The Sidding Guy

The Sidding Guy A self-taught solo siding installer who wants to make a difference in this world

08/14/2026

If I were to make a decking decision 12 years later, I would make the same choice - Azek PVC decking. It has faded very minimally and is easily pressure washed without damaging it. The installation was very easy. It was very expensive, but now looking back it was worth it. I remember the custom glass panels I had cut was cheaper per sq/ft than the decking itself. I had to put in a couple of screws today because a large rock in our pond raised up and heaved with the frost over the years and pushed up against the deck at that spot, popping the fastener. Next step soon is to lift off the glass panels and clean it - that’s part of my spring cleaning routine. I haven’t looked into much for decking options in the recent years. Are there “better” products out there now? We’re considering building another little deck behind the water falls this summer. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

08/14/2026

If I have many of the same pieces to bend, I’ve found it quicker to batch each process. In this case I’ll break down the coil into all of the same width pieces, then move on to bending all of them. I had over 20 of the same pieces to bend in this instance, so once it was slit to the the width desired, I put on the measuring gauge and went to town bending all of it. From much of my reading and experience, grouping like tasks together can be much more efficient. Although it sometimes feels better to complete each piece from start to finish. I try to make it a habit to look at the big picture. I hope this post adds value to you. Thanks for following along. The 2 way cutter is from innovatools.ca and there’s a discount code in my bio - THESIDINGGUY . . . . . . . . . . . . .

08/13/2026

I went to a friend’s site, handed him my Dewalt 20volt roofing nailer with the patent pending siding adapter tip from and didn’t give him any instructions and started filming. It worked out well 👍 - he initially turned it sideways because he’s used to a siding stapler. It’s hard to believe that it was almost 3 years ago I started working on making this adapter. My only goal was to make life easier for myself at work. Little did I know it would make life easier for many others out there. Working with the Siding Tips Team has given me the joy of working with people way smarter than I, and to continue learning and being better. Thanks for all of your support whether it’s by using any of the Siding Tips products or for your kind words and encouragement. . . . . . . . . . . . .

08/12/2026

I was up on my roof this morning doing some final touch ups. This is the permanent harness hook that I want to leave on there. I decided to use ‘s through the roof. Even though I used stretch flashing tape all around underneath, I wanted to make sure it was waterproof. This stuff seals even when wet. Here is the description from their site: Through the Roof! is a co-polymer rubber elastomeric sealant that allows them to seal leaks asphalt can’t. It delivers superior bond durability and is UV-resistant, crystal clear, and paintable. I made sure it squirted through from underneath to ensure a good seal. This is my first time using it based on recommendations from a friend who swears by it. It’s nice to get final touch ups done. Thanks for watching and I hope you have a good weekend! . . . . . . . . . . . . .

08/12/2026

I was hired to replace this missing kick-down extension. There are many ways to do kick downs, but I had to match all of the other kick downs around the property, so this is how I did it. These stay down all the time, and they lift up for when you mow the lawn. Why aren’t these routed underground? Our city has bylaws regarding which areas can be routed underground. Many neighbourhoods have to have all surface drainage, so the extension brings the water away from the house to the swale line which typically runs on the property lines of houses. I hope this video was informative to you. Thanks for watching. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

08/11/2026

I was going to throw this pallet out, but I decided to take 5 mins to cut it up for firewood. Do you re-use pallets? I don’t keep a lot of tools at home as they’re mostly kept at the shop, but I keep this little 4.5” circular saw at home and it does the trick for most DIY jobs. It is a great saw with a hook to keep up on the scaffolding as well!

08/11/2026

I was bending a job today for a customer where there were 11 windows and only about 10% of the bends were the same dimensions. This makes batching very difficult. Lucky for me the client labelled each window as numbers. In this case I’ll bend all of the longest pieces first, then number it and lean it so I can see the numbers clearly. Then as I get to the shorter pieces and window packages are complete, I’ll wrap each window package. Since the pieces are labelled, it keeps it organized for the customer as well. Not having to remove the cutter off of the brake in between bending is the biggest time-saver. Now that I’ve used the 2-way cutter for a few years, I simply can’t go back to a traditional one-way cutter. It’s funny, I was reading the warning label on my one-way cutter today and it warns you to remove the cutter before bending or you will damage the cutter. The 2-way cutter is from Innovatools (can fit Tapco or Vanmark) - I have a discount code: THESIDINGGUY if you’re in the market for one. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

08/11/2026

I was at a trade show last year and Grabo asked me to try the pull-up challenge. I ended up winning the pair of Grabos which is a really cool product. You can use it to lift sheet goods, tile, concrete pavers etc. I’ve used it to move a workbench full of tools before. I’ve never worked out in my life other than some push ups and pull ups here and there so my form isn’t great 🤷🏻‍♂️ cause I know there’ll be haters in the comments. This was also the first time I did pull ups after tearing my bicep months before. I never really win much so I was surprised and happy to win these. Thank you

08/10/2026

I used to do this stepped frieze board detail quite often as architects would like to draw in this detail into the building plans. It looks good and it keeps the aluminum rigid. One thing I really like about this detail is you only need one measurement (the space between the 1st step and the soffit channel), which is easily taken care of with a scrap piece of aluminum as a jig. The rest of the bends you can use the brake as the jig, making every single piece very consistent. I used zero markings or jigs for this video since I was only using a scrap piece to show the bends. The red adjustable handle adapter is from Innovatools (there’s a link and discount code in my bio) - a must have for this brake in my opinion. I hope this video is helpful if you wanted to add a little bit extra detail that “pops” to an upcoming project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

08/10/2026

I used to be lazy and just used whatever blade was in my saw, no matter what project I was working on. Then I realized that if I actually picked the correct blade for the specific project, it would save me so much time in unnecessary sanding/prep work. Also, simple jigs and guides make the world of difference in simple carpentry. I don’t own a table saw so tips like this make things easier. Some of you have also seen my “poor man’s track saw”. I’ve also learned not to be lazy when I’m done the project. I’ll immediately switch blades back to my regular framing blade as finishing blades like this Diablo Wood Demon blade are more expensive than the standard 24 tooth blades. This makes the blade last a lot longer for future finishing projects. I hope that these tips help someone out. Give the Diablo Wood Demon blade a try for your next finishing project. I think you’ll be impressed. . . . . . . . . . . protips diy tipsandtricks

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