Technical terms can be difficult to avoid when discussing your siding installation plans with a contractor. In today’s post, local siding and roofing company Tango & Gatti shares the key terms about siding that you should be familiar with.
1. Course — In construction terms, a course is a row of material that covers the span of a wall or roofing plane. Your siding contractor might, for example, refer to “a course of siding,” which refers to a long horizontal row of clapboard or similar type of siding. The same term may also apply to siding that’s oriented vertically, such as board-and-batten siding.
2. Flashing — Flashing is a strip of material, usually metal, that covers seams and joints. It protects these areas from water infiltration. Roof replacement contractors also install flashing on similarly vulnerable areas of the roof such as roof valleys and roof edges.
3. Gauge — In siding terms, “gauge” is the thickness of the siding board. Siding manufacturers offer siding products in different gauges to cater to different price points. The thicker the gauge, the more impact-resistant the siding will be. Thick siding also lets manufacturers apply deeper relief for more realistic wood grain.
4. Lap — The lap is the part where two siding boards overlap. Standard clapboard siding has laps that cover about one-third of the board below it, creating an angled profile. Dutch lap siding is a variation of clapboard siding that features beveled edges on the laps, which creates a flat look.
5. Weep hole — Weep holes are small holes located at the ends of siding boards, and are usually found on manufactured siding, that is, siding made from vinyl or fiber cement. Trapped moisture under the boards are released by letting them “weep,” which helps prevent mold and mildew growth, as well as other problems caused by trapped moisture.
6. Wind load — The wind load is the maximum sustained wind that the finished siding can withstand without breaking or tearing off. Local building codes dictate the required minimum siding wind load, which is based on the local climate.
Tango & Gatti is your leading provider of siding installation and gutter repair services. Give us a call at (330) 303-4222. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Canton, OH, and the surrounding communities.