Layout Metal Siding Tips and Tricks

Worked up a video with some common tips and tricks we use to layout metal siding. I tried to answer the common questions I always receive. Laying out metal siding is important for a multitude of reasons, but the most important layout tips and tricks ensure the proper protection from potential leaks.

If you have any other questions about metal siding layout, drop them down below in the comments and I will add them to my list of questions to answer in a future video.

A few other mentions in the video had to do with house wrap specifically. I am always asked about the custom block it house wrap and why I don't install in the gables. Hopefully in this video I was able to answer that along with some other addition tips and tricks.

If in the midwest, ask Menards about ordering a full pallet of house wrap and they can have it custom printed for you.

All of our metal comes from Metal Sales Manufacturing and more can be learned by following the link below.

Diablo Tools is also a RR Building Favorite when it comes to Saw Blades. Check out the Carbide Pruning Blade I was using. It rips thru just about any Material Quickly.

If you'd like to support RRBuildings, below are various ways to help!

Amazon Affiliate link with some of my current favorite tools

Check out the latest episode of the If You Build it Podcast with @Mikeythemaker and myself!!

[Tkssa]

Who else watched the whole 24 mins? Very informational. I’m not in this industry, but I love to watch other people be so perfect in their craft. Amazing work man! 🙌🏽💪🏽

[davidbolle]

As a former sheet metal enclosure designer, amazed at your attention to detail and craftsmanship! Great work!

[MsElijah]

Awesome video man, You're a next level teacher.
Level 1. Verbal instruction without showing
Level 2. Showing without explanation
Level 3. Showing while explaining
That's something to be proud of I think

[RyanJWassink]

My barn was built in 1980 by a family of construction workers who thought they knew how to build a barn. Granted that was 42 years ago and it's still standing... but there was zero effort put into making it look nice or operate nicely. No fascia, no trim, no soffit... just bare 2x6s covered by a mostly unsupported roof overhang and metal very loosely attached to 2x4s (through the ribs, so most of the nails have come out over the years and the wood has rotted behind.) It took me until now to save enough money to fix what they did when it was built, and your videos have really helped me figure out how things should be built. Its been a 120x80 "eyesore" for the last 40 years, it'll be a good looking barn come spring. Thank you for creating this content!

[ddb]

This video and the one "How you can install windows like a PRO" have been an enormous help for me and my students! Our private school and I as an instructor for a shop class, have taken on a project of re-siding our shop building 120' long by 40' wide. Doing it ourselves to save costs meant an education on this subject was very important. One long wall has been completed at this point, and yes, layout is KEY, which I did on CAD and on the wall. Our windows would have had ribs in the wrong places had I not adjusted their placement by 1-1/2". Thank you Kyle for your detailed information, your emphasis on quality and time savings, your time to making these videos, and your excellent delivery during your presentations that also did not waste any time. The students that are helping with the project are benefiting from the lessons I am passing on during the build. I count this as a non-financial contribution to our school! 👨‍🎓👩‍🎓

[kennelson]

Your attention to details are something you should be proud of. Well done sir.

[grege]

I’m building a hunting cabin solo on my farm and dude your input has vaulted my finished product since December 2020 far beyond expectations, thank you so much for taking the time with details for my kids and grandkids and enjoy!! Nice Work!!!

[steezyskier]

starting a new job doing sheet metal siding and roofing up in the Aleutian islands in 2 weeks!
I am extremely appreciative of giving me a great perspective and some pre-emptive know abouts!
Thanks

[fredericrike]

Kyle, FYI, I got involved with a professional training/teaching enterprise a few years ago. Several things were given to me about delivering a lecture to a class; one of the most important was to engage the attention and keep it moving. The best lectures, often the ones the students got the most from, had a sense of timelessness- time didn't seem to pass, but much ground got covered. I just learned more in 24 minutes than I thought I could and your delivery, whether planned or instinctive was great. Love your tutorials; I'm a plumber by trade, and the teaching was a "second" career after I was too beat up to do the open site jobs, so I've never had any reason to learn about laying out walls- floors in kitchens and bathrooms I know; walls not so much! Your explanation didn't touch on the architectural side, but you layout rules help to make the openings look like you planned for them to be exactly where you put them- and it showed in your physical presentation. Subbed a while ago- and still learning!FR

[Mol-]

I worked for Morton building years ago when I first got into the trade. They by far have the best trim kits of any pole frame and metal buildings around. Using those chains to square up a building was a learning curve for me at first but they are definitely essential. There's nothing like seeing your upper steel panels rack at the bottom on top of that trim that separates the top panels from the bottom. You guys do excellent work 👍

[paulmaxwell]

Preplanning and layout is absolutely critical. I've learned that the hard way. It's time consuming, but necessary. Great video, Kyle! I watched from start to finish.

[CaptK-pyrq]

Great presentation RR! As an old worn-out builder, I constantly look forward to learn something new, as we all should. I'm constantly looking & listening to learn different/new to me techniques in our craft. Tight lines!

[Pooneil]

I never have nor will I ever construct a building. But I enjoy a clear and detailed instructional video on how to do almost anything. It is entertainment for me. It is also how I amaze my friends by dredging up some otherwise useless trivia that is perfect for a perplexing situation.

[kristieandjeff]

Excellent video, my husband is currently putting sheet metal siding on our house at this very moment and this video was a HUGE help with all of your tips and tricks 👍Thank you!

[witharebelyell]

I was kind of antsy to start my metal project (adding a small storage building to the end of my metal house), but after watching this guy, I'm ready to tackle the job. I plan on cutting my steel siding with a diamond/metal tile blade on my circular saw. Already tried it and it's great. I have a pneumatic nibbler that's just stupid and slow and loud.

[lillygrace]

I would just plumb one panel and measure the rest.
Every time you use the level, the more chance of an error.
You guys have it figured out for sure.
Great work.

[scottplanovsek]

Kyle, I have been watching your videos for the last 3months because I am researching and learning/planning on putting up a 42x40 pole/garage/shop type structure on my land in northern Wisconsin. I never realized the variety of ways there are in steel post frame construction. My Father was a Master Plumber for over 37 years and taught me a great deal. You remind me a lot of him because he was a very detailed oriantated Mechanic that took Pride in his work( do it right the first time). He and I built my cabin 22 years ago from ground up and that was the best learning experience EVER!, I wish like heck you would do work in Northern WI, , keep the Great videos coming and never lose that Drive to “doing it right”vs “doing it easy”!!!

[motley]

No idea why but I enjoy watching you guys construct these buildings.

[randallsteele]

This guy makes some of the most legit instructional vids, he gets down to fine detail of layout, install, work flow, etc, ... As most true tradesmen know the devil is always in the details !

[davidbalch]

You guys are awesome
I build houses for a living and there are few that understand that the ground work is the most important

Layout is KEY