Siding installation tool

A tool for facilitating the installation of siding comprising:

• a first longitudinal member with a hook at one end, the hook for temporarily securing the tool to a first installed piece of siding by placing the hook over the top edge of the first piece of siding;
• a second longitudinal member coupled to the first longitudinal member for temporarily supporting a second piece of siding;
• a handle section coupled to the first and second longitudinal members to facilitate positioning, insertion, and removal of the tool;
• an adjustable base for controlling the longitudinal position of the first longitudinal member relative to the second longitudinal member to control the exposure of the first installed piece of siding relative to the second piece of siding being temporarily supported;
• and
• a seat operable to support an edge of the second piece of siding in a first position, and movable independent of the first longitudinal member so that the seat does not support the second piece of siding in a second position.

A method of installing siding on a structure comprising the steps of:

• temporarily securing a tool to a first installed piece of siding by placing the hook residing at one end of a first longitudinal member of the tool over the top edge of the first piece of siding;
• temporarily supporting a second piece of siding by placing the second piece of siding between the structure and a second longitudinal member on the tool coupled to the first longitudinal member;
• using an adjustable seat on the tool for controlling the longitudinal position of the first longitudinal member relative to the second longitudinal member to control the exposure of the first installed piece of siding relative to the second piece of siding being temporarily supported;
• at least partially securing the second piece of siding to the structure;
• using a handle section of the tool coupled to the first and second longitudinal members to remove the tool.