Craftsman CTS205 User Manual

Transitioning from brick, stone, or stucco to vinyl siding 

To transition from brick, stone, or stucco to vinyl siding:

•  Caulk where the sheathing meets the brick, stone, or stucco. 

Caulk the flashing, and make sure a drip cap is in place.

•  Use J-channel or starter strip to receive the siding when 

installing horizontal siding, If you use starter strip, leave 3/8" 
clearance so that the siding can engage securely.

•  When installing vertical siding, use J-channel to receive  

the siding.

Installing remaining courses

To ensure best appearance, position the laps to avoid unsightly 
joint patterns. The illustration at left shows a well-planned 
staggering of panel joints. Follow these guidelines:

•  Separate joints by at least two courses.

•  Avoid joints above and below windows.

•  Leave at least 3' separating joints on successive courses.

•  Use short cutoff lengths for fitting at narrow openings  

between windows.

•  Follow the planned pattern when applying the next  

courses of siding.

Fitting under windows

You’ll probably have to cut panels to fit under windows. 

To make this task easier, plan panel positioning as shown at left 
so a single panel extends beyond both sides of window opening. 
Follow these steps to measure and cut panels:

Hold the panel in place and mark the width of the window opening.  
Add 1/4"–3/8" to both ends to allow for expansion. The resulting 
marks show the location of vertical cuts. Extend the marks onto 
the panel using a square.

Create a template for the horizontal cut using a small piece of 
scrap siding. Lock this piece into the lower panel and mark 1/4" 
below the sill height. This provides clearance for undersill trim. 
Repeat the procedure on the opposite side of the window. (You 
can’t assume windows will be perfectly level.)

Transfer the marks from the template to the panel. Connect marks  
using a straightedge.

Cut the panel, using tin snips to make vertical cuts and a utility  
knife to make the horizontal cut.

starter strip 
or J-channel

sheathing

1/4"

1/4"

flashing

mortar