I've just discovered that my attic doesn't have any ventilation aside from a couple of mushroom vents—no soffit vents, no ridge vent, and definitely no gable vents. Since I don't want to go through the hassle of ripping up shingles to add a ridge vent, I'm planning to install gable vents on the north and south sides of my attic. I also plan to add a thermostat-controlled attic fan later. However, I'm concerned about cutting into my vinyl siding for the gable vents, as I've heard it can crack easily if not done right. I have a sawzall, an oscillating cutting tool, and various drills and bits. I've looked up tutorials online, but they haven't been very helpful. Any advice on how to correctly cut into vinyl siding for this? Thanks in advance!
1 Answer
For the best results, I’d recommend removing the siding pieces that are in the way and installing the vent with the proper flashing. You can cut the vinyl siding on the ground to fit the J-channel and then reinstall it. It makes for a cleaner job. If you decide to cut in place, just be careful when flashing—that’s where it can get tricky. You can use the oscillating tool or tin snips for cutting. If it's warm outside, the vinyl should be pretty flexible. Just remember to hold your saw steady with both hands when cutting to avoid any jumping or mistakes. It’s not too tough once you get the hang of it!
Good tip! Are there any specific videos you could suggest for the removal and precise cutting process? I'm a visual learner.