Siding Terminology
When
deciding on a contractor to do work on your home it is always helpful to
be able to understand their unique language. The glossary of terms that
follows provides some of the common terms associated with siding that
you may encounter when reviewing companies and products.
Siding Materials
There are many types of
materials used to manufacture siding such as; vinyl, aluminum, wood,
cement-wood pulp composition, slate and many more. Vinyl comprises over
80% of the siding installed on residential homes today.
Advantages of vinyl siding over aluminum
Some of the advantages of vinyl siding over aluminum are; Vinyl siding
doesn’t show scratches (solid color all the way through). It is easily
repaired if necessary. It is doesn’t oxidize and fades very little. It
doesn’t dent or break (unless maybe a lawnmower throws a rock). Vinyl
siding has a modern clean look with a high appeal over aluminum that is
desirable on today's real estate market.
SIDING TERMINOLOGY
Backerboard- A flat material
used on the face of the house to provide a flat, nailable surface for
siding installation.
Belly Band Board- The trim
detail, usually 1" x 12", installed to the exterior to hide
imperfections in framing between floors. Although this board is commonly
removed during siding replacement, removal of this board can reveal a
bump or ridge that was hidden by the board.
Brake- A portable tool for
bending clean angles in a variety of thin to medium gauge metals such as
aluminum, steel and copper.
Buttlock- The bottom edge of a
siding or soffit panel, opposite the nailing slots, which locks into the
preceding panel.
Metal Cladding or Capping- Custom formed
metal that is bent to the profile
of the exterior trim providing a maintenance free surface. This
eliminates the need for future painting.
Drip Cap/Head Flashing- A small
flashing detail that diverts water from entering behind an accessory
item such as trim, a window or siding.
Channel- The area or the
accessory trim or corner post where the end of the siding or soffit
panel is inserted. Channels also refer to the trim itself, and are
named for the letters of the alphabet they resemble (e.g., J-Channel,
F-Channel, etc.).
Course- A row of panels,
one panel wide, running the length of the house from one side to the
other, or in the case of vertical siding, from top to bottom.
Face Nailing- The action of
fastening directly into the "face" side of the panel (instead of using
the nail hem slot). This practice is generally not used in siding
installation.
Fascia Board- A board attached
to the ends of the rafters between the roofing material and soffit
overhang. Fascia cap is the covering around the board.
Finnish Trim- The siding trim
detail used to secure the last piece of siding at the top of a wall
using no exposed fasteners.
Flashing- A thin, flat material,
usually aluminum, positioned under or behind J-channels, corner posts,
windows, etc., to keep draining water from penetrating the home.
Freeze Board- The trim detail,
usually 1" x 6" , 8" , or 10", installed horizontally below the soffit.
Furring/Furring Strip- A wooden
or steel framing material, usually 1" x 3", used to provide an even
nailing base. To "fur" a surface means to apply these strips.
Insulation Board- A semi-rigid
foam board used to add insulation R-value to a home without opening up
the walls. The insulation board also can add sound proofing
properties. This foam board is commonly available in 1/4", 3/8',
1/2", 3/4" and 1" thickness.
J-Channel- Named for its
similarity in shape to the letter "J", this channeling is installed at
the edges of a wall to hide the ends of the pieces of siding allowing
for expansion and contraction of the vinyl product.
Lap- To overlap the ends of two
siding panels or accessory pieces to allow for expansion and contraction
of the vinyl product.
Lug/Crimp- The raised "ears" or
tabs on a siding panel, created by a snaplock punch, which can be used
to lock a siding panel into place when the nailing hem has been removed.
Miter- To make a diagonal cut,
beveled to a specific angle (usually 45 degrees). Sometimes miter
cuts are made into an overlapping siding or soffit panel surface to
provide a neater appearance.
Mounting Blocks- A color matched
accessory mounting block used to act as a stable base for the mounting
of light fixtures and other exterior items.
Nailing Hem (or Flange)- The
section of siding or accessories where the nailing slots are located.
Nail Slot- Slot in the nailing
hem in which nails are to be driven into the substrate.
Plumb- A position or measurement
that is truly and exactly vertical (90 degrees from a level surface).
Profile- A particular design or
style of a siding or soffit panel (e.g., Double 4", double 5" or
dutchlap).
Soffit- Material used to enclose
the horizontal underside of an eave, cornice or overhang.
Starter Strip- An accessory
applied directly to the surface of the building and used to secure the
first course of siding to the home.
"T" Channel- Named for its
similarity in shape to the letter "T", this channeling is used to join
two soffit panels together.
Vapor Barrior (Tyvek)- A sheet
membrane applied to the exterior of the home before to application of
siding. Tyvek is by far the most popular for the simple fact that
Tyvek is one of the only products that is not pin perforated but is a
true micro weave. Example: You could hold 5 gallons of water in a
sheet of Tyvek without so much as a drop bleeding through and then take
the same piece of Tyvek and place it over the spout of a boiling teapot
and the steam would pass right through! In simpler terms, water,
in a mass volume form, will not pass through Tyvek, but on a molecular
level, as vapor, it easily passes through.
Weep Holes- Openings cut into
siding or accessories to allow water runoff.
Home |
About Us |
Products & Services |
References |
Faq's & Technical Help |
Portfolio |
Coupons |
Contact
©2010
Jarvis Exteriors, Inc. All rights reserved. Designed by
FDI Creative Services, Inc. |
Houston Web Design
