Hang exterior brackets on Vinyl siding

[Pyewackette]

Originally Posted by Barking Spider

Is it vinyl siding, or wood board and batten?
While its a fairly easy thing to do, you might want to hire a handyman to do it for you.
However, here goes......
Make sure the bracket will hold the weight of the planter. Both vinyl siding and board and batten siding will most likely have a plywood sheathing behind it. Sometimes its OSB sheathing. BUT NOT ALWAYS!!
It would be best to find where the wall studs are, and secure the brackets there. Depending on the weight of the planter, screwing brackets into plywood or OSB might work. You do want to seal the screws with caulking to keep moisture from getting behind the siding.
Hope this helps!

NO! Under NO circumstances is it appropriate to try to screw brackets directly into plywood, and especially not OSB.

Only mount things directly to a stud. Especially for planters. Planters of any size will rip right out even if screwed into 3/4" plywood, and I guaran-dang-tee you they did not sheathe your house in 3/4" plywood. It is almost certainly OSB. Everything built in the last 30 years uses OSB.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by leighland

that is sneaky smart.
I will thanks!

Another approach is to look for the receptacles on that wall.
Each of those boxes is nailed to a stud

[southernnaturelover]

I don't see how you'd be able to tighten the bracket down without it squishing the vinyl, the vinyl will need to be able to freely move under it. You'll probably have to find a bracket with slots, and just sort of 'hang' the bracket without fully tightening it down.

Honestly, I wouldn't drill holes in vinyl siding at all, I'd use some other alternative, like a shepherds hook.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

I don't see how you'd be able to tighten the bracket down without it squishing the vinyl...

There are many ways to make/use a "stand off" of some sort.

Making a slightly larger hole through the vinyl isn't hard.
Once the stud is found... a couple of hollow sleeves will do the job well.
Non-ferrous is best... like a 1/2" copper pipe coupling.