Side a Gable With Fewer Ladder Trips: Pre-Cut the Runs on the Ground

The Problem

Near the peak of a gable, every siding course is a different length with an angle cut on each end. Measured one at a time, that's a full ladder round trip per piece — measure, climb down, cut, climb up — for the shortest, fussiest courses on the wall, and worse working off a roof.

The Technique

1. At the current course, measure the nailing strip end to end — the creator's read 98-3/4". Come down with that one number.
2. Cut the piece to that length with square ends first, so the offcut stays usable, then make the gable-angle cuts on each end with your template (how to capture the angle and make the template).
3. Build the next course off the one you just cut: lay a long-enough piece under it, align one end, and scribe the cut line off the finished piece's edge — each course shrinks by the same amount, so the previous piece is the pattern for the next.
4. Repeat until you're holding three or four runs, then make one trip up and hang them all. Test-fit before nailing.

With a second person, one cuts at the saw station while the other installs; alone, the trust-your-template version saves the same climbing.