Siding installation apparatuses and methods for installing siding pieces on walls

1. A method for installing fiber-cement siding pieces on a wall with a siding installation apparatus that includes a support member, an engagement member projecting from the support member, and a securing assembly coupled to the support member, the method comprising:

positioning a portion of the engagement member of the siding installation apparatus under a bottom surface of a first fiber-cement siding piece, the first fiber-cement siding piece being attached to the wall;

actuating the securing assembly and thereby restricting movement between the support member and the first fiber-cement siding piece by contacting a front surface of the first fiber-cement siding piece;

placing a bottom portion of a second fiber-cement siding piece on a support surface of the support member;

wherein the securing assembly includes a cam pivotably coupled to the support member and a contact element at least proximate to the cam; and

wherein actuating the securing assembly comprises pivoting the cam to force the contact element through an aperture of the support member and against the front surface of the first fiber-cement siding piece.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the engagement member comprises positioning the support member proximate to the front surface of the first fiber-cement siding piece.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the engagement member comprises positioning a bottom portion of the first fiber-cement siding piece between the engagement member and the support member.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the engagement member comprises positioning at least a portion of the engagement member between the first fiber-cement siding piece and the wall.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the support member includes a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion, the first portion having an adjustment axis and the second portion being selectively movable relative to the first portion along the adjustment axis; and

the method further comprises moving the second portion of the support member relative to the first portion to adjust the spacing between the first fiber-cement siding piece and the second fiber-cement siding piece before positioning the engagement member.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the contact element comprises a compressible material having a first end portion attached to the support member and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and wherein the contact element is positioned over the aperture of the support member when the cam is in a first position before pivoting the cam and the contact element extends through the aperture when the cam is in a second position after pivoting the cam.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the contact element has a first surface comprising a compressible material having a first coefficient of friction and a second surface having a second coefficient of friction less than the first coefficient of friction, and wherein pivoting the cam comprises sliding a surface of the cam along the second surface such that the first surface engages the second fiber-cement siding piece.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the contact element is flexible and pivoting the cam comprises sliding a surface of the cam along a backside surface of the contact element such that a front side surface of the contact element moves through the aperture of the support member and contacts the second fiber-cement siding piece.

9. A method for installing siding pieces on a wall with a siding installation apparatus that includes a support member, an engagement member projecting from the support member, and a securing assembly coupled to the support member, the method comprising:

positioning the engagement member of the siding installation apparatus under a bottom surface of a first fiber-cement siding piece, the first fiber-cement siding piece being attached to the wail;

clamping a lower portion of the first fiber-cement siding piece and thereby restricting movement between the support member and the first siding piece by pressing a compressible material against a front surface of the first fiber-cement siding piece;

placing a bottom portion of a second fiber-cement siding piece on a support surface of the support member

wherein the securing assembly includes a cam pivotably coupled to the support member and a contact element at least proximate to the cam; and

wherein clamping the lower portion comprises pivoting the cam of the securing assembly to force the contact element through an aperture of the support member and against the front surface of the first fiber-cement siding piece.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

positioning the engagement member comprises positioning at least a portion of the engagement, member between the first fiber-cement siding piece and the wall; and

clamping the lower portion comprises exerting a force against a front surface of the first fiber-cement siding piece.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the contact element comprises a compressible material having a first end portion attached to the support member and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and wherein the contact element is positioned over the aperture of the support member when the cam is in a first position before pivoting the cam and the contact element extends through the aperture when the cam is in a second position after pivoting the cam.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the contact element has a first surface comprising a compressible material having a first coefficient of friction and a second surface having a second coefficient of friction less than the first coefficient of friction, and wherein pivoting the cam comprises sliding a surface of the cam along the second surface such that the first surface engages the second fiber-cement siding piece.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the contact element is flexible and pivoting the cam comprises sliding a surface of the cam along a backside surface of the contact element such that a front side surface of the contact element moves through the aperture of the support member and contacts the second fiber-cement siding piece.