How To Cut Vinyl Sidings?

If you don’t know, vinyl is a very durable material. The quality of vinyl that makes it best choice is its low cost. It is not at all expensive. Vinyl sidings are very useful in re-siding the houses. It is very famous because it is made up of thick plastic sheets. Hence, it is resistant to any rotting. In this article, we will provide your complete information on how to cut vinyl sidings.

It is a perfect protective layer for your exterior walls. There are many types of vinyl sidings available in the market. If you know how to cut them, then it will be beneficial for you. If you know to handle vinyl sidings by yourself, then you need not wait for any other person. Even a slight error in cutting a vinyl siding will affect the required accuracy.

This article aims to teach the cutting of vinyl sidings up to a professional level. You will get all the tips and procedures necessary in the sections provided below. Let’s dive into the article without any further delay.

How To Cut Vinyl Sidings Using Different Methods

To start any process, we should have the right guidance and knowledge. It will also provide you proper steps to proceed in cutting the vinyl sidings. Use appropriate tools while working. If you do not have adequate types of equipment, then it is better to buy new. It will also help you with other cutting projects. There is more than one way. We will describe each method here. It is up to you which method you want to use. Let’s proceed to understand the cutting of vinyl sidings. This process is very efficient and comfortable.

Method 1: One Way Method

The first step in any method is measurement. You need to do the measurements using a standard measuring tape. If you have an older measuring tape, then make sure it starts from 0. You need to measure so that you can identify the siding amount for cutting. Here, you also measure the length of the wall that you want to cover with vinyl siding. Now, after this, you need to remove or subtract the measurement of the wall from the measured vinyl siding. This will provide you the proper amount of siding that you need to cut down for your wall.

Do not add unnecessary sidings. Measure around the doors and windows also. For marking purposes, you can use a marker or a carpenter’s pencil. Make sure the mark is visible to you. Then it will be effortless to follow the cuts while cutting it. After this, for the proper positioning of your siding, hold it with full grip.

When you start the cut, then hold the siding with one end firmly and use the other hand for cutting purposes. Place the cutting tool on the marked line rightly before starting the cutting. Now, you can use Tin Snips to follow the cuts along the significant lines that you have made on the siding.

Do not close the blades to the maximum extent while cutting. Use the snips at a slow and steady pace. This will help you to get a clean and uniform cut. While doing this, wear safety goggles and hand gloves also, if you are comfortable with it. Now, you can continue this process. Use the cuts that you have already cut for future cuts. This will help you to cut the other sides with uniform measurements.

Method 2: Method Of Scoring And Snapping

In this method also, you need to perform the measurements of your sidings and wall. Measure the wall correctly. While measuring it, consider the top and horizontal parts carefully. And you are supposed to measure the sidings also. Now, subtract the wall dimensions and measurements from the sidings measurement. This will tell you the proper amount of sidings you need to cut for your wall. In this method also, you can use the carpenter’s pencil for marking all the required lines. Be calm while marking them and do not mark them with a shaky hand. 

After this, place the vinyl on a flat and uniform surface. This will help you to keep the siding in a fixed position. If you will use a workbench for this, then it would be great after placing the siding firmly, ready to cut them. Here, you will use a utility knife for the scoring of the siding. Do this scoring of siding until the knife reaches the siding end. There is no need to cut through the siding thoroughly. You are using the knife to mark the scoring part. In this process also, your eyes should be protected. You need to take care of your face and upper body parts.

Now, after this, you need to use your two hands for the snapping of your vinyl sidings. You have to proceed along with the scoring line that you have measured. Hold the siding to a fixed place. Then, you need to start bending it back and front. Doing this, the siding will break into two pieces. If you are not getting two pieces by this, then use the utility knife again for scoring.

Method 3: Making Short Vertical Cuts Using A Circular Saw

Before starting this method, you need to arrange a fine circular saw. Preferably, fine-toothed plywood saw. This circular saw will give a fine and clean cut. You will be very much satisfied with the job of a circular saw in cutting your vinyl sidings. If you already have a circular saw and it is not with a fine-toothed plywood blade, do not worry.

You can easily upgrade it from some tool shop. Else, you can even buy it online. It will help you in the future also. It is worth purchasing a fine-toothed plywood circular saw. Now, I am going to give you a tip. This tip is dangerous for other significant projects but best for the vinyl sidings cut. Mount the blade in backward to the circular saw. Now, check it twice. Make sure that the teeth of the blade are against the direction of blade spins. This trick will help you to get a smooth cut.

Mark the sidings for cutting purposes. You need to measure it properly. The marking should be dark so that it is visible. Use a carpenter’s pencil or a dark marker for this. If you do not have any marking tool, then you can use masking tape if the siding is dark in color. Now, place the siding on your workplace or workbench.

Make sure that other things are not placed below the siding. Now, you are ready to use the circular saw. Use it slowly and cut along the marked lines. Allow it to be consistent. It will help you to get a cut with fine finishing. Be attentive while cutting. You should not leave it. Follow the markings till the end. Do not forget to protect your eyes, ears, etc. Wear safety goggles. If you can work with gloves, then wear hand gloves also.

Now, after this, you need to fix the vinyl siding on your wall. It is vital to pay attention to some important tips. Do not cut corners on any small material, for example, nails and trims. Otherwise, it will ruin your whole project. If you are doing the installation by yourself, then you need to take care of some extra efforts. Please ask some professionals to do this for you. 

Things You Would Need

• One safety goggles
• Tin Snips
• One pencil, a pen, or a marker. Anyone will be enough.
• A straight edge
• One measuring tape
• A pair of the utility knife
• A fine-toothed saw blade of plywood or a circular saw
• A workbench with adequate spacing
• Vinyl siding
• One of carpenter’s Square

Tips

• You can use any one of these tools, which are tin snips, circular saw, utility knife, or a simple scoring tool.
• Always wear safety goggles. It will protect your eyes while doing all the operations related to cutting and screwing.
• Always remember the safe construction measures. Follow them while working.
• Using a circular saw, install the plywood blade through the backward direction of the saw. 
• Cut through the saw very slowly if you are working in cold weather.
• Never try to cut any other material than siding using a reversed direction saw blade. It will ruin your workpiece.
• Try to increase the vinyl face upwards. Do this by applying moderate pressure. You can do this by using a utility knife or any cutting tool that is available with you. After that, snap it in its half part.
• It is not needed to cut from your vinyl siding.
• Do not close the blades suddenly at the stroke end. Do this slowly.
• While working, wear hand gloves and ear protectives.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

If you have followed all the steps provided, you will find the process of cutting vinyl sidings very easy. It is not at all problematic. Before knowing the actual process, you may feel it is difficult. When you will perform it once and try it more than once, then you will get the hang of it. Try to practice as much as possible. This will reduce the errors that you may create without practicing.

Also, follow all the tips carefully. These tips are provided so that you eliminate the short missings in your process. It will be better to go through the whole article once. After that, you can take a sample piece of vinyl siding and prepare a demo cut. Do this two to three times, if you are going to cut the first time. After that, you can perform your actual cut on the vinyl siding. Do not perform any step in a hurry.

Because once you cut, it’s done. You cannot make changes after that. So, while making measurements also, do it carefully. We hope that we have reached our target to help you in cutting your vinyl sidings in a better way!