When installing your vinyl siding, there are a few things for you to consider. First, if possible, try to use one piece to cover the area. This is important between corners and openings, between openings and other openings, or even between inside and outside corners. The rule of thumb is, if you can make the span with one piece, do it. Of course you might have to cheat a little if you are running low on siding, but you get a much better look if you don't have a lot of seams.

Second, stagger the seams you do have to have. For example, on a long wall, you won't be able to make the span with one piece, you'll obviously have to use more than one full piece. As you add courses though, don't let the seams make a 'stair-step' effect. You'll see what I mean about that once you start.

The third thing to watch for is the direction of the lap on your seams. If the job is done right, you won't be able to see the seams from the most common viewpoint. For example, as you walk up the sidewalk to the front door, you can lap the siding so that if you look at the wall you won't be able to see the laps. Take a look at the difference of viewing angle on this wall, this is the same wall, but viewed at two different angles.

So don't always start on the same side of a wall, and don't always lap the same direction.

What to do when you encounter an opening.