Investing in a new siding can help improve your home’s aesthetic appeal and functionality. If this is your first time handling a siding project, you’ll want to learn more about siding. This means getting to know some of the more common terms that your contractor will use. Tango & Gatti takes a look at 15 siding terms every homeowner should know.
- Buttlock is the bottom edge of a siding or soffit panel. It is typically opposite the nailing slots, which lock onto the preceding panel.
- Channel is the area on a siding that allows another piece of siding or trim to be inserted. Channel pieces are named for the letters of the alphabet they resemble such as J-channel or F-channel.
- Course is a row of panels that run the length of the house from one side to the other, or from top to bottom if it is vertical siding.
- Face is the side of a siding or soffit panel that is visible once it has been installed.
- Furring strip is a wooden strip that may be attached to the exterior of a house for the siding to attach. It can also be used to straighten surfaces on the home’s exterior that are not perfectly flat.
- Head flashing is a piece of trim that helps keep water away from the top of the vertical siding, preventing water from getting behind the siding.
- Lap is short for “overlap.” This refers to overlapping the ends of two siding panels or accessory pieces to allow for the expansion and contraction of a vinyl siding.
- Miter joint is the intersection of two panels at a 90-degree angle, with each panel usually cut at a 45-degree angle. Occasionally, miter cuts are made into an overlapping siding or soffit panel surface for an overall better appearance.
- Plumb is a position or measurement that is exactly 90 degrees from a level surface.
- Scoring is a “light cutting” of a piece of siding. When bent, the siding will snap into two pieces with a clean edge for each piece.
- Starter strip is an accessory applied to the surface of the building directly. It is also used to secure the first course of siding to the home.
- Tongue and groove is a type of interlock that combines two pieces of siding. A “tongue” slips into the adjacent “groove” on another siding.
- Underlayment is a water-resistive material placed under the panels of a vinyl siding.
- Utility trim is a piece of trim used to secure a siding panel when the top lock has been removed from the siding. It can also be referred to as “undersill” or “finish” trim.
- Weep holes are small holes found in the bottom edge of the siding, allowing water runoff.
At Tango & Gatti, our experienced professionals are trained in a variety of home improvement solutions, including siding installation. We don’t believe in cookie-cutter designs, so we offer a unique array of styles. Call us today at (330) 308-8213 or fill out our online contact form to set an appointment. Our Ohio service areas include Canton and Barnesville.