roof, the pediment is designed to keep heat in it in the same way as the roof slopes.
- Decorative. It is the pediment that first catches your eye when you look at a new house, and it is from it that the main architectural styles are recognized.
Almost all types of gables are subject to external finishing, except, as a rule, brick. This type is good because it lasts much longer than wood and is more resistant to mold and rotting. It usually does not require any additional finishing, whereas walls made of other materials are better covered with something. After all, do not forget that the strength of the wind only increases with each vertical meter!
What is good about gable siding?
You will be interested to know that siding was once created not for houses, but for finishing... ships. The fact is that long trips to sea and crossing the oceans required a material that could perfectly withstand increased loads and be easily repaired. Moreover, the word “siding” itself comes from “tes”, which means planed profiled boards. It was these boards that were laid on the sheathed surface in a herringbone pattern.
For a home, finishing with modern siding is good not only in aesthetic terms. Thanks to this decoration, the pediment ultimately breathes, does not accumulate condensation and does not heat up on hot days. As you guessed, all this is of great importance when building a residential attic, where the pediment will serve as the external wall of the living space.
Another good thing about siding is that it is easy to level the uneven surface of the finished pediment. How? Lathing!
What type of siding is best for a gable?
Until relatively recently, siding was a material that was supplied exclusively as frame panels, with a small range of colors. Today, siding is already able to surprise even the most demanding buyer in terms of the following parameters: choice of designer colors, textures and imitations:
And here are the types of siding suitable for finishing gables.
Vinyl siding: convenient, but not durable
Quite often, vinyl siding is chosen for finishing the gable. It has many advantages over natural materials such as wood, longer service life and a more modern appearance. But know that in those Russian regions where the climate is especially harsh, even the highest quality vinyl siding breaks in the cold at the fastening points.
Vinyl siding is a special flexible panel that is equipped with perforated tape for fastening. Pleases first of all with the price. The variety of colors of vinyl siding is quite wide, and installation of the panels is as simple as possible. By the way, with the help of vinyl siding, the wooden cladding of the pediment is effectively imitated.
Here's how this siding is finished:
Vinyl siding is superior to aluminum panels in its stability. But what is especially pleasing is the resistance of such siding to high humidity, and, therefore, to corrosion itself.
Metal siding: resistance to damage
The next type of siding is metal. This siding is weather and corrosion resistant due to the fact that it is made from galvanized metal. A paint coating is applied on top of this sheet, which is distinguished by the fact that it practically does not fade in the sun.
Aluminum siding was simply designed to create the perfect gable surface. And therefore, with the help of such panels it is easy to equip a ventilated fountain, which is also called “breathing”. But it is advisable to install insulation under such siding so that it serves as excellent heat and sound insulation. Especially when it comes to a residential attic.
Aluminum siding does not have all the disadvantages that other types usually do not have. But it costs more.
Wood siding: a rare type of finish
In our country, wooden siding is not very popular because of its price. Therefore, it is not often found on residential buildings. After all, if the finishing of this part of the house unexpectedly swells from excess moisture or cracks from the bright sun, then all impressions of the exterior of your house will be spoiled.
Here's the finishing process:
Moreover, you can make wooden siding with your own hands:
Cement siding: a little-known novelty
Here's a new product on the construction market that will surprise you. This is cement siding, which is actually made from cement and fertilized with cellulose fibers. The surface of this siding can be painted with almost any paint. The disadvantages include weight and not always pleasant appearance; the advantages include stability. It is usually used in industrial construction and is almost unknown among ordinary people.
To summarize, let’s say that for finishing the gable, which is always done at a high level, we still recommend vinyl siding because of its lightness, flexibility and unpretentiousness.
How to calculate the finishing area of the pediment?
Today, the pediment is usually called the section of the roof that is located in the attic area. The height of the gable depends on whether there will be a living space under the roof, the function depends on whether thermal insulation is needed on this side of the roof (internal roof space), but the shape depends on the imagination of the architect and the style features of the entire house.
In addition to the classic triangular one, a pediment is often found today:
- Semicircular, which has a semicircular ending.
- Stepped, which has the shape of steps.
