Siding Installation Spacer and Method of Installing Siding Using A Siding Installation Spacer

Abstract

A method for installing siding on building sheathing includes providing a spacer including an aperture extending therethrough, the spacer having a thickness, locating the spacer between an exterior face of the building sheathing and a rear face of the siding such that the aperture is aligned with a slot in the siding and the siding is spaced apart from the sheathing by the thickness of the spacer, and inserting a fastener through the slot and the aperture such that the fastener is embedded in the sheathing.

1 . A method for installing siding on building sheathing, the method comprising:
 providing a spacer including an aperture extending therethrough, the spacer having a thickness;   locating the spacer between an exterior face of the building sheathing and a rear face of the siding such that the aperture is aligned with a slot in the siding and the siding is spaced apart from the sheathing by the thickness of the spacer; and   inserting a fastener through the slot and the aperture such that the fastener is embedded in the sheathing.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the spacer further including a rear surface for contacting the exterior face of the building sheathing, a front surface for contacting the rear face of the siding, and a support structure joining the rear surface and the front surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the rear surface and the front surface of the spacer each have a perimeter, and the structure includes a core bounding the aperture so as to define a tubular channel between the front surface and the rear surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the support structure includes a sidewall extending around the respectively perimeters of the rear surface and the front surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein support structure further includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly from the core to the sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the support structure further includes a plurality of ribs extending radially outward from the sidewall. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the rear surface perimeter is larger than the front surface perimeter such that the sidewall tapers radially outwardly from the front to the rear. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer has a diameter of approximately twice the thickness. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer is solid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sizing the aperture to permit lateral movement of the spacer with respect to the fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising tapering the aperture such that the aperture is wider adjacent to the front surface and narrower adjacent to the rear surface in order to aid in the insertion of a fastener such as a nail or screw. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the perimeters of the rear and front surfaces and the sidewall have a shape that allows water to freely drain regardless the orientation of the spacer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the perimeters of the rear and front surfaces are selected from the group consisting of substantially circular, substantially triangular, substantially square, and substantially oval. 
     
     
         14 . A siding installation spacer for spacing an exterior facade panel away from an exterior face of building sheathing, the spacer comprising:
 a rear surface for contacting the exterior face of building sheathing;   a front surface for contacting a rear face of façade panel;   a support structure joining the rear surface and the front surface, the structure having a thickness from the front surface to the rear surface such that the facade is spaced apart from the sheathing by the thickness; and   an aperture extending through the spacer from the rear surface to the front surface for passage of a fastener to secure the siding or the spacer to the sheathing.