A device for use in creating custom tiles for installation adjacent an angled vertical surface is disclosed. An example device includes first and second elongated members coupled via a hinge configured to selectively prevent pivoting at the hinge. The device further includes a slide piece coupled to the first member and configured to slide lengthwise along the first member. The slide piece may be selectively operated to prevent movement along the first member. The slide piece may further include a body. The body may comprise a longitudinal alignment element and a perpendicular lateral alignment element that together define a recess configured to receive a corner of an installed tile. The body may further include a spacer configured to selectively extend from or retract into the body. The spacer and the lateral alignment element may define a space therebetween.

The present application is generally directed to multifunctional flashing devices suitable for installation of lap siding. Flashing devices include a flashing section, a removable supporting section, and one or more alignment features configured to facilitate positioning of the flashing devices adjacent to an installed course of lap siding. The flashing devices may be fastened to a building substrate adjacent to an installed course of lap siding, at locations corresponding to butt joints of an additional course of lap siding. The supporting sections of the flashing devices are configured to retain and support additional cladding elements in position for installation. When the additional cladding elements have been fastened to the building substrate, the supporting section may be removed from the flashing section.

A hand-held tool for spacing clapboards that includes a speed square tongue located in the top center of the device. This feature allows a user to quickly and accurately transfer both horizontal and vertical lines, revealing material to be removed around doors and windows. There is a trigger mounted on the ergonomic handle that both locks the tongue in place for transferring horizontal lines, and releases the tongue for transferring vertical lines. Two trays are adjustable in increments that use pull pins under the trays. The trays can be adjusted for any board up to 10 in height. Desired overlap is achieved by adjusting the position of the bottom tray as desired. Finally a ruler is provided along the side of the tool. A second model that has no handle is also taught.

A siding panel includes a hanger section adjacent to an upper edge and a lower locking section adjacent to a lower edge. When installed, the lower locking section of an upper siding panel partially overlaps, extends into, and interlocks with a hanger section of a lower siding panel in an interference fit.

A clamp for installing a siding onto a building. The clamp comprises an upper frame having a nail for mounting the clamp onto the building and a lower frame having a top end pivotally connected to a lower end of the upper frame with a hook at an opposing end of the lower frame for holding a bottom of the siding. A spring is included biasing the lower frame with respect to the upper frame to angle the lower frame away from the building. In operation, the clamp is mounted onto the building and the hook is aligned to a position wherein the siding is to be installed, whereby the bottom of the siding may be placed on the hook and mounted onto the building.

A lap siding product with a central face cut or medial groove, allowing an installer or user to break the lap siding product in half manually, without tools, resulting in two pieces of lap siding. The central face cut or groove extends for the length of the product, and its depth is a substantial portion of the thickness of the lap siding product. A central back cut or medial groove opposite to the central face cut or groove may be provided, as well as a pair of back spacing cuts or rabbets along the edges of the back face of the product. A pair of machined nail lines on the face of the product assist in determining locations for nailing the post-break pieces of lap siding during installation.

A siding panel includes a hanger section adjacent to an upper edge and a lower locking section adjacent to a lower edge. When installed, the lower locking section of an upper siding panel partially overlaps, extends into, and interlocks with a hanger section of a lower siding panel in an interference fit.

A lap siding product with a central face cut, allowing an installer or user to break the lap siding product in half manually, without tools, resulting in two pieces of lap siding. The central face cut extends for the length of the product, and its depth is a substantial portion of the thickness of the lap siding product. A central back cut opposite to the central face cut may be provided, as well as a pair of back spacing cuts along the edges of the back face of the product. A pair of machined nail lines on the face of the product assist in determining locations for nailing the post-break pieces of lap siding during installation.

One aspect of the disclosure is a method of installing siding to a siding accessory using an installation aid. The method includes mounting and fastening at least one siding accessory to a surface, placing a siding panel onto the surface, the siding panel having a first side, a second side, a top edge, and a bottom edge, locking the siding panel into place, placing at least one installation aid between the first side and/or the second side of the siding panel and the at least one siding accessory, the installation aid having at least one projection spaced to create a gap between the first or second side of the siding panel and the at least one siding accessory to allow for expansion and contraction of the siding panel, sliding the siding panel over to the at least one siding accessory, and fastening the siding panel to the surface. Various embodiments of installation aids are also disclosed.

An adaptor is mounted on the tip of a nail gun normally used to attach roofing materials on the roof of a building to enable the nail gun also to be effective in attaching vinyl siding onto the exterior of a building structure. The adapter is mounted on the tip of the nail gun to engage nails discharged therefrom. The adaptor is formed with a circular projection that has a frusto-conical opening therethrough to guide discharged nails into engagement with the connective structure along the top edge of the siding panel. The circular projection has a depth that properly positions the discharge opening of the adaptor at the proper location for engagement with the siding connective structure. The conical shape of the opening through the adaptor is operable to deflect any misaligned nails being discharged from the nail gun into the discharge opening at the tip of the circular projection.