- Luchkovy. This pediment looks like an extended bow.
- Solntseva, which is made up of logs and is an almost direct continuation of the end wall.
- Broken, the points of which do not converge at the ridge of the roof, but retain free space between them, where a pedestal and any other architectural decoration are usually placed.
- Keel-shaped, which in its configuration resembles an inverted keel of a ship and was once quite common in Russian wooden architecture.
In order not to complicate your life, make all the necessary calculations in advance. Lay out the future siding finish on the ground, where it will be easiest to measure and double-check everything.
Please note that if you make one panel shorter than it should be, it will be almost impossible to fix it. If you do the preparatory work, you will not have any problems with how to cover the gable of a house with siding without wasting unnecessary material:
The easiest way to measure the height of the gable is between the gutters using conventional profiles, taking into account all vertical temperature gaps. The easiest way to do this is by locking two panels together. As a result, divide the height of the pediment by the height of the form factor and you will get a fractional number. Most likely, this means that you will need several whole panels and some kind of tail of a few centimeters. It is with this tail that you will need to start.
But what to do if the roof is pitched? In this case, you need to make two templates that will be installed under the roof slope at the desired angle. Using these templates you will prepare two profiles.
Insulation and waterproofing of the gable surface
Moreover, it is advisable to put waterproofing or wind protection under the siding itself:
And sometimes full thermal insulation:
Prepare stairs or build scaffolding?
Prepare for the fact that you will need to assemble scaffolding before starting work. Why don't we recommend stairs? The fact is that working at height is dangerous primarily because a person gets tired. As a result, sometimes for a short time he loses coordination and dexterity of movements, forgetting at this moment about his own safety.
In addition, it will be easier to put the siding and tools somewhere, rather than keeping them constantly suspended:
In total, you will have with you several siding panels, special strips, a level, screws, screwdrivers, and much more. In addition, if there are also windows on your gable, be sure to decorate them with window trims. They will become another winning platform for decoration, where style solutions are also used.
And therefore, especially if we are talking about the second and higher floors of the pediment, it is better to use special equipment for your own safety:
The sheathing of the gable of the house with siding is carried out during these two stages of construction: erection of the roof and finishing work.
What about the design?
So, finishing the gable may have the goal of merging the roof into the overall composition of the house or highlighting it as a separate element. True, modern exterior designers insist that the decoration of the pediment of a simple house with a minimalist style should not stand out from the overall composition of the building. But with the help of the most ordinary siding, these wonderful things are obtained:
How to attach siding to a gable?
It is most rational to plan and carry out finishing of the gable after the roof has been erected, during the final work, when other construction work will not interfere with you, and it will be easier to secure the siding. But this should only be done if you have planned the entire design of the house and, upon completion of its construction, it does not turn out that the pediment is visually simply not suitable.
How can this happen? For example, it is not uncommon for a developer to have one project and a style solution in his plans, but during the course of construction it turns out that there simply is not enough money for the entire implementation of the project. Therefore, the roofing will have to be simpler, the finishing for the house will be a little cheaper, and all the exterior design elements will look beautiful only in 3D, whereas in real life, finishing with siding can be done even after the construction of the house is completed. Moreover, it often happens that the pediment needs to be updated on an older house.
So, let's look at the order in which it is necessary to install siding on the gable.
Step 1. Surface preparation
If you do not do this, then prepare the surface in terms of cleanliness. Carefully inspect the gable and remove any protruding parts using construction tools. Be sure to seal all cracks and holes with foam. As a result, the pediment should be clean and even, only then can you move on to the next step.
Please note that those gables that were sheathed with dark siding or covered with a dark-colored roof become very hot. These places have the poorest ventilation, and stagnant high-temperature air will always form under the roof canopy. To avoid such heating when installing profiles on the gable, make an indent of two and a half centimeters from the border where the roof and the gable border touch.
Step 2. Installing the sheathing
If you figure out how to cover a pediment with siding with your own hands, know that in any case you need to install the sheathing vertically, at a distance of 40 centimeters from each other:
You can use wooden blocks or metal profiles as lathing. If you use wood as a material, then be sure to treat it with an antiseptic, and if you decide to purchase a metal profile, then give preference to the one that is designed specifically for finishing with siding:
Tip: Place starting strips and boards at a distance of 2.5 centimeters from the corner.
