How To Trim Top Of Lap Siding

The head flashing is installed in a bed of caulking onto the top of the window frame.

How to trim top of lap siding.

Ring shank nails hold better than standard nails. Inspect the window trim for dry rot. Wherever you will drive a nail less than 3 inches from a board s end drill a pilot hole first to prevent cracking the board. It s best to stagger the joints in each successive course to avoid noticeable patterns.

If you choose to install your trim over your lap siding lp smartside 440 series trim is a fine choice. To cut out a damaged area use a square and a utility knife to scribe cut lines on each side of the damage. Scrape the side of the window trim next to the siding and the immediate edge of the lap siding with a paint scraper to remove old caulk and loose paint. Siding nails typically are thin with small heads.

1 install trim and starter strip as shown in the photo above. The rain screen battens are run down to the top of the window flange. Using a circular saw set to the thickness of the siding complete as much of the cut as you can without cutting into the siding above the cut. If the trim is being applied over the hardi panels.

The cement board panels are fastened to the battens. Then install the front facing trim so it overlaps the side trim. The wrb is lapped over the head flashing or the flashing is taped. Be careful not to damage the sheathing.

You can make your own fiber cement starter strip by ripping a piece of hardieplank lap siding into 1 1 4 inch strips.