Cement and Composite Siding Attachment and Alignment System

Abstract

A siding attachment strip for and method to install siding panels on a building structure are provided. The siding attachment strip consists of an elongate body, a number of siding top edge clips spaced along the elongate body, and a number of finger slot channels adjacent to the siding top edge clips. Each siding top edge clip is capable of holding the top edge of a siding panel. The finger slot channels receive a fastener attached to the siding panel to keep the siding panel in place.

1 . A siding attachment strip adapted to retain a plurality of siding panels on a building structure, comprising: 
 an elongate body;    a plurality of siding top edge clips spaced along said elongate body according to a predetermined siding panel size, each siding top edge clip of said plurality of siding top edge clips including a substantially orthogonal first portion extending from said elongate body and a substantially parallel second portion that is substantially parallel with said elongate body and is substantially parallel with said elongate body and is substantially orthogonal to said first portion, each siding top edge clip being capable of holding the top edge of a siding panel between said elongate body and said second portion; and    a plurality of finger slot channels formed in said elongate body and spaced from and corresponding to said plurality of siding top edge clips, each of said finger slot channels receiving a fastener attached to a siding panel.    
   
   
       2 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mounting hole on said elongate body for mounting said siding attachment strip to said building structure using a mounting fastener.  
   
   
       3 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , where in each siding top edge clip further comprises a curved lip edge that curves away from said body of said siding attachment strip.  
   
   
       4 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , wherein said siding top edge clip is punched out of said elongate body of said siding attachment strip.  
   
   
       5 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , wherein said siding attachment strip is formed of a u-shaped sheet material and includes a front face and two side portions.  
   
   
       6 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , wherein said siding attachment strip is formed of a u-shaped sheet material and includes a front face and two hemmed side portions.  
   
   
       7 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one mounting hole is recessed into said elongate body.  
   
   
       8 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one mounting hole is threaded.  
   
   
       9 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more lateral scoring marks on said elongate body, with said one or more lateral scoring marks enabling said siding attachment strip to be broken off at predetermined locations.  
   
   
       10 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , wherein said fastener is a bolt threaded through the siding panel.  
   
   
       11 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , wherein said fastener is a clip attached to the back of the siding panel.  
   
   
       12 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , wherein said fastener locks into said finger slot channel.  
   
   
       13 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 12 , wherein said fastener is removable with a pry bar.  
   
   
       14 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , wherein said fasteners are spaced at predetermined locations along the siding panel.  
   
   
       15 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 2 , further comprising a spacer block that attaches to the back of said elongate body adjacent to said at least one mounting hole.  
   
   
       16 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 15 , wherein said spacer block further comprising a waterproof membrane that seals the hole created by said mounting fastener when attaching said siding attachment strip to said building structure.  
   
   
       17 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 15 , wherein said spacer block is adjustable to allow said elongate body to be placed at varying distances from said building structure.  
   
   
       18 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 2 , further comprising one or more alignment bars that space said elongate bodies at predetermined distances.  
   
   
       19 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 18 , wherein said alignment bars are capable of attaching to one or more said elongate bodies at the same time.  
   
   
       20 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 19 , wherein said alignment bars attach to one or more of said elongate bodies via said mounting holes.  
   
   
       21 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 18 , wherein said alignment bars consist of a plate, wherein said plate is the length of the distance between adjacent said elongate bodies.  
   
   
       22 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , further comprising a starter strip, wherein said starter strip comprises an elongate body having a flange along one end thereof, wherein said starter siding strip is mounted along a bottom edge of said building.  
   
   
       23 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 22 , wherein said starter strip further comprises a plurality of venting holes covered by bug screens.  
   
   
       24 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , further comprising a trim adaptor, wherein said trim adaptor connects to the top siding panel.  
   
   
       25 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 24  wherein said trim adaptor further comprises a plurality of venting holes.  
   
   
       26 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one holding tool, wherein said holding tools are adapted to engage said finger slot channel and support said siding panel until said siding panel is ready to be attached to said elongate body.  
   
   
       27 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one support channel in said elongate body, wherein said support channel is located adjacent to said finger slot channel and is punched out of said elongate body.  
   
   
       28 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 27 , further comprising at least one support clip, wherein said support clips are attached to said building structure and engage said support channel in said elongate body.  
   
   
       29 . The siding attachment strip of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one support clip fastener, wherein said support clip fastener secures said elongate body to said support clip.  
   
   
       30 . A wall of siding panels to be installed on the wall of a building structure, comprising: 
 a plurality of parallel siding attachment strips;    one or more alignment bars orthogonally attached to said siding attachment strips; and    a plurality of siding panels attached to said siding attachment strips.    
   
   
       31 . The wall of siding panels of  claim 30 , further including a starter strip.  
   
   
       32 . The wall of siding panels of  claim 30 , further including a trim adaptor.  
   
   
       33 . The wall of siding panels of  claim 30 , wherein said one or more alignment bars are attached to said siding attachment strips with the use of a fastener.  
   
   
       34 . The wall of siding panels of  claim 30 , further including a plurality of support clips.  
   
   
       35 . The wall of siding panels of  claim 30 , wherein said siding attachment strips are adapted to engage a nailing slot of a vinyl siding panel.  
   
   
       36 . A method of installing siding onto a building structure, comprising the steps of: 
 fastening a plurality of siding attachment strips to said building structure;    inserting a siding panel into siding top edge clips of said siding attachment strips such that said panel is held between said strip and a section of said top edge clip substantially parallel to said strip; and    inserting fasteners attached to said siding panel into finger slot channels of said siding attachment strips.    
   
   
       37 . The method of installing siding onto a building structure of  claim 36 , wherein the step of fastening a plurality of siding attachment strips to said building structure further comprises the step of spacing the siding attachment strips at predetermined intervals, wherein said siding attachment strips are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other.  
   
   
       38 . The method of installing siding onto a building structure of  claim 36 , wherein the step of fastening a plurality of siding attachment strips to said building structure further comprises the step of using alignment bars to space said siding attachment strips at predetermined intervals.  
   
   
       39 . The method of installing siding onto a building structure of  claim 36 , wherein the step of fastening a plurality of siding attachment strips to said building structure further comprises the step of inserting a spacer block between said siding attachment strips and said building structure.  
   
   
       40 . The method of installing siding onto a building structure of  claim 36 , wherein the step of inserting a siding panel into siding top edge clips of said siding attachment strips further comprises the step of using a holding tool to support said siding panel until it is ready to be inserted.  
   
   
       41 . The method of installing siding onto a building structure of  claim 36 , wherein the step of fastening a plurality of siding attachment strips to said building structure further comprises the steps of: 
 installing at least one support clip to said wall;    engaging said siding attachment strips on said support clips; and    fastening said siding attachment strips to said support clips.    
   
   
       42 . A method of creating and installing a wall of panel siding in one unit, comprising of the steps of: 
 arranging a plurality of siding attachment strips parallel to each other at predetermined distances;    placing at least one alignment bars orthogonally across said siding attachment strips;    aligning a pre-drilled hole in said alignment bars with said mounting holes of said siding attachment strips;    inserting a fastener through said pre-drilled holes in said alignment bars into said mounting holes of said siding attachment strips;    installing said panel siding onto said siding attachment strips;    placing said unit against a wall in the final location; and    fastening said unit to said wall.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the step of installing said panel siding onto elongate bodies comes after the step of fastening said unit to said wall.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the step of installing said panel siding onto said siding attachment strips further comprises the step leaving the bottom edge of at least one of said panel siding unattached until the step of fastening said unit to said wall is complete.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the step of placing said unit in final location further comprises the step of leveling said unit.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the step of fastening said unit to said wall further comprises the step of removing said alignment bars.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the step of placing said unit against a wall in the final location further comprises the step of placing a spacer block between said siding attachment strips and said wall.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the step of placing said unit against a wall in the final location further comprises the steps of: 
 installing a plurality of support clips to said wall; and    engaging said unit on said support clips.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the step of fastening said unit to said wall is accomplished by fastening said unit to said support clips.  
   
   
       50 . A system for a rainscreen moisture management system on the exterior of a building structure, comprising: 
 a plurality of siding attachment strips adapted to be attached to said exterior of said building structure comprising: 
 an elongate body,  
 a plurality of siding top edge clips spaced along said elongate body according to a predetermined siding panel size, each siding top edge clip of said plurality of siding top edge clips including a substantially orthogonal first portion extending from said elongate body and a substantially parallel second portion that is substantially parallel with said elongated body and is substantially parallel with said elongate body and is substantially orthogonal to said first portion, each siding top edge clip being capable of holding the top edge of a siding panel,  
 a plurality of finger slot channels formed in said elongate body and spaced from and corresponding to said plurality of siding tope edge clips, each of said finger slot channels receiving a fastener attached to a siding panel,  
 at least one mounting hole on said elongate body for mounting said siding attachment strip to said building structure using a mounting fastener, and  
 a spacer block that attaches to the back of said elongate body adjacent to said at least one mounting hole; and  
 a plurality of siding panels attached to said siding attachment strips wherein said siding panels have a gap between adjacent siding panels.  
   
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 50 , further comprising a starter strip, wherein said starter strip comprises an elongate body having a flange along one end thereof, said flange having a plurality of slots, wherein said starter siding strip is mounted along a bottom edge of said building.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 50 , further comprising a trim adaptor, wherein said trim adaptor connects to the top siding panel and further comprises venting holes.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 50 , further comprising a plurality of support clips, wherein said support clips are fastened to said building at predetermined locations, said siding attachment strips engage said support clips, and a fastener secures said siding attachment strips to said support clips.