You can switch from horizontal to vertical siding through an edging profile. Here, all corner profiles and trims must be mounted in the same way as in horizontal siding.
The only important thing is that the metal or wooden sheathing is positioned at an angle of 90 degrees to the siding. In those places where the vertical siding extends into the corner profiles, you need to leave the following temperature gap: 16 millimeters, and 13 on top.
Step 3. Fastening the panels
The first step is to install the starter strip at the bottom of the gable. Fasten the screws, leaving a technical gap between the siding fasteners of approximately 12 millimeters. This is necessary so that the metal can expand when temperature changes occur.
And adhere to the following rules when installing:
- You will attach the first panel so that the lower part can easily snap into place with the top using a lock.
- Bend the panel slightly and only then gently push it into place. And only after that nail it.
- Place the nails at a distance of 30-40 centimeters from each other. Install all other panels according to the same principle.
- The cut or corner profile with the cut side must be installed so that there is a gap of 10 millimeters between the additional elements and the siding itself.
- The center of each nail should be in the middle of the special hole, and be sure to point it straight. If the nail is already bent, remove it, otherwise the panel will creak all the time and eventually the siding will become deformed.
- Between the top edge of the nail head and the siding should be left from one to one and a half millimeters. These are necessary for the expansion and contraction of metal. If you don't do this, you will experience a so-called "ripple effect."
- Never drive a nail into the face of the panel. Do not pull on the panels as you attach. Strong tension on a panel always deforms its shape, and not necessarily at the same moment. And the most offensive thing is to look at such siding after a month or two.
Upon completion of all work, secure the top siding panel with a special finishing strip.
What you need to determine the location of the first panel when working with siding from the corner:
- Step 1. It is necessary to set aside a distance from the vertical axis that we mark that would be equal to the width of the panel. You do all this along the bottom edge of the gable. We measure the distance until it becomes less than the width of the panel.
- Step 2. Make a mark at this point on the panel and draw a line through it that will be parallel to the vertical axis.
- Step 3. This is the line where you will begin attaching the first panel of siding.
- Step 4. If you start installing siding from the center, then we install an H-profile on this vertical axis. We already insert starting profiles into it and install siding on both sides simultaneously.
When installing vertical siding, every three panels we must check to see if the angle has changed or if a tilt has arisen. This is very important, because any slight distortion on the pediment will definitely catch your eye and spoil the mood. Secondly, if this is allowed, you will find that the panel lock does not line up with the center line. Therefore, it is important to adjust the gable trim in a timely manner.
In order to correctly join the profiles under the roof ridge, you should make a template in advance:
- Step 1. To do this, take a piece of J-profile and install it on the existing wall siding.
- Step 2. Another one like this, the second one, cut to the angle of the roof.
- Step 3: The first step is to create a roof slope line and remove the excess vinyl. Therefore, a template is used to mark the strip that will go to the left side of the pediment.
- Step 4. Lay the template face up, at right angles to the profile being placed, make markings with a pencil and cut the profile itself along the mark.
- Step 5: Remove all excess vinyl.
- Step 6. Turn the template face down and mark the second J-rail, which we will place on the right side.
Well, as you already understand, we won’t touch the front side - we’ll just make a bar. When you insert the profiles, you will be left with an uncut face strip of the right profile, which will fit into the channel of the left one. If it suddenly turns out that the front strip prevents the full entry of the panel, simply trim it. The main thing is that the upper parts of the front profiles ultimately close the knot.
Another unpleasant point: when installing J-profiles, their length is often not enough. That is why sometimes an unscrupulous construction team does not install a J-profile on the gables at all and installs siding there without it. The result is a connection that is quite normal for the eyes, but at the first rain and snow, moisture will fall directly on the walls, since it will no longer encounter this same profile on its way. That is why, even with, at first glance, quite decent upholstery, the wall is not always protected from external precipitation, as well as the problems that follow.
