How to Install Vinyl Siding over a Concrete Block Garage

A concrete block garage is just about as sturdy as any garage can be. But if you want a garage that is both sturdy and attractive, you may want to cover your garage's exterior concrete block wall surface with something more becoming than the concrete block. One choice might be vinyl siding. With the right instructions, tools and materials, you should be able to install this siding on your garage wall with very little trouble. Here's how:

Step 1 – Drill Furring Strip Holes

Marking your wall for insertion of drill holes is important. If these holes are plumb and their spacing is correct, your furring strips will also be plumb and spaced correctly. Mark your first vertical line by using a plumb bob or carpenters level. This line should represent the center of your first furring strip. Measure 16" from the line you've drawn. this will be the center of your next strip. Make this line plumb and mark it. Do the same for all other lines where you'll be installing a furring strip. Use a drill with a masonry or carbide bit to drill holes, whose diameter will match those of the sleeve anchors you will use to attach furring strip to the walls. When the holes are drilled, use a shop vacuum or air hose to clean out any dust and debris left in these holes from the drilling.

Step 2 – Attach Furring strips

Fit a furring strip against the wall where the first vertical line has been drawn. Place the strip so its center is lined up with the vertical line. At the top of a furring strip, drill a hole. Line up the hole in the strip with the top hole you drilled in the wall. Insert a sleeve anchor into this hole and tighten the anchor enough to hold the furring strip in place. With the furring strip lined up with the other holes, drill holes in the strip to match those in the wall. Insert sleeve anchors, then attach other furring strips as you did with the first one, and tighten the sleeve anchors.

Step 3 – Attach a Vinyl Panel Starter Strip

Snap a horizontal line at the lowest point on your garage wall. Position your starter strip on this line and nail it in place onto your furring strips. To these same furring strips attach vinyl corner pieces. Along sloped eves and around windows and doors, attach your J-channel.

Step 4 – Attach Vinyl Panels

Beginning with the first course, attach your panels to the base attached to the starter strip by driving nails through the prefabricated nail slots. At places where panels butt together, overlap them 1 inch. Remove excess pieces of your panels at doors and windows by cutting them off with tin snips. Between siding courses, stagger seams so they are 4 inches apart.

Step 5 – Attaching your Top Panel Strip

Into the siding top edge, punch lugs at 16 inch intervals, using your snap-lock tool. To cut panel ends to the needed length, and angle where panels are fitted into sloped J-channel, use your tin snips.