Backerboard
A flat material used on the face of the house, between the studs and the siding, to provide a nailable surface for the siding.

Buttlock
The bottom edge of a siding or soffit panel, or accessory piece, opposite the nailing slots, which locks onto the preceding panel.

Channel
The area of the accessory trim or corner post where siding or soffit panels are inserted. Channels also refer to the trim itself, and are named for the letters of the alphabet they resemble (e.g., J-channel, F-channel, etc.).

Course
A row of panels, one panel wide, running the length of the house from one side to the other or, in the case of vertical siding, from top to bottom.

Drip Cap/Head Flashing
An accessory installed with vertical siding to ensure that water drips away from panels and does not infiltrate them; it is also used as a vertical base.

Double Channel Lineal
A siding accessory that joins two soffit panels.

Face
Refers to the side of a siding or soffit panel that is showing once the panel has been installed.

Face-nailing
The action of fastening directly onto the “face” side of a panel (instead of using the nail hem slot). This practice is generally not used in siding installation.

Fascia Board
A board attached to the ends of the rafters between the roofing material and the soffit overhang. Fascia cap is the covering around that board.

Flashing
A thin, flat material, usually aluminum, positioned under or behind J-channels, corner posts, windows, etc., to keep draining water from penetrating the home.

Furring/Furring Strip
A wooden or steel framing material, usually 1" x 3", used to provide an even nailing base. To “fur” a surface means to apply these strips.

Lap
To overlap the ends of two siding panels or accessory pieces to allow for expansion and contraction of the vinyl product.

Lug/Crimp
The raised “ears” or tabs on a siding panel, created by a snaplock punch, which can be used to lock a siding panel into place when the nailing hem has been removed.

Miter
To make a diagonal cut, beveled to a specific angle (usually 45°). Sometimes miter cuts are made into an overlapping siding or soffit panel surface, to provide a neater appearance.

Nailing Hem (or Flange)
The section of siding or accessories where the nailing slots are located.

Plumb
A position or measurement that is truly and exactly vertical, 90° from a level surface.

Positive Lock
Area below the nailing hem that the buttlock locks into.

Profile
Describes the design of the panel (Clapboard, Dutch lap, Triple 3, etc.)

Scoring
Running a utility knife blade, a sharpened awl, scoring tool, or other sharp implement across a soffit or siding panel face without cutting all the way through the panel. This weakens the vinyl surface in a specific area and allows the panel to be bent and broken off cleanly.

Soffit
Material used to enclose the horizontal underside of an eave, cornice, or overhang. Some soffit panels may also be used as vertical siding.

Square
A measurement of siding. One square equals 100 square feet (10 x 10 wall).

Strapping
A flexible framing material used to even a surface prior to installation.

Starter Strip
An accessory applied directly to the surface of the building and used to secure the first course of siding to the home.

Underlayment
Weather-resistant material placed under vinyl siding panels.

Weep Holes
Openings cut into siding or accessories to allow for water runoff.