Building siding systems and methods

Abstract

Exterior building siding for aesthetic and protection of the building against wind, rain and solar energy by attaching each horizontal plank from the top of the wall downwardly that includes a starting strip where each plank is interlocked to the plank above it. Each of the horizontal planks includes a top wall portion that fits snuggly into an “L-shaped” groove above it so that the panels can be firmly locked together vertically in a downwardly fashion to prevent any wind uplift against the siding or moisture intrusion. In the preferred embodiment, an adaptor strip is bonded to a conventional siding plank for trap lock engagement. Each adaptor strip has a longitudinal recess to reduce mass and volume and a mid panel support for strength.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A siding system comprising:
 a plurality of siding planks, each siding plank extending along a long axis and having a building-contacting side and a second side opposite the building-contacting side, the building-contacting side having at least one section adapted to mate with a wall of a building, and the second side being bounded by first and second ends, each of the siding planks comprising:   a first flange extending upwardly from and offset with respect to the building-contacting side, the first flange being tapered;   a second flange extending downwardly below the second end of the second side of the siding plank to form a fixation-member-receiving section adapted to receive a fixation member for securing the siding plank to the wall of the building; and   a tapered groove formed between the second side of the siding plank and the second flange, the tapered groove extending upwardly above the second end of the second side of the siding plank, such that a section of the first flange of a first of the plurality of siding planks is adapted to mate with the tapered groove of a second of the plurality of planks to interlock the first siding plank with the second siding plank via the tapered groove/first-flange interface; and   a starter strip comprising a building-contacting side and a second side opposite the building-contacting side, the building-contacting side of the starter strip having at least one section adapted to mate with the wall of the building, wherein the second side is bounded by first and second ends, the starter strip including:   a flange extending downwardly below the second end of the second side of the starter strip, the flange forming a fixation-member-receiving section adapted to receive a fixation member for securing the starter strip to the wall of the building; and   a tapered groove formed between the second side of the starter strip and the flange, the tapered groove extending upwardly above the second end of the second side of the starter strip and having a profile that is substantially identical to the profile of the tapered groove formed in each of the plurality of siding planks, such that a section of the first flange of the second siding plank is adapted to mate with the tapered groove of the starter strip to interlock the second siding plank with the starter strip, wherein the starter strip does not include an upwardly extending flange for mating with a siding plank arranged above the starter strip.   
     
     
         2 . A siding system according to  claim 1 , wherein a top section of the starter strip includes a substantially flat surface extending transverse to the second side of the starter strip. 
     
     
         3 . A siding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second side of the starter strip presents a front wall that is viewable to a user once the starter strip is secured to the wall of the building. 
     
     
         4 . A siding system according to  claim 1 , wherein when the first flange of the first siding plank is mated with the tapered groove of the second siding plank, it overlies the fixation-member-receiving section of the second flange of the second siding plank, such that a fixation member inserted through the fixation-member-receiving section of the second flange of the second siding plank is hidden by the first flange of the first siding plank. 
     
     
         5 . A siding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the first flange of the first siding plank and the tapered groove of the second siding plank are complementary so that the first flange of the first siding plank interlocks substantially identically with the tapered groove of the second siding plank. 
     
     
         6 . A siding system according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of channels are formed in the building-contacting side of each of the plurality of siding planks to allow for drainage of moisture or fluid. 
     
     
         7 . A method of installing the siding system according to  claim 1  in a top down fashion, the method comprising:
 providing the siding system according to  claim 1 ; 
 positioning the starter strip at a top section of the wall of the building; 
 inserting at least one fixation member through the fixation-member-receiving section of the flange of the starter strip to secure the starter strip to the top section of the wall; 
 positioning the first flange of the second siding plank into the tapered groove of the starter strip so that the first flange of the second siding plank overlies the at least one fixation member inserted through the fixation-member-receiving section of the flange of the starter strip; 
 inserting at least one fixation member through the fixation-member-receiving section of the second flange of the second siding plank to secure the second siding plank to the wall of the building at a position below the starter strip; 
 positioning the first flange of the first siding plank into the tapered groove of the second siding plank so that the first flange of the first siding plank overlies the at least one fixation member inserted through the fixation-member-receiving section of the second flange of the second siding plank; and 
 inserting at least one fixation member through the fixation-member-receiving section of the second flange of the first siding plank to secure the first siding plank to the wall of the building at a position below the second siding plank. 
 
     
     
         8 . A siding system comprising:
 a plurality of siding planks, each siding plank extending along a long axis and having a building-contacting side and a second side opposite the building-contacting side, the building-contacting side having at least one section adapted to mate with a wall of a building, and the second side being bounded by first and second ends, each of the siding planks comprising:   a first flange extending upwardly from the building-contacting side;   a second flange extending downwardly below the second end of the second side of the siding plank to form a fixation-member-receiving section adapted to receive a fixation member for securing the siding plank to the wall of the building; and   a groove formed between the second side of the siding plank and the second flange, the groove extending upwardly above the second end of the second side of the siding plank, such that a section of the first flange of a first of the plurality of siding planks is adapted to mate with the groove of a second of the plurality of planks to interlock the first siding plank with the second siding plank via the groove/first-flange interface; and   a starter strip comprising a building-contacting side and a second side opposite the building-contacting side, the building-contacting side of the starter strip having a first section adapted to mate with the wall of the building at a top end of the building-contacting side and a second section adapted to mate with the wall of the building at a bottom end of the building-contacting side, the second side being bounded by first and second ends, the starter strip including:   a flange extending downwardly below the second end of the second side of the starter strip, the flange forming a fixation-member-receiving section adapted to receive a fixation member for securing the starter strip to the wall of the building; and   a groove formed between the second side of the starter strip and the flange, the groove extending upwardly above the second end of the second side of the starter strip and having a profile that is substantially identical to at least a portion of a profile of the first flange of the second siding plank, such that the first flange of the second siding plank is adapted to mate with the groove of the starter strip to interlock the second siding plank with the starter strip.   
     
     
         9 . A siding system according to  claim 8 , wherein the shape of the first flange of the first siding plank and the groove of the second siding plank are complementary so that the first flange of the first siding plank interlocks substantially identically with the groove of the second siding plank. 
     
     
         10 . A siding system according to  claim 8 , wherein the groove of each of the plurality of siding planks is tapered, each groove having an opening defined by a first distance and first and second opposing walls arranged above the opening, the first and second walls being separated by a second distance that is less than the first distance. 
     
     
         11 . A siding system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first flange of each of the plurality of siding planks is tapered, the first flange including an end insertable into the opening of at least one of the plurality of siding planks. 
     
     
         12 . A siding system according to  claim 8 , wherein the second side of the starter strip presents a front wall that is viewable to a user once the starter strip is secured to the wall of the building. 
     
     
         13 . A siding system according to  claim 12 , wherein the starter strip is formed of a unitary piece of material. 
     
     
         14 . A method of installing a siding system according to  claim 8 , the method comprising:
 providing the siding system according to  claim 8 ;   positioning the starter strip at a top section of the wall of the building;   inserting at least one fixation member through the fixation-member-receiving section of the flange of the starter strip to secure the starter strip to the top section of the wall;   positioning the first flange of the second siding plank into the groove of the starter strip so that the first flange of the second siding plank overlies the at least one fixation member inserted through the fixation-member-receiving section of the flange of the starter strip;   inserting at least one fixation member through the fixation-member-receiving section of the second flange of the second siding plank to secure the second siding plank to the wall of the building at a position below the starter strip;   positioning the first flange of the first siding plank into the groove of the second siding plank so that the first flange of the first siding plank overlies the at least one fixation member inserted through the fixation-member-receiving section of the second flange of the second siding plank; and   inserting at least one fixation member through the fixation-member-receiving section of the second flange of the first siding plank to secure the first siding plank to the wall of the building at a position below the second siding plank.   
     
     
         15 . A siding system comprising:
 a plurality of siding planks, each siding plank extending along a long axis and having a building-contacting side and a second side opposite the building-contacting side, the building-contacting side having at least one section adapted to mate with a wall of a building, and the second side being bounded by first and second ends, each of the siding planks comprising:   a first flange extending upwardly from the building-contacting side, the first flange having a profile with a convex portion;   a second flange extending downwardly below the second end of the second side of the siding plank to form a fixation-member-receiving section adapted to receive a fixation member for securing the siding plank to the wall of the building; and   a groove formed between the second side of the siding plank and the second flange, the groove extending upwardly above the second end of the second side of the siding plank and having a profile with a concave portion that is complementary to the convex portion of the profile of the first flange, such that a section of the first flange of a first of the plurality of siding planks is adapted to mate with the groove of a second of the plurality of planks to interlock the first siding plank with the second siding plank via the groove/first-flange interface; and   a starter strip comprising a building-contacting side and a second side opposite the building-contacting side, the building-contacting side of the starter strip having at least one section adapted to mate with the wall of the building, wherein the second side is bounded by first and second ends, the starter strip including:   a flange extending downwardly below the second end of the second side of the starter strip, the flange forming a fixation-member-receiving section adapted to receive a fixation member for securing the starter strip to the wall of the building; and   a groove formed between the second side of the starter strip and the flange, the groove extending upwardly above the second end of the second side of the starter strip and having a profile that is substantially identical to the profile of the groove formed in each of the plurality of siding planks, such that a section of the first flange of the second siding plank is adapted to mate with the groove of the starter strip to interlock the second siding plank with the starter strip.   
     
     
         16 . A siding system according to  claim 15 , wherein the groove of each of the plurality of siding planks is tapered, each groove having an opening defined by a first distance and first and second opposing walls arranged above the opening, the first and second walls being separated by a second distance that is less than the first distance. 
     
     
         17 . A siding system according to  claim 16 , wherein the first flange of each of the plurality of siding planks is tapered, the first flange including an end insertable into the opening of at least one of the plurality of siding planks. 
     
     
         18 . A siding system according to  claim 15 , wherein the second side of the starter strip presents a front wall that is viewable to a user once the starter strip is secured to the wall of the building. 
     
     
         19 . A siding system according to  claim 18 , wherein the starter strip is formed of a unitary piece of material. 
     
     
         20 . A method of installing a siding system according to  claim 15 , the method comprising:
 providing the siding system according to  claim 15 ;   positioning the starter strip at a top section of the wall of the building;   inserting at least one fixation member through the fixation-member-receiving section of the flange of the starter strip to secure the starter strip to the top section of the wall;   positioning the first flange of the second siding plank into the groove of the starter strip so that the first flange of the second siding plank overlies the at least one fixation member inserted through the fixation-member-receiving section of the flange of the starter strip;   inserting at least one fixation member through the fixation-member-receiving section of the second flange of the second siding plank to secure the second siding plank to the wall of the building at a position below the starter strip;   positioning the first flange of the first siding plank into the groove of the second siding plank so that the first flange of the first siding plank overlies the at least one fixation member inserted through the fixation-member-receiving section of the second flange of the second siding plank; and   inserting at least one fixation member through the fixation-member-receiving section of the second flange of the first siding plank to secure the first siding plank to the wall of the building at a position below the second siding plank.