In addition, it is quite acceptable to use more textured vinyl planks instead of J-profile for finishing the gable. These are larger and can be used in different colors and special designs. But all this slightly increases the cost of finishing the pediment itself. Please note: for a regular roof, we initially prepare a template that duplicates the angle of inclination of the slopes.
This is how you need to work with flake siding. Count their number: if it turns out to be even, it means that the bottom siding panel will be oriented along a plumb line with a border between two scales. If odd, then the center of the scale should converge with the center of the pediment:
And this is where finishing the gable differs from finishing the house with siding. That's all the subtleties!
- external cladding of the house, performing several important functions at once.
First of all, this is the decorative design of the building, giving it a neat, elegant appearance.
In addition, siding allows the wall materials to “breathe” - i.e. promotes the removal of steam from the thickness of the wall pie, preserving the working properties of the structure for many years.
The relative cheapness of the material and the possibility of self-installation are additional, but no less important properties that make the cladding popular and in demand among consumers.
A pediment is a triangular (most often) section of a wall, bounded by the slopes of the roof and, on the base side, by a cornice. Depending on the architectural solution, the pediment can be a continuation of the wall, or a separate element, but in any case it serves as the basis for the roof slopes, whatever its shape.
There are many types of gables:
- Triangular.
- Trapezoidal.
- Torn.
- Luchkovy.
- Stepped.
- Circular.
- Uninhibited.
All types of gables perform the same function - continuation of the wall until it contacts the roof slopes, or serving as the end wall of the attic. For private housing construction, the most typical shape is a triangular shape, or a more complex pentagon shape, which is obtained in houses with a sloping roof.
How to calculate the amount of siding for a gable
To calculate the required amount of siding, you must first calculate the area of the gable. Depending on its shape, ordinary geometric formulas are used to determine the areas of simple figures - an isosceles triangle, a trapezoid.
To determine the area of a pediment with a sloping roof, you can conditionally divide it into two figures - a trapezoid (lower part) and an isosceles triangle (upper part), calculate their area and add up the results.
Remembering the school geometry course, the area of a triangle is half the product of the base and the height, and for a trapezoid - the sum of the bases multiplied by the height and divided in half.
It should be borne in mind that the calculated area of the gable when purchasing siding should be increased by 10-15%, since the skin will have to be cut at an angle, and the trimmings will go to waste, so a reserve area will be necessary.
In addition, errors in measurements, cutting or installation are always possible; the presence of additional material will help compensate for them.
Additional elements
that will be needed for cladding the pediment are:
- Starting strip (if the pediment is structurally separated from the wall plane).
- Finishing bar.
- H-profile.
- J-profile.
- Soffit, L-strap.
- Molding, decorative overlay, etc.
- Window decoration elements (if any).
You should use additional elements only from the same manufacturer as the main siding panels. In addition, you cannot use metal elements together with vinyl ones - due to the different coefficient of thermal expansion, the tightness of the canvas will be compromised.
A different type of siding than that on the walls can be used to finish the gable.. Sometimes such a solution very successfully decorates the appearance of the house, especially if horizontal siding is used for the walls and vertical siding is used for the gable.
Sequence of work
All work has the following sequence:
- Installation of sheathing.
- Installation of insulation (if necessary), steam and waterproofing.
- Installation of starting rails, H-profiles, corner profiles, design of window openings.
- Installation of main siding panels.
- Fitting of soffits and L-straps.
Depending on the complexity of the house’s architecture, some additional operations may be necessary, but this is the basic list of work.
Installation of sheathing on the gable
The general installation principle is the same as the rules for installation on walls. If there is a need for external insulation, then a primary sheathing is installed with the direction of the planks identical to the location of the siding panels.
The plane of the slats is carefully leveled, for which it is convenient to use a stretched cord between the outermost slats installed first. The height above the wall surface should not be less than the thickness of the insulation. The pitch of the planks corresponds to the width of the insulation (usually 60 cm).
After installing the insulating material and steam-hydroprotection, the counter-lattice is installed. It will play the role of a supporting system for the siding panels and, at the same time, provide a ventilation gap between the sheathing and wall materials.
The spacing of the planks is most often made about 40 cm for greater strength of fastening of the sheathing.
The material for the sheathing was traditionally wood - smooth, straight bars of the required thickness were used. This option is not the most successful, since the wood is subject to warping, swelling and other changes in structure, which negatively affects the condition of the cladding as a whole.
Recently, metal guides for gypsum boards have become the main material for lathing; they are free of all the disadvantages of wooden blocks, allow precise adjustment of the plane, and are not subject to corrosion due to the galvanized layer.
Considering the minimal difference in price, the choice of metal strips is completely justified and rational.
Installation of internal and external corner profiles
Corner profiles are installed on the sides of window openings (external corners), along the lines of the roof slopes (internal corners). The task is to ensure the conjugation of the planes of the pediment and soffits or the pediment and the slopes of window openings.
The upper and lower edges of the corner strips located along the inclined lines of the slopes must be trimmed at the desired angle. For longitudinal joining, the profile is cut so that an overlap of 25 mm is obtained, and the upper strip should be above the lower one.
This prevents running water from getting under the casing.. At the same time, J-planks are installed on the outer edges of the gable overhangs. They are intended to secure the outer edge of the soffit.
PLEASE NOTE!
When installing all siding elements, it is imperative to take into account the thermal expansion of the material, for which the longitudinal connection of auxiliary elements (starter strips, J-planks, etc.) is not made tightly, but with a gap in winter - 12 mm, in summer - 6 mm . For the same purpose, the screws are not tightened all the way, allowing the part to move freely within the mounting grooves.
Installation of ordinary siding panels
Produced according to the usual scheme:
The lower (first) row of panels is snapped into the lock of the starting bar, and at the same time inserted into the grooves of the corner and H-profiles on the sides. The upper part of the panel (nail strip) is attached with self-tapping screws to the sheathing.
All subsequent panels are installed in a similar way to the very top. The main task is to accurately maintain the angle when cutting panels and, at the same time, maintain thermal clearances for free movement in the corner and H-planks during expansion.
If the gaps are insufficient, the siding fabric will begin to bend outward, which can lead to the destruction of the panels.
CAREFULLY!
Work on installing siding on the gable is carried out at height, especially if the house has two floors (or more). It is necessary to ensure safe and comfortable work in advance, to exclude the possibility of tools, materials and workers themselves falling from the scaffolding.
Installation of spotlights
Installation of soffits is considered the final stage of gable cladding, although it is quite possible to first design the gable overhang, and only after that begin installing row panels on a vertical plane.
First of all, it is necessary to ensure the possibility of fastening the elements, which depends on the type of roof overhang.
There are:
- Closed overhang. It is lined with boards on the bottom; installing profile strips on such a base does not cause any problems.
- Open overhang. In this case, there is a continuation of the roofing material, which does not have any cladding underneath. To install the extensions and the soffits themselves, you will need to lengthen the rafter legs and attach support bars to them. The task is quite difficult due to the inconvenient location of the work site - at a height, the work is carried out from below. This circumstance sometimes forces one to abandon the installation of spotlights.
Soffits are installed in grooves of parallel installed internal corners and J-straps along the edges of the overhangs. The installation rules remain the same - do not tighten the screws all the way, leave temperature gaps.
To install the spotlights, one edge is inserted into the profile groove, and the receiving element is slightly bent to make it possible to insert the spotlight into the groove. It is not recommended to apply too much force, which could permanently deform the receiving element.
To design the angular turns of the spotlights, either an H-profile or two J-profiles are used, tightly installed with their rear platforms facing each other.
The junction of two strips can be made at 45°, or one strip continues to the end of the overhang, and the second adjoins it end-to-end through the H-bar. The second option is somewhat simpler, which is very important when working at height is difficult and inconvenient.
The final stage is the installation of L-planks that form the end cut of the cornices.
Useful video
In this video you will learn how to finish a pediment with siding:
Conclusion
Covering a gable with siding is difficult due to the inconvenient location of the work site and the need to cut panels at an angle, which is fraught with possible errors. Otherwise, the operation does not cause any particular problems and is quite successfully performed independently. High-quality finishing of the gable with siding makes the house solid, attractive in appearance, creates completeness, and harmoniously connects together all the structural elements of the building.
When building a house, the part of the time spent on interior and exterior decoration is greater than that which is intended for finishing the walls. One of the difficult but very important stages of the whole process is finishing the gable with siding yourself. You have to work hard to fit all the panels to the required dimensions, and then lay them level. The article will talk about the rules for calculating the amount of material, and also provide step-by-step installation instructions.
Purpose of pediments
Simply put, the gable is the end part of the roof or the space between the building and the roof slopes. Pediments can come in a variety of shapes. Everything will depend on which roof project is chosen. Its height depends on how the attic space will be used. If there is a warehouse of things there, then its height may be a little more than a meter. If we are talking about building an attic, then they can raise it by 2 meters. The pediment can be either an independent structure or a continuation of the brickwork. In the second case, he is driven out along with the walls.
The pediment has not only an aesthetic purpose, but is also responsible for protecting the roof from precipitation and the weathering of warm air that rises from the house. Due to the functions assigned to the pediment, not every finishing material can be used for it. One of those options that is definitely suitable is siding. It has good strength and is also quite easy to install, as it has a special locking design. Often its structure imitates various natural materials, such as wood or stone.
Types of siding
In appearance, siding is very similar to lining. It also consists of individual longitudinal elements or strips. It is produced in packages with sheet lengths up to 6 meters. When produced locally, they can reach larger sizes. Everything will depend on the specific project and the wishes of the customer. The width of one plank can reach 30 cm. It can serve for an impressive period of up to 50 years. It can be made from various bases:
- metal;
- cement.
PVC or vinyl siding panels are manufactured as solid panels. They have sufficient strength and a certain flexibility, which simplifies their transportation. Thanks to its structure, this siding can withstand sudden temperature changes. It does not crack or lose its color when exposed to sunlight. No harmful substances are used during the production of this type of siding, so it is completely safe for humans. Metal siding can be made from sheets of galvanized steel or aluminum. The latter will be more expensive, but also have a long service life. The disadvantage of both is the possibility of damage to the paint layer, which is simply impossible for vinyl panels, because they are completely painted.
Metal panels are highly resistant to physical impact. This means that even heavy hail will not cause significant damage. There is another type of siding that is made from cement that is held together with plant cellulose fibers. It has sufficient strength and durability. One of the disadvantages of this material is its significant weight. When installing on a gable, this factor must be taken into account. It can be made in various colors and imitate other materials.
Material calculation
Correct budget planning cannot do without counting numbers. Even before you go to the hardware store to buy siding, you need to know how much material you will need to complete the project. It would be very simple if the gables were square or rectangular in shape then determining their area would be a simple task. The process of determining the area is difficult if they are triangular, but it becomes even more difficult when, due to the design of the roof, they are trapezoidal. But it’s worth starting with something else. The first step is to find out how much area one strip of siding will cover. To do this, you need to multiply its length by its width. One of the common sizes of siding strips is 366 by 20.5 cm. The derivative of these numbers is 0.75 m2.
If you have to sheathe a triangular pediment, then you need to take a tape measure and measure all its dimensions. This applies to the size of the roof slopes to the center line, the base of the triangle, as well as the height of the triangle. It is a line that is lowered to the base at a right angle. In the case where the roof is gable and has the same size of two slopes, then you can use the formula for an isosceles triangle. To do this, you need to multiply the height size by half the base size. The final figure must be divided by the area that one plank will cover. This will determine the number of strips needed. If the roof slopes are different, then the area will need to be calculated for two right triangles and added together. To do this, it is necessary to multiply each part of the base line of the pediment from the height by the length of the slope that is adjacent to it. After this, the result is divided by 2. For the trapezoid, you will need the formula for the trapezoid.
Pay attention! If the task is to calculate the area of a complex pediment figure. Then you need to break it down into simple geometric shapes. Calculate the area of each and sum them up. The final result is divided by the area of one plank. For more information, watch the video below.
Installation work
Once the amount of finishing material required has been found, it is worth thinking about what method will be used to install the siding on the gable. Finishing the gable with siding can be done in three ways:
- without sheathing;
- on a wooden crate;
- on a metal sheathing.
The first option carries minimal costs. It consists in the fact that the siding strips are attached directly to the gable plane without the use of additional supporting elements. But this is only possible if the plane of the pediment is sufficiently flat and strong. This method is not suitable for cases where the attic space will be used as an attic. This is due to the fact that it will be impossible to install insulation under the siding. Another disadvantage of this method is that with temperature deformations of both the siding itself and the gable plane, destruction of the cladding may occur.
In most cases, siding is installed on a frame. The cost of wooden lathing will depend on how high-quality wood is used for it and what its price is. Its service life is long, but less than that of metal sheathing, since it is subject to various types of external influences. You will have to tinker with pre-treatment with special compounds before installation. The metal frame is quite reliable. It assembles very quickly and holds the siding securely. It can be made of galvanized metal or aluminum, so it is resistant to corrosion.
Step by step instructions
The main step before installation will be preparing the base for attaching the siding to the gable. If it is a brick wall, then you need to inspect it carefully. If there are cracks, they are sealed with tile adhesive or polyurethane foam. Next, treatment is carried out using a primer composition. Several layers may be needed. This is done to prevent the wall from collapsing under the siding. After drying, a hydrobarrier is laid, which will prevent the accumulation of moisture and condensation under the siding strips.
Pay attention! Installation of siding on gables is best done from scaffolding or a small tower. This will allow you to feel confident and move freely along the surface being treated. If the work is supposed to be done from a ladder, then it is better that it is a stepladder, and an assistant from below insures it from tipping over.
The next step is to make the sheathing for the siding. If the cladding of a wooden house is to be carried out, then a wooden frame can be used, since it will fit better and can be made from leftover wood. For all other buildings, metal sheathing can be used. It is mounted in increments of 50 cm. The increment can be smaller, everything will depend on what width of the insulation is chosen. Even if the gable plane is uneven, it can be removed using lathing. For this purpose, you can stretch several strings, which will be leveled, or use a laser level. After laying the insulation, another layer of waterproofing is installed.
When covering the gable with siding, it is better to move from the bottom up. To do this, you need to secure the starting bar. It is important to maintain a horizontal level, since the subsequent picture during installation will depend on it. For orientation, you can stretch the fishing line or use a laser level. To fix the starting bar, self-tapping screws with a wide head are used. But it is worth remembering that you do not need to press it completely. The self-tapping screw must be tightened with a gap of 1 mm. This is due to the fact that siding and components expand at temperature. To prevent them from being led, a little free movement is necessary.
If it initially becomes clear that one plank will not cover the entire width of the opening, then it is worth thinking about how best to cut the planks to do this. A special I-beam profile is used to connect the siding strips. It will look good if it is placed in the middle. In the case when the length is more than two strips, then two seams can be made with the same distance from the middle of the pediment. To cover the ends of the siding strips you will need an L-shaped profile. It is attached to the bottom of the roof slope. The siding strips must be inserted into it during installation.
One of the important stages in the process of installing siding on a gable is determining the angle of trimming the end. To do this, you can make a special template on which you can practice. After obtaining the required result, it must be transferred to the right and left edges of the bar. Further trimming and fitting will be carried out along the prepared siding strips. The first strip of siding is installed. It snaps into all slots. The plank is also secured using a self-tapping screw with a gap. The total length of the siding strip should be 5 mm less than the width of the gable. This gap acts as a thermal seam. In the process of covering the gable with siding, you will also have to deal with window framing. In this case, it is necessary to shorten the planks to the required length, and also use a special window profile for siding. You can see step-by-step instructions for installing siding in the video below.
Pay attention! The pediment can also be covered with basement siding. It will perfectly withstand wind and other loads. Some types of basement siding can be finished to look like stone and have insulation.
Conclusion
As you can see, installing siding on a gable is a non-trivial task that sometimes requires a creative approach. The key to success will be accuracy in calculations, as well as consistency in all sizes. Never forget about safety. You can buy a new strip of siding, but serious damage to health may no longer be possible to correct. Therefore, take precautions and use reliable equipment.
After the construction of a building, most owners try to improve its façade in various ways. The walls are often plastered and painted or lined with facing bricks.
But if there are no problems with finishing the facade, then there are not many ways to finish the pediment. In this article we will tell you how to cover a pediment with siding with your own hands, and also demonstrate clear video instructions.
The use of this material has several positive qualities: ease of installation and aesthetic appearance of the finished structure.
What is needed for the work
All work carried out at a height of more than 1.5 meters is considered high-rise, so for reliability and safety you will need good scaffolding. Agree that it will not be very convenient to constantly rearrange the ladder in order to secure the part.
Pay attention! If you do not have the opportunity to purchase ready-made frame scaffolding, then show a little ingenuity and build them from scrap material. The main thing is that the design is reliable.
Hand-held electric tool:
- impact drill,
- screwdriver,
- jigsaw,
- metal scissors,
- square,
- level,
- roulette.
Pay attention! In order not to experience inconvenience when working with a power tool, take care of the required carrying length, secure it to the scaffolding in such a way that you have free access to it throughout the entire work area and you do not have to constantly carry it from one place to another.
In our case, we will talk about finishing a cold roof, and you should immediately note that when working with attic rooms, the list of work carried out is slightly different, this will be mentioned below.
This is the first thing to do. It is attached flush to the roofing material. If the gable of your house is made of brick, then to do this you need to drill holes along its entire length with a distance of 20 cm and insert wooden plugs or pre-purchased plastic ones into them. On the bar in the places of intended fastening, the upper parts are cut out and bent using metal scissors. Then it is placed flush with the pediment and secured with self-tapping screws, preferably with press washers.
If the length of the pediment requires it, the subsequent plank is attached in the same way, only each joint should overlap so that there are no gaps between them. Adjacent strips must be installed on both sides.
The same strip must be attached along the lower part of the pediment - all work is carried out in the same way.
Pay attention! Covering the front of a house with siding with your own hands is not a difficult task, but it is better to do it with an assistant.
We needed the adjacent strips to make it easier to prepare the frame for the sheathing or, as they say, sheathing. It can be made from a wide profile, because it will be more convenient to attach siding to it in the future.
There are two options for preparing the sheathing:
- If you decide to sheathe the gable horizontally, then the sheathing is attached vertically to the adjacent planks under the roof overhangs.
- For vertical fastening, you will need to position the sheathing bars horizontally, respectively.
The most profitable and attractive option is the vertical arrangement of siding panels.
Pay attention! All sheathing strips must be secured strictly level, otherwise you will not be able to achieve a flat surface when laying siding.
Insulation - to install or not
Here you need to determine whether the room will be heated or not. If the attic is not heated, then insulation will not be needed, because no one will use the room. The absence of insulation will serve as additional protection against moisture accumulation.
On the contrary, it is better to insulate the attic room. The material can be laid both outside the gable under the sheathing, and additionally inside the attic.
The frame is ready, let's start working with the siding. To measure the required length, place the tape measure on the inner corner and measure the distance to the outer corner, adding 5 mm to each side. After cutting the siding to the required size, attach the panel to the installation site and make sure that you did everything correctly.
The siding panel must be inserted from the bottom up. Insert it into the lower part of the adjacent plank, and, bending it slightly, insert it into the upper part. A characteristic click will indicate that you did everything correctly. After installing the first part, check with a level that the position is correct and, if necessary, correct it. The entire progress of the work will depend on the correct installation of the first siding strip.
After installing the first panel, measure and secure all subsequent parts in the same way. To give an aesthetic appearance, the top of the pediment is trimmed with plumbs, and in the lower part a special decorative profile can be attached to the starting strip.
Pay attention! If you carry out work in cold weather, then you need to remember that siding at low temperatures becomes quite fragile and it is better to cut it in a warm room.
Now you know how to properly cover a gable with siding. Also check out the little tricks that will help you do all the work correctly.
- The material from which the siding is made has the ability to expand at high temperatures, so experts recommend leaving small gaps between the elements (5–6 mm) during installation.
- If you use a wooden version of the sheathing, then when securing the siding with self-tapping screws, you do not need to tighten them as much as possible. This will allow the tree to breathe during temperature changes.
- To cut the corners of the panels evenly, prepare a template in advance.
Video