Patent Publication Number: US-8117801-B2

Title: Pultruded building product

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/870,271, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,856,790, filed on Oct. 10, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This application relates generally to pultruded products and more specifically to a pultruded building product. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Siding on residential and light-commercial buildings is typically made of wood, vinyl, fiber cement, or metal. Wood is not considered “low maintenance” as it is susceptible to warp, rot, and requires frequent repainting. Both vinyl and metal siding need to be slotted when attached to the sheathing of a home because of their high coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). They have to be carefully nailed in the slots in a manner that allows horizontal movement of the siding as the temperature changes. Warping due to this large CTE is one of the chief drawbacks to these types of siding. Vinyl siding is also susceptible to additional warping because of vinyl&#39;s low heat deflection temperature. Solar heat gain on vinyl siding must be minimized to prevent softening of the vinyl, and subsequent warping. The softening of vinyl also occurs simultaneously with a high rate of thermal expansion as the temperature of the vinyl rises, which can make warp and deflection permanent. To reduce solar gain, vinyl siding is typically only sold in light reflecting colors like white and pastels. Dark colors on vinyl siding experience too much solar gain for the vinyl to retain stiffness. Fiber cement siding is heavy and relatively brittle, making it difficult to handle and install. Fiber cement siding requires painting and touching up. Also, fiber cement siding absorbs water. Additionally, fiber cement siding is free-floating, with no interlocking or self-aligning mechanism included with the siding. 
     Denting of metal siding results from impacts during installation and regular use. Such denting results from the metal siding being formed from thin-skinned metals that dent easily. Siding products that are more dent resistant result in a better quality siding product. Metal siding, being a good thermal conductor, also reduces the insulating value of the wall and acts as a condensation point for moisture. 
     Weather barriers are often wrapped around the exterior sheathing of buildings to combat the infiltration of water and air. Installing a weather barrier is a separate step in home construction after the sheathing and before siding installation. 
     The sheathing on a building, typically oriented strand board (OSB), plywood, polystyrene, or fiberboard, acts as a rigid backing for the internal insulation and the external weather barrier. In the case of OSB or plywood, it also acts as a structural reinforcement to increase the shear strength of a building. Less structural sheathing materials require braces or other additional structural members to give the building the necessary shear strength. Sheathing a building is a separate step from wrapping the weather barrier, and installing the siding. 
     What is needed is a building product to improve on the disadvantages and weaknesses of traditional siding materials, traditional weather barrier, and traditional sheathing. 
     SUMMARY 
     A pultruded product which is adapted to be exterior siding of a building. 
     The pultruded product includes a profile defining a shape of exterior siding and a joint member configured to mate with a joint member of a second pultruded product mounted adjacent the pultruded product. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of assembled building products, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of assembled building products, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  shows a top view of assembled building products, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of a joint assembly of the building products of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of a joint assembly in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  shows a top view of a joint assembly of the building products of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a side view of a trim component for a siding system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  shows a side view of a trim component for a siding system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  shows a side view of a trim component for a siding system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  shows a side view of a trim component for a siding system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  shows a side view of a trim component for a siding system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of a building product, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  shows a front view of the building product of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  shows a side view of the building product of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 15  shows a perspective view of assembled building products, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  shows a front view of assembled building products, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  shows a side view of the assembled building products of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  shows an enlarged fragmentary view of a joint between two assembled building products of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19  shows a perspective view of a seam support member, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  shows a perspective view of assembled building products, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  shows a side view of a trim component for a siding system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 22  shows a side view of a trim component for a siding system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 23  shows a side view of a trim component for a siding system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 24  shows a side view of a trim component for a siding system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 25  shows a side view of a trim component for a siding system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 26  shows a perspective view of a corner backer component for a siding system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 27  shows a front perspective view of a corner fascia component for a siding system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 28  shows a rear perspective view of the corner fascia component of  FIG. 27 . 
         FIG. 29  shows a perspective view of corner components of  FIGS. 26-28  used with assembled building products, in accordance with one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of assembled building products  10 ,  20 , in accordance with one embodiment. Products  10  and  20  are pultruded products that form the exterior of a building. Products  10 ,  20  are similar in shape to each other and are described using different numbers for sake of convenience. In one embodiment, products  10  and  20  replace the sheathing, weather barrier, and siding of typical construction. In other words, the pultruded members are configured to be attached directly to a frame  25  of the building and they can have the properties to be exterior siding, a weather-tight barrier, and/or structural sheathing of the building. Accordingly, one or more of these typical building components can be omitted and the time of construction is reduced. Products  10  and  20  are attached to frame  25  of a building with fasteners, such as nails  30  or screws. Thus, for example, a plurality of products  10  and  20  are fastened directly to the 2″×4″s or 2″×6″s used to build the frame of a house. The products  10 ,  20 , are connected at an interlock joint assembly  40 , which includes an upper joint member  42  and a lower joint member  44 . Each member  10 ,  20  includes upper and lower joint members  42 ,  44 . A plurality of such members  10 ,  20  are used to side a building with a series of such members placed adjacent each other. Further details of joint assembly  40  will be discussed below. 
     The products  10 ,  20  are formed by pultrusion and can have a wall thickness of about 0.06 inches to about 0.120 inches. Some embodiments have a wall thickness of as small as about 0.03 inches. Some embodiments can have a thickness of about 1 inch or more. The pultrusions can include a coating or a film  27  on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the member for additional protection from elements or ultraviolet protection. For example, the pultrusion and coating can be as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,412, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Products  10 ,  20  can be various heights, for example, from three inches or less to 4 feet or more. They can have lengths of up to thirty feet or longer. In this example, the cross-section profile shape of products  10 , defines a dutch-lap siding shape. Other continuous cross-section siding shapes are also possible with pultrusion. In some embodiments, these shapes include straight lap, dutch lap, curved lap, beaded, flat, grooved/fluted, and many other profile shapes. Dimension of the lap height are typically three to twelve inches but could be taller or shorter. The number of repeating laps on a given profile are typically one to four but could be many more. 
     The pultruded products  10 ,  20  can be formed in virtually any profile shape. Accordingly they can be provided with projecting portions, and other profile shapes, so as to define relief portions  29  on the exterior of the house. For example, each of the pultruded products  10 ,  20  can include a main body defining a back plane  31  for abutting an outside of the building and one or more sections  33 ,  35  extending out from the back plane to define relief portions. Accordingly, they can be formed to be aesthetically pleasing such as present siding shapes, as discussed above. 
     Furthermore, the pultruded products provide protection from wind and rain. Each pultruded member itself is air-tight and weather-tight, and the joint between adjacent members can be sealed to provide an air-tight, rain-tight seal. Moreover, the pultruded products are stiff enough and sturdy enough to provide structural support when attached directly to frame  25 . For example, the pultruded products  10 , are stiff enough to match or exceed the strength of OSB as sheathing. 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of assembled building products  50 ,  60 , in accordance with one embodiment. In this embodiment, the assembled members constitute lap siding connected at an interlock joint assembly  55 , with each member  50 ,  60  including an upper joint member  57  and a lower joint member  59 . In this example, upper joint member  57  includes a pair of fingers  61 ,  62  defining a U-shape. Lower joint member  59  includes a curved section  63  defining a U-shape. When assembled, for example, product  60  is fastened to a building through holes in finger  61 . U-shaped section  63  is mounted over finger  62  and product  50  is then fastened into place. In some embodiments, a sealing material, such as a gasket, can be placed between joint members  57  and  59 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of assembled building products  70 ,  80 , in accordance with one embodiment. In this embodiment, the assembled members constitute flat siding that could serve as siding only, as sheathing and siding, or as sheathing, siding, and weather-tight barrier. The building products  70 ,  80 , are connected at an interlock joint assembly  75 , with each member  70 ,  80  including an upper joint member  82  and a lower joint member  84 . 
     The present pultruded building products of  FIGS. 1-3  are not susceptible to warping due to expansion or softening at elevated temperatures such as vinyl or metal siding. Moreover, they allow for the elimination of installation slots, which makes the present product easier to install, requiring less time and labor. Also, the pultruded members could be installed with any color. 
     Moreover, since the pultruded members have a relatively high insulative property, they help the insulating value of a structure wall and are less likely to be condensation points for moisture. 
     In one embodiment, pultruded building products discussed above combine the functionality of sheathing, weather-tight barriers, and/or siding to reduce the labor and time needed to construct a building. In some examples, the building products can offer greater structural support and shear strength to a building versus OSB to allow for a stronger structure, and/or cost savings on other structural members of a building. 
     As discussed herein, pultrusion is a method of forming composite parts that is automated and continuous. Glass, or other reinforcing fibers, are impregnated with resin and pulled through a forming guide and a heated die. The forming guide orients the fibers to be properly placed in the heated die to insure that the pultruded part has uniform reinforcement across its shape. The heated die cures and/or solidifies the resin around the reinforcing fibers, thus forming the composite part. The composite part, having a profile shape, is continuously pulled out of the heated die by a puller. The puller can be a clamp and stroke action from a reciprocating puller, or a smooth action from a caterpillar puller. 
     Reinforcing fibers used in the present pultrusion can be glass, carbon fiber, kevlar, and other organic and inorganic filaments and fibers. The most common reinforcement used is glass fibers. Reinforcement fibers can take the form of filament and strand bundles, called rovings. They also take the form of yarns, texturized yarns, chopped strand mats, continuous strand mats, knitted mats, woven mats, surfacing veils, and many hybrid combinations of rovings, yarns, mats, and veils. 
     Resin used in pultrusion can be thermosetting resins like unsaturated polyesters in a styrene solution, or polyurethanes, phenolics, epoxides, thermosetting blends, and other thermosetting resins. Other resins used in pultrusion can be thermoplastic resins based on polyurethanes, acrylics, polyethylenes, and other thermoplastic resins. Resin used in pultrusion can also be thermoplastic resins that are embedded in rovings that melt and form the part inside the pultrusion die. 
     Resin mixtures in pultrusion can also contain organic, polymeric, and inorganic additives for such properties as shrink control, mold lubrication, colorants, fillers and other specially additives. 
     Glass reinforced pultrusions exhibit very low thermal expansion. Thermosetting pultrusions also exhibit dimensional stability and strength even at high temperatures. Pultrusions can be formulated to offer dent resistance. 
       FIG. 4  shows a side view of joint assembly  40  of the building products  10 ,  20 . Joint assembly includes upper joint member  42  and lower joint member  44 . The terms upper and lower are used herein to describe the relative orientation of the members in view of the Figures. However, in various embodiments, any of the pultruded siding members discussed herein can be mounted horizontally, vertically, or at an angle. Upper joint member includes a finger  41  which extends upwards and outwards to define a shoulder  43 . A lower shoulder  45  is formed in a lower portion of joint member  42 . Lower joint member  44  includes finger  46  which abuts shoulder  43 . An inner wall  47  defines a U-shaped portion  48  and a projection  49 . Finger  41  extends into U-shaped portion  48  and projection  49  rests on shoulder  45 . