Home Improvement Ideas Home Exteriors Siding How to Install Siding Panels Installing plywood panel or sheet siding offers one of the quickest and least expensive ways to cover an exterior wall. Learn how with our step-by-step guide. By Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on August 10, 2022 Trending Videos Close this video player Project Overview Total Time: 1 day Skill Level: Advanced Sheet panel siding is an affordable option for covering a home's exterior. These products have gotten a bad reputation in recent years, due to reports of panels that buckle, delaminate, or come loose from the wall. But if you choose the panels and fasteners carefully and follow correct installation procedures, plywood panels can last a long time. 5 Long-Lasting Siding Materials (That Look Great, Too!) Cement-fiber panels are somewhat more water-repellent than plywood, but should be installed with the same care as plywood. Hardboard panels are often the least expensive option, but if they're not kept well covered and with paint at all points, they're easily damaged and soak up moisture like a proverbial sponge. Panels are typically available in eight- and 12-foot lengths. Longer panels may enable you to minimize the number of horizontal joints between panels. Either way, expect to spend about a day installing 1200 square feet of panel with a helper. Before you begin, cover the sheathing with building wrap and install trim boards and flashings. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Nail gun or hammer Circular saw Jigsaw Tape measure Story pole Chalk line Drill Flat pry bar Level Caulking gun Utility knife Tin snips Staple gun Materials Siding panels Strips of felt Staples Board and flashing for the water table Stainless-steel or galvanized siding nails Primer or sealer Instructions Prep the Walls Prepare the walls as you would for any other wood siding by applying building wrap, along with self-stick flashings at the corners and around the windows and doors, installing metal flashings as required. Prime Panels Prime the panel edges. This is a good idea even if the panels are pre-primed, since plywood edges are very porous. Keep a brush and primer handy so you can prime all the edges after cutting. Locate the Studs Locate stud centers and mark them so they can be easily transferred to the panels prior to installing. Use a level to strike a plumb line where two panels will join; marking with a lumber crayon (shown) will make the line easy to see. Make a Temporary Ledger Installation will be easier if you have a temporary ledger to rest the panels on. The ledger should be about 1 inch below the sill plate. To stabilize it, pound 2x4 stakes into the ground a few inches away from the foundation. Fasten the ledger to the stakes with screws, leveling it as you go. 13 Common Home Siding Options—Plus How to Pick the Right One Plan the Sheet Locations Plan the locations of the sheets to avoid narrow slivers near the sides of windows and doors. If studs are not 16 or 24 inches on center, plan the layout carefully so all the edge joints will fall over a stud. You will likely need to cut the first panel lengthwise. Measure and cut the overlap side. The underlap should extend beyond the stud, so that you can nail through the overlap of the next piece. Make a Cutting Guide Make a cutting guide for long, straight cuts. Drive screws to fasten a straight eight-foot-long 1x4 or 1x3 against the factory edge of an eight-foot-long piece of plywood that is at least 10 inches wide. Guiding the saw base on the 1x4, cut the plywood to make the cutting guide.Editor's tip: When measuring a panel to cut to the correct width, subtract 1/8 inch to account for any gap that must occur between panels. If you are cutting off the overlap side, measure from the face of the panel (not the underlap). Make a V-shape mark near each end of the cut, placing the tip of the V at the precise measurement. Hook the chalk line at one end and pull it taut so the line crosses the V marks at their points. Pick the line straight up and let go to create a straight line. Support Panel When cutting a large panel, support it with four long boards, two on each side of the cut line. This way the panel will not fall away and possibly crack when you finish the cut. Cut Siding Clamp the cutting guide to the siding to be cut, aligning the cut edge of the plywood part of the guide with the chalk line. Cut the siding with a circular saw, guiding the saw base along the board on the cutting guide. Editor's tip: Crosscutting panels with a circular saw leaves a splintered edge on the face. To avoid this, cut the sheet from the back. If you want to cut on the finish side, score the face of the panel with a utility knife just to the inside of the cut line, then cut with the circular saw. Mark for Nailing To mark for nailing, measure from a corner or from the next panel to the centers of the studs. Mark the panel in three places to show where you'll drive nails. If a stud is at or near a channel on the panel, you might not need to mark more than one place. (If your panels have no channels, you might choose to snap chalk lines.)Editor's tip: Nails should be driven into studs. Commonly, nails are placed six inches apart along the perimeter and 12 inches apart in the middle. Trim overlaps the siding. Use Z-flashing at any horizontal joints. Keep the panels six inches above grade and at least 2 inches away from concrete or asphalt stairs or walkways. Gaps may be prescribed where panels join at a shiplap joint and where plywood meets flashings. Cut Panel Corner Inside corners are rarely straight. If the corner is wavy, cut the panel 1-1/2 inches wider than it needs to be, then hold it plumb, and scribe a line along a 2x2 held against the corner. You will cover the corner with trim, but a more accurate cut will seal better than a sloppy one. Check for Plumb Rest the sheets on the temporary ledger and check for plumb. The edge of the first sheet should be about 1/4 inch shy of the corner. Drive in Nails Drive in nails so they are tight and flush, but don't drive the heads below the surface. It may take some practice before you can consistently drive nails without marring the panel. If you're having trouble, use a nail set when striking the last blow. Slide the Panels into Place The ledger is handy for sliding the panel into place. With some panels, you might have to temporarily tack nails in the joint to produce a 1/8-inch gap. Check with your supplier. If you neglect this gap, the panels might buckle in humid weather. Mark for Cutout Hold a panel at the correct height, and against a window or other obstruction, to mark for the horizontal part(s) of a cutout. Cut 1/4 inch above the flashing or window. Measure over from the other panel to mark the top and bottom of the vertical cut and snap a line between the marks. Again, allow for a 1/4-inch gap. Cut the Lines to Corners Use a circular saw to cut the lines just up to the corners, and use a jigsaw or handsaw to finish the cut. Attach the Flashing Before installing panels above, apply metal Z-flashing that overlaps onto the tops of the lower sheets. Attach the flashing by driving nails along the top edge. Measure for an Angle Cut To measure for an angle cut, hold a level so that it's plumb at each side of the sheet and measure along the level. Create Gaps Use 1/4-inch plywood spacers to create a gap between the bottoms of the upper panels and the flashing. Install Panels and Flashing At a roofline, attach flashing and install the panels 1-2 inches above the flashing. Use a scrap of lumber as a guide to keep the gap consistent. Create Trim Assemble two 1x boards to fashion trim for an outside corner and attach. Trim Corners Trim inside corners with a 2x2 or a 1x board ripped to 3/4 inch. Drill pilot holes to avoid splitting the wood.