A siding installation project has plenty of architectural jargon that an ordinary homeowner may not understand. This may be a problem, especially when discussing materials or installation methods with your contractor. For this reason, you must learn important siding terms. This way, you’ll have a better understanding of your exterior living space or your siding repair project in the Mountain Brook, AL area:
House Wrap
A house wrap, also known as a weather barrier, covers the exterior of the structure before installing your siding. This prevents rain from getting into the walls and allows water vapor to escape. Without this material, your siding can sustain moisture damage, which may eventually rot and warp your boards. Be sure to consult your contractor about the best weather barrier products that work well with your siding material.
Panel and Shingle Siding
Panel sidings are long, tall boards that come in several types of textures. Although this siding is commonly used with batten strips, it can also be used on its own. Shingle sidings, on the other hand, are individual cuts of wood with varying widths. Modern shingle siding may be made of fiber cement and is manufactured in panels, making it easier to install while maintaining the classic aesthetic appeal.
Blind and Face Nailing
Lap siding is any type of siding installed horizontally on your home. In general, there are two ways to secure lap siding to the wall: blind and face nailing. In blind nailing, the fastener drives through the top of the plank while in face nailing, it drives through the overlap at the bottom of the plank. Most home remodeling experts may recommend blind nailing, but face nailing may be required for certain installations.
Plumb and Square
A plumb is a position or measurement that is 90 degrees from a level surface. To achieve this truly vertical position, your contractor will use a “square” or “speed square”. Your contractor will also ensure that your siding is plumb to the exterior wall of your home. If not, you may have a crooked siding.
Scoring
Scoring involves running a utility knife blade, scoring tool or other sharp objects across a soffit or siding panel face without cutting all the way through the panel. This process weakens a specific surface area of the vinyl siding and allows the panel to be bent and broken off easily.
Reliable Design-Build-Remodel is a full service general construction firm and remodeling contractor operating in the Birmingham metro and Jefferson and Shelby County areas and surrounding communities, including Birmingham, Helena, Chelsea, Mountain Brook, Hoover, Homewood, Montevallo, Alabaster, Vestavia Hills, and Pelham, with over 30 years of servicing our valued clients. Offering full service suite of general remodeling, design and build services. Our specialties include bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, exterior renovations, interior renovations, painting, and more!
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