I'm looking to install aluminum siding but hear it's difficult to keep it level all around the house--start to finish.
How would I do this? Thanks!
2007-12-23 11:40:19 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Most siding contractors I know use a transit. Some use a story pole.
2007-12-23 13:31:20 · answer #1 · answered by winterrules 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
learn how to use a water level,they are awesome and very simple. fill a clear 1/2in tubing with water by putting one end in some water and with you at the other end (below the level of the end in the water) suck on it a little bit to get the water flowing,just let it fill up.The key here is not to have any bubbles. BUBBLES ARE WAY BAD! hold the two ends togther and let the water settle. if the levels are the same then you are good to go. if not then you have bubbles somewhere that you will have to work out by tapping and working the tube untill they are gone.
once it is full and without bubbles your ready to go.when you are using this,find a starting point to put one end(lets say where the top of the first row of siding is going to go,or if it is like vinyl siding i did a long time ago,where the j-channel is going to go)have a friend hold that end on the spot and take the other end a ways away and hold it on the wall. once the water settles and isnt moving all over any more that will be exactly the same height of the other mark. put a little line there and move on.this works geat around corners also.
this water level thing takes a little while to learn all the ins and outs of but it will work for you i promise. i was taught how to do this by an old phillipino special forces guy who used to do block for some extra cash and he helped me on my project. once i learned how to use this thing it has become invaluable,ive used it to do decks,drop ceilings,block,i did an overhead pour in guam and we used it to level out our forms. i could go on and on. good luck and if you have any questions you know how to find me...
2007-12-23 20:31:09 · answer #2 · answered by donald k 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to your local home supply and buy a water level. Very inexpensive.
All's it is is a plastic tube that you fill with water. Water is self leveling, so when you stretch out the plastic tube, and put it against the house, you make a pencil mark where the water is.
The instructions are very clear on the package it comes with. As a matter of fact, there was just a segment on water levels on This Old House last Thursday.
2007-12-23 20:21:45 · answer #3 · answered by billy brite 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
you start off with a level and then eyeball it from there. i have put siding on a house that was perfectly level when check with a level, but it looked crooked. go for looks...not too many people carry levels around in there pockets to check. insure you match up the corners....they will stick out like a sore thumb
2007-12-24 02:05:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i dont know if the make aluminum sidind anymore if so it would be very expensive. but no ext walls a perfectly level. the trick is to run your starter strip and one run of sidind all around the house 1st on second run make all corners match up (of course put your corners on first) you can then run one wall at a time to the top
2007-12-24 11:38:55 · answer #5 · answered by RICHARD B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hire a transit, it will give the best measurement of the side of the house, use this measurement all the way around.
2007-12-23 22:29:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
chaulk line
2007-12-23 19:46:13 · answer #7 · answered by Bob S 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