Siding Question

In the past I have done my soffits first as recommended then using a j channel and unsersill clipping the last piece of siding with snap lock edges. The problem I have found is that sometimes the last piece falls out. I have noticed another way of doing it is running your last piece of sidding up past the soffit then doing your soffit over that. Any recommendations.

Snap lock and caulk the top piece.

They make fancy little do dads to aide in this but snap lock and caulk works for us. It's what we always have so it doesn't get to involved.

I don't like the idea of never being able to remove the top piece without pulling all my overhang.

It does get done alot though. Mainly in the older days.

Ditto on caulking the top piece in.

I usually just use a j channel for my top trim, then I slightly crimp the bottom lock of the top sheet with my red snips, this holds the piece in place till the caulk dries. I've never had a piece of siding fall off using this method.

I attached a couple pics.

I use the same method as shane, and have never had any issues. I use J channel for the top, but pending on the type of siding and where in the course the top falls I nail a bottom rip at the top to hold the top of the siding out. It keeps the siding from doing its own thing at the top, and fills the J a little more.

Yes, I do the same thing as well if the top lands in a spot that needs it, except I use the nailer strip and lock that I just cut off the sheet, trim it, turn it upside down and nail it up into the J.

Thanks For the recomendations. I always wonder why on new construction they don't use a J at the top. But i'm mainly renos. so I have always used a j chanel and snap locked the top.

Personally I think crimping it like that is a poor approach.

You need a piece j-channel at the top. You take the part you rip off the top piece and use it as a backer. This keeps the piece tight and snap lock holding. Caulk is there just for the long term as vinyl starts to loosen up a little.

how bout using a soffit J..?

Framers, and builders that try to side their houses are the only people that purchase soffit J or F channel

That method with the snips looks pretty hairy.

We normally have a freezeboard at the top of all our walls, so on the rare occasion we have a J channel we use undersill, and snap lock it and silicone it. Just gotta make sure you don't get silicone where the weeps holes are cause that makes a mess.

i don't believe that..i think soffit J is fine,at least sometime.
you use undersil trim where the siding meets the soffits;anything above that?

i meant over the frieze?
i guess your sidng goes under the frieze?

Hi, I'm new to this site, but had my own business for 25 yrs and worked for a company for 6 yrs prior to that. I've used this method countless times and saving lots of material. It works best with D4 or D5. Dutchlap has to hit right, so sometimes you have to use other methods. 1st run the siding up past soffit line and nail in a few nailslots to hold up. You can cut a slight angle on the top of the overlapping factory edge so expansion doesn't cause it to bump the nail flange of the underlapping panel. Next strike a chalkline where the top of the soffit channel will be placed. Here in NE Pa, we have Wolverine and Alcoa at the same supplier. I use the Alcoa 1/2" aluminum j channel with Wolverine soffit panel. It's a great fit. 2nd I take a sharp utility knife and cut my own nail slots in the siding panel cutting slightly below the chalkline and approx 1/2" high every 16" or at each stud. I like to catch the studs for holding power. 3rd Pin the aluminum j with 12 or larger galvanized finish nails. Keep the nails near the nailing flange of the aluminum j so they don't show below the soffit when thats installed later. These nails only have to catch about an inch of wood if possible, so you don't have to drive them home. 4th install the soffit nailing tight enough to hold the j channel tight to the vinyl siding. At 1st this method takes a little getting used to, but when you feel comfortable I found it the best to work with. I don't like using vinyl soffit channel cause of the droop and you shouldn't pin it. If you have f channel, you can also use it cutting the "nail slots" higher above the soffit line to match the nail slots in the f channel. This method allows the panel to still expand and slide. With materials as high as they are today, you also get away with using 1 soffit channel and no other channels to finish top course.
If ever you have to last course of siding later you can always cut it with knife even with bottom of soffit j and add the channel or sill trim as other installers above have stated. Hope this helps. Jeff