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Home Siding Terminology

A
Aluminum Siding    Horizontal planks of aluminum with a baked-on enamel finish
American Hardboard Association (AHA)    The national trade organization for the manufacturers of hardboard products
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)    ANSI is a private, nonprofit organization that oversees the voluntary standardization and assessment of US products, to enable the US to better compete globally and enhance the quality of life in the US by conformity to product standards
American Society of Testing Materials International    ASTM International is a nonprofit organization that helps develop voluntary standards for products, services, materials and systems all over the globe
 

B
Battens    Narrow strips of wood placed over joints in vertical wood plank siding to seal the joints
Beveled    Clapboards that are tapered rather than cut perfectly rectangular
Brake    A brake is a metalworking machine that allows the bending of sheet metal.
Brick ties    Accordion-type metal fasteners used to attach a brick veneer to the wood framework of a house
Brick veneer    A wall construction method in which a layer of bricks is attached to the wood framework of a house using brick ties
Buttlock    Located on the bottom edge of a vinyl panel which locks onto the previously installed panel

A brake is seen at many siding projects that include trim work such as fascia board, frieze board or rake board that is capped in metal to protect it from exposure.

Replacement window information

J-channel as shown in use around a window during a siding installation

C
Carpenter ants    Large black ants that make may make their nests in walls, behind siding, or in insulation; carpenter ants don't eat wood they excavate wood to build their homes in the cavities left behind
Caulking    Waterproof material used to seal joints at intersections of building components, used with some types of siding
Checking    A crack or split along the grain in wood plank siding as a result of cupping
Clapboard    Overlapping, horizontal wood plank siding made from either rectangular planks or taped planks
Composition board    Blanks or sheets of weather resistant compressed wood fibers used as siding
Course    Each row of siding material
Cupping    A warp across the board in wood plank siding

D
Detachment    Separation of the siding material-veneer or stucco- from its attachment to the house
Double course    An undercourse of shingles or shakes, not exposed to the weather, is covered completely by a top course
Dutch Lap Siding   is made to look like wood siding that was hand carved by old world craftsmen. It adds charm and elegance to any home.

F
Face    The part of the vinyl panel that is visible once the vinyl is installed
Fiber Cement   Fiber cement is a composite material made of cement reinforced with cellulose fibers.
Flashing    A type of sheet metal used at intersections of building components to prevent water penetration, flashings are commonly used above doors and windows in exterior walls and are used under the siding to prohibit water penetration

J
J-channel    A manufacturing component of vinyl or aluminum siding systems which have a curved channel that the planks fit into, used around windows and doors to make a weathertight seal

L
Lintel    A steel angle iron or beam over window and door openings that spans the opening and transfers the weight of the masonry to the sides of the opening

M
Milled planks    Various cuts of plank siding, including V-groove, channel, rabbeted bevel, shiplap and drop
Model Building Code    These building codes vary by area of the country and are considered the standard for that area
Moisture permeable    A surface that allows moisture to pass through it

P
Panel Projection    The amount that a panel of vinyl sticks out away from the wall, you should choose the largest profile for the style of panel you want
Plywood siding    Plywood sheets, some with a grooved or decorative outer surface

S
Scarfed joint    Joint used in plywood siding where edges of abutting sheets are angle cut to fit snugly and prevent water penetration
Shiplap    A style of milled plank, used in siding, that is laid close enough so as to appear to be butted
Single course    Wood shingles or shakes applied where each course is exposed to the weather
Spalling    Crumbling and falling away of bricks, concrete or blocks
Stucco    A type of water resistant, plaster like siding material made of cement, sand and water; it may have an acrylic finish

T
T & G    Ttongue and groove, a connection system between components, like wood, in which the tab or tongue of one board is placed into the grove at the end of another board
Termites     Social insects that live either in the ground or in wood and eat wood, they can cause serious structural damage to a home

V
Vinyl siding    Horizontal polyvinyl chloride planks
Veneer     Veneer is one ply or one thickness of something; in siding there are brick and stone veneers, there are also veneers of one wood bonded to another

W
Wall cladding     Another term for siding
Wall sheathing    Sheets of plywood or wood planking used to cover the wall framework of the house
Windload Pressure    Is a measurement of how well a panel might perform in high wind areas
Wire mesh    A mesh attached to the wall sheathing and studs used to anchor a stucco base coat to the wall
Wood plank siding    Rectangular wood planks, installed horizontally or vertically
Wood shakes    Thick, rough, uneven shingles that hand split, split and sawn on one side, or sawn on both sides, used as siding
Wood shingles    Sawn shingles that are of uniform thickness

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