The $10,000 Nailing Mistake: Why Your
Siding Needs Room To Breathe
At Mt. Pleasant, We Swear By
The “Floating Nail” Method
Vinyl siding isn’t meant to be “pinned down.” In Pittsburgh, PA—where temperature swings are constant—siding expands and contracts throughout the year. If a crew “power nails” panels too tightly to save time, the siding can’t move the way it was designed to.
Planning a Pittsburgh, PA vinyl siding installation can be stressful – especially if you don’t know exactly how the installation is supposed to go.
Materials? Check. Insulation? Check.
The “floating nail” method?
Wait…what?
You heard correctly. Proper siding installation doesn’t nail down each slat tightly. Instead, it leaves a little bit of wiggle room. Breathing room, we like to call it.
We treat siding as a “living” material. Given the weather in Western Pennsylvania, siding expands and contracts constantly. This is why we leave that room so it can do so without causing strain or damage.
Unfortunately, too many siding contractors “power nail” the siding to save time and rush through installation to get it done as quickly as possible.
Yes, nailing the siding down is fast – but when you experience premature siding failure and weathering, those extra couple of hours won’t be worth much.
Your Siding: Not A “Slap-On” Product
Siding may look simple – but that’s because the best contractors make it look that way. Siding is a complex system that requires time, expertise, and precision.
Not just slapping it on and power-nailing it down.
Mt. Pleasant Window & Remodeling treats your siding as a living system that needs room to expand and contract with the weather and temperature fluctuations. This ensures your siding is installed to last and hold up against anything the weather can throw at it.
Siding is meant to hang on the nails (hence our “floating nail” method) – not to be pinned down.
“Tight” and “correct” are NOT synonymous.
Not with vinyl siding installation.
That’s why it’s crucial to hire the right vinyl siding contractors with the specialized knowledge to know the difference.
The Two Reasons Most Siding Jobs
Fail: Movement + Moisture
Does the nailing method really matter when it comes to siding?
Absolutely!
In fact, the top two reasons most siding jobs fail trace back to movement and moisture.
When siding is pinned and power-nailed down, it can’t properly expand and contract.
It can’t move the way it was designed to.
This causes premature wear, including weathering and warping. This then impacts the insulation and can lead to higher energy bills and damage, such as water intrusion.
Once moisture seeps under damaged siding panels, it’s a matter of time before you start noticing problems. Wood rot is one of the main issues we see with improperly installed siding, which can be expensive and time-consuming to fix.
But if you choose the right vinyl siding contractors at Mt. Pleasant Window & Remodeling in the first place, you don’t have to worry.
Thermal-Float Nailing – How We Do It
We’ve covered what siding installers shouldn’t do.
Now, we’ll tell you how we do it.
When we install your premium vinyl siding, we never nail too tightly (ensuring each fastener allows the panel to float freely).
Our technicians ensure strict nail placement. The nails are centered in slots to prevent binding and distortion. We also have strict supervision on every job site to make sure every critical step is completed to perfection.
Not “close enough.” But nothing short of perfection.
If you’re ready to have a vinyl siding installation in Pittsburgh, PA that weathers the elements for decades to come, contact Mt. Pleasant Window & Remodeling today for a free quote!
FAQs About Vinyl Siding Installation For Pittsburgh, PA Homeowners
Learn more about vinyl siding installation by reading our FAQs below.