Bending Siding To See Behind It

From the first bend.

Bending siding to see behind it.

A siding brake bends aluminum or bendable vinyl siding to the angles you want using leverage from a hinged joint. Flip the sheet over and bend another 90 degree angle 3 4 in. Use scrap lumber to make a brake that is effective when only a few bends will be necessary. Use a straightedge to make a bend that will leave 6 in.

That s what metal head flashing is for and when properly tucked behind the housewrap and taped it does a pretty good job. Start by making an outline on the siding where you want to position the ledger board. Slip flashing under siding snap a chalk line cut out the siding and tack up the ledger board. It s easy to either use the butt of your hand to try to slide a siding panel left or right it should move about 1 2 or so.

Create the 3 4 in siding pocket using the brake as a gauge. Use a knife and a straightedge to cut a 12 in. Install the flashing before you finish the top of the brick wall as the flashing must go behind the siding as well as behind and under the top row of bricks that angle outward to cover the top. Make a 90 bend.

Then slip flashing behind the siding covering the top edge of the ledger. But water can still flow off the sides of the flashing where it soaks the joint where siding meets the casings. A purpose made brake isn t necessary if you are going to be bending only a few pieces of coiled siding. Start with the finished side up set the brake at about 3 in.

On a wall section long enough to have spliced sections of vinyl wall siding in a given siding course if we see vinyl wall siding that is buckled we also check to see if the siding moves freely left and right on the wall. In from the edge and bend a 90 degree angle. Piece of flashing from the same metal used for the roof s step flashing.