15 Siding Terms Homeowners Should Know

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.

  1. Buttlock is the bottom edge of a siding or soffit panel. It is typically opposite the nailing slots, which lock onto the preceding panel. 
  2. 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. 
  3. 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.
  4. Face is the side of a siding or soffit panel that is visible once it has been installed. 
  5. 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. 
  6. 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. 
  7. 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. 
  8. 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. 
  9. Plumb is a position or measurement that is exactly 90 degrees from a level surface. 
  10. 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. 
  11. 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.
  12. Tongue and groove is a type of interlock that combines two pieces of siding. A “tongue” slips into the adjacent “groove” on another siding. 
  13. Underlayment is a water-resistive material placed under the panels of a vinyl siding. 
  14. 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. 
  15. 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.