Everything You Need to Know About Outside Corners

As a builder, you are often looking for ways to make the most of your time on the jobsite while still delivering excellent workmanship—and durable wood siding details such as outside corners often require added attention to detail. To help improve jobsite efficiency LP Building Solutions offers LP® SmartSide® Outside Corners, siding accessories that come pre-assembled for added ease and a great look.

What Are Outside Corners?

LP SmartSide Outside Corners are pre-assembled one-piece corners made with engineered wood, one of the most durable siding materials on the market. They eliminate the need to build corners on the jobsite. Once installed, their main function is to help prevent water intrusion.

How Outside Corners Contribute to Jobsite Efficiency 

Let’s take a closer look at the product that’s been a game-changer for many building professionals, including David Parraguirre, known in the industry and on social media as The Mexican Carpenter. An East Coast–based building professional who used LP SmartSide Outside Corners on his own shed remodel, Parraguirre shares how they improved his time on the jobsite. 

"One of the most time-consuming tasks when preparing for siding installation is making sure everything from soffit and fascia to window trim and outside corners is installed properly," said Parraguirre. This is why accessories such as pre-assembled outside corners have become a valuable asset on his builds.

Typically, to create outside corners on the jobsite builders must measure, cut and assemble their own materials. Depending on the structure of the house, this can significantly increase building time. LP created pre-assembled outside corners as a time-saving solution to help builders get to the finish line faster.

Exterior Aesthetics You and Your Clients Will Love

The benefits of outside corners don't stop at jobsite efficiency. Not only are they time-savers, but they also contribute to improved exterior aesthetics. LP SmartSide Outside Corners provide a finished, attractive edge and come in LP SmartSide ExpertFinish® color options for different color siding aesthetics.

“Outside Corners serve as a great architectural feature as a trim detail, allowing for the siding to meet at the corners of a house,” says Parraguirre, who opted for ExpertFinish color Abyss Black.

In addition to Outside Corners, the LP SmartSide Trim & Siding collection includes other accessories such as LP SmartSide J-Blocks & Mini-Splits, which allow builders to boost curb appeal by mounting a pre-assembled product around fixtures. These also come in a variety of ExpertFinish color options for a complete clean finish. Explore the entire collection of ExpertFinish colors here for a finished exterior.

How to Install Siding Corners

Installing siding corners correctly is critical to reducing impacts from the elements, such as water intrusion. Check out these siding tips from The Mexican Carpenter to get to the most out one of the most durable siding options on the market:

1. First, measure the inside corner, transfer the measurements to the corner wall and then put a straight chalk line. "Typically, outside corners are installed before siding goes up. To make sure your outside corners are straight and plumb, a chalk line creates an even and more accurate guide before installation," suggests Parraguirre.

2. Next, place your outside corner but make sure you leave the line exposed to avoid any variation with the corner wall. Once your corner is placed, nail from the top of the corner down.

3. For angle cuts, a scrap corner is helpful. "First, do the angle testing on the scrap corner then make your cut, check for correct fitting, transfer to the outside corner and cut again," says Parraguirre.

You can find complete installation instructions for LP SmartSide Outside Corners here.

Using pre-assembled products such as LP SmartSide Outside Corners can help you save time on the jobsite while contributing to a finished exterior aesthetic and protecting your build. From installation tutorials to inspiration galleries, LP SmartSide Trim & Siding has all you need for your next build.

Discover more from LP SmartSide here.