Follow this field‑tested checklist to install board‑and‑batten siding, window flashing, and exterior doors the right way — no leaks, no callbacks.
Based on: Construction of A Dream Home Episode 71 by Perkins Builder Brothers
▶ Watch the source video on YouTube
Ever stared at a piece of flashing and wondered why something so simple can go so wrong? You line it up, you push, you fight it — and two minutes later you're ready to snap. If you've ever been mid-project on exterior siding or a door install and felt that creeping dread that you're one mistake away from a leaky wall or a ruined door frame, you're not alone.
Here's the thing most DIYers and even some pros don't fully account for: exterior work has zero margin for error. A missed outlet buried behind a siding panel, a pan flashing with an open corner, or a door shimmed even a hair too much on the header — and you're tearing everything apart and starting over. The Perkins Builder Brothers learned these lessons the hard way so you don't have to. They've been building a dream home from the ground up, and Episode 71 captures an entire week of real siding and door installation — the wins, the fixes, and the techniques that actually work in the field.
Imagine wrapping an entire side of your house in board-and-batten siding efficiently, catching every outlet before you panel over it, cutting battens cleanly without binding, and setting a massive entry door perfectly plumb on the first try. Picture the doors locked tight, the flashing lapped correctly, and the zip tape sealed — knowing water has nowhere to go. That's what a clean exterior installation feels like, and it's completely achievable when you follow a proven process.
The Perkins Builder Brothers have documented every step of this build across dozens of episodes, and this checklist distills Episode 71's hands-on field work into a clear, sequential action guide. These are working builders sharing real techniques — from Ray's simple saw trick for cutting panels without binding, to the two-piece pan flashing method that's five times faster than trying to bend a single piece, to the right way to shim and fasten flanged doors so they stay plumb for life.
This PDF checklist walks you through every actionable step from the video: marking and ripping siding panels, managing battens around windows, installing drip cap flashing correctly, fabricating and installing door sill pan flashing, setting heavy entry doors with flanges, shimming and fastening into framing, and sealing corners with Lexel and zip tape. Use it on the job site, check off each step as you go, and stop second-guessing yourself mid-install. Grab the checklist and get it done right.
Every checklist item comes with actionable notes to guide you — things like "Don't forget to do this before you start," "Avoid this common mistake," or "Set a reminder for 30 days out." Nothing vague, just clear next steps.
+ 22 more action items inside...
Instant PDF download. Start taking action today.
✓ Instant download · ✓ PDF format · ✓ No subscription