Methods of installing interlocking panel siding and components thereof

Abstract

A method of installing siding on a structure includes the steps of positioning a starter strip at a base of the structure, mounting the starter strip to the structure, and providing a first panel. The starter strip includes a top edge including a top front edge that extends above a top rear edge. The first panel includes a top edge and a bottom edge. The method further includes the step of positioning the bottom edge of the first panel atop the top edge of the starter strip such that a bottom rear edge and a bottom middle edge of the first panel abut a top front edge and a top rear edge, respectively, of the starter strip. The method also includes the step of mounting the first panel to the structure.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of installing siding on a structure, comprising the steps of:
 positioning a starter strip of the siding at a base of the structure, wherein the starter strip includes a top edge comprising a top front edge that extends above a top rear edge;   mounting the starter strip to the structure;   providing a first panel of the siding including:
 a top edge, wherein the top edge includes a top front edge that extends above a top rear edge, wherein the top front edge is adjacent to the front face, wherein the top rear edge is adjacent to the rear face, wherein the top front edge is perpendicular to the front face, wherein the top rear edge is perpendicular to the rear face, 
 a bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge includes a bottom front edge that extends below a bottom middle edge and a bottom rear edge, further wherein the bottom rear edge extends below the bottom middle edge, wherein the bottom front edge is adjacent to the front face, wherein the bottom rear edge is adjacent to the rear face, wherein the bottom front edge is perpendicular to the front face, wherein bottom rear edge is perpendicular to the rear face; 
   positioning the bottom edge of the first panel atop the top edge of the starter strip such that the bottom rear edge and the bottom middle edge of the first panel abut the top front edge and the top rear edge, respectively, of the starter strip; and   mounting the first panel to the structure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the starter strip includes a front face including a fastener notch that receives fasteners; and
 wherein the step of positioning the bottom edge of the first panel comprises the step of positioning the bottom edge of the first panel atop the top edge of the starter strip such that the bottom rear edge and the bottom middle edge of the first panel abut the top front edge and the top rear edge, respectively, of the starter strip and the bottom front edge of the first panel covers the fastener notch of the starter strip.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first panel includes a rear face including a plurality of laterally spanning notches. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a second panel of the siding including:
 a top edge, wherein the top edge includes a top front edge that extends above a top rear edge, wherein the top front edge is adjacent to the front face, wherein the top rear edge is adjacent to the rear face, wherein the top front edge is perpendicular to the front face, wherein the top rear edge is perpendicular to the rear face, 
 a bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge includes a bottom front edge that extends below a bottom middle edge and a bottom rear edge, further wherein the bottom rear edge extends below the bottom middle edge, wherein the bottom front edge is adjacent to the front face, wherein the bottom rear edge is adjacent to the rear face, wherein the bottom front edge is perpendicular to the front face, wherein bottom rear edge is perpendicular to the rear face; 
   positioning the bottom edge of the second panel atop the top edge of the first panel such that the bottom rear edge and the bottom middle edge of the second panel abut the top front edge and the top rear edge, respectively, of the first panel; and   mounting the second panel to the structure.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first panel includes a front face including a fastener notch that receives fasteners; and
 wherein the step of positioning the bottom edge of the second panel comprises the step of positioning the bottom edge of the second panel atop the top edge of the first panel such that the bottom rear edge and the bottom middle edge of the second panel abut the top front edge and the top rear edge, respectively, of the first panel and the bottom front edge of the second panel covers the fastener notch of the first panel.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second panel includes a front face including a fastener notch. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second panels includes a rear face including a plurality of laterally spanning notches. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second panels includes a rear face including a plurality of cut-outs. 
     
     
         9 . A method of installing siding on a structure, comprising the steps of:
 providing a first panel of the siding including:
 a top edge, wherein the top edge includes a top front edge that extends above a top rear edge, wherein the top front edge is adjacent to the front face, wherein the top rear edge is adjacent to the rear face, wherein the top front edge is perpendicular to the front face, wherein the top rear edge is perpendicular to the rear face, 
 a bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge includes a bottom front edge that extends below a bottom middle edge and a bottom rear edge, further wherein the bottom rear edge extends below the bottom middle edge, wherein the bottom front edge is adjacent to the front face, wherein the bottom rear edge is adjacent to the rear face, wherein the bottom front edge is perpendicular to the front face, wherein bottom rear edge is perpendicular to the rear face; 
   mounting the first panel to the structure;   providing a second panel of the siding including:
 a top edge, wherein the top edge includes a top front edge that extends above a top rear edge, wherein the top front edge is adjacent to the front face, wherein the top rear edge is adjacent to the rear face, wherein the top front edge is perpendicular to the front face, wherein the top rear edge is perpendicular to the rear face, 
 a bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge includes a bottom front edge that extends below a bottom middle edge and a bottom rear edge, further wherein the bottom rear edge extends below the bottom middle edge, wherein the bottom front edge is adjacent to the front face, wherein the bottom rear edge is adjacent to the rear face, wherein the bottom front edge is perpendicular to the front face, wherein bottom rear edge is perpendicular to the rear face; 
   positioning the bottom edge of the second panel atop the top edge of the first panel such that the bottom rear edge and the bottom middle edge of the second panel abut the top front edge and the top rear edge, respectively, of the first panel; and   mounting the second panel to the structure.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each of the top front edges and the bottom middle edges of each of the first and second panels includes an angled surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each of the top front edges and the bottom middle edges of each of the first and second panels includes a curved surface. 
     
     
         12 . An interlocking panel for siding comprising:
 a front face including a fastener notch;   a rear face;   a top edge, wherein the top edge includes a top front edge that extends above a top rear edge, wherein the top front edge is adjacent to the front face, wherein the top rear edge is adjacent to the rear face, wherein the top front edge is perpendicular to the front face, wherein the top rear edge is perpendicular to the rear face, wherein a width of the top edge is equivalent to the sum of a width of the top front edge and a width of the top rear edge; and   a lower edge, wherein the lower edge includes a bottom front edge that extends below a bottom middle edge and a bottom rear edge, further wherein the bottom rear edge extends below the bottom middle edge, wherein the bottom front edge is adjacent to the front face, wherein the bottom rear edge is adjacent to the rear face, wherein the bottom front edge is perpendicular to the front face, wherein bottom rear edge is perpendicular to the rear face, wherein the bottom middle edge is perpendicular to the rear face and located at a centerline of the lower edge, wherein a width of the lower edge is equivalent to the sum of a width of the bottom front edge, a width of the bottom middle edge, and a width of the bottom rear edge, wherein the bottom middle edge is the same width as the top front edge and the bottom rear edge is the same width as the top rear edge.   
     
     
         13 . The panel of  claim 12 , wherein each of the top front edge and the bottom middle edge includes an angled surface. 
     
     
         14 . The panel of  claim 12 , wherein each of the top front edge and the bottom middle edge includes a curved surface. 
     
     
         15 . The panel of  claim 12 , wherein the panel interlocks with a starter strip such that the bottom front edge of the panel covers a fastener notch of the starter strip. 
     
     
         16 . The panel of  claim 12 , wherein the panel interlocks with a further panel such that the bottom front edge of the panel covers a fastener notch of the further panel. 
     
     
         17 . The panel of  claim 12 , wherein the rear face includes a plurality of laterally spanning notches. 
     
     
         18 . The panel of  claim 12 , wherein the rear face includes a plurality of cut-outs.