During the planning stages of your siding replacement, you might encounter unfamiliar words. Knowing what these terms mean will help you find the ideal siding material and style for your home. It will also allow you to discuss your project more thoroughly with professionals.
Read on to discover siding terms every homeowner should know about.
Butt Joint
The lower part of a siding panel is called a butt joint. It keeps siding pieces from separating and shifting.
Batten
It is the strip of wood concealing joints in wood siding.
Channel
It is the part of siding that lets your contractor install another piece of trim or siding.
Course
A course is the row of siding that runs through the length of your exterior walls. You will need several courses of siding to cover your home’s exterior.
Drip Cap
Also called head flashing, the drip cap is the part of the trim that diverts water from the upper part of vertical siding.
Eaves
Eaves pertain to the part of the roof that hangs over the exterior walls of the house.
Exposure
Your contractor might also refer to exposure as reveal. It’s the width of a siding board.
Fascia
You’ll find the fascia under the overhang of the roof. It joins the trusses, rafters and gutters to your roof.
Face
It refers to the surface you see after the installation of your siding.
F-Channel
Shaped like the letter F, professionals use F-channel to trim siding installed at a 90-degree angle.
Face Nail
Face nailing is something a reliable contractor will never do. This method involves putting nails through the siding’s face. It causes the nails to become more visible instead of covering them up.
Flange
Mounting holes are usually found at the top of the flange.
Flashing
Flashing is a piece of metal attached above windows and doors to prevent water from entering indoor spaces.
Frieze
The decorative band connecting the upper part of the siding to the soffit is called a frieze.
Furring Strip
Some contractors attach furring strips to home exteriors where they will install the siding. These strips can help straighten uneven surfaces of your exterior for a smoother-looking siding.
Gable
Typically in a triangular shape, the gable is the area of the exterior wall where the roof pitch intersects.
Head Flashing
Head flashing brings water away from the top of the vertical siding. It also keeps water from infiltrating behind the siding.
Lap
Short for overlap, laps hide nails that secure siding pieces to your home’s exterior.
Lock
The lock is the part of your siding that secures a locking leg to siding panels.
Miter Joint
Miter joint is where two panels intersect at a 90-degree angle. In most cases, panels are cut at a 45-degree angle. Sometimes, contractors use this method for cutting soffits to give your home’s exterior a sleeker look.
Profile
Profile refers to the shape of the siding’s face.
Square or Plumb
A square or plumb refers to an object that measures exactly 90 degrees from a flat, horizontal surface.
Scoring
Scoring is the process of lightly cutting siding pieces, so they snap into two clean pieces when bent.
Shadow Line
The shadow cast by the siding profile of your home is referred to as the shadow line.
Soffit
The area where exterior walls intersect with the roofline is the soffits. They help improve airflow in your attic and keep water from entering.
Siding Square
It typically pertains to a 10 by 10 foot piece of siding.
Starter Strip
The first panel or course of siding is secured to the exterior wall by the starter strip.
Tongue and Groove
The interlock system that connects two siding pieces is known as the tongue and groove. A tongue slips into the groove next to it on another piece of siding.
Weep Holes
Weep holes prevent condensation from building up in your siding. You’ll see these holes in the bottom area of your siding.
At Twin Cities Siding and Roofing, we’re here to help with all your siding needs. Call us at 651-571-9557, or fill out our contact form to get a free estimate. We work with clients around Minneapolis. We look forward to working with you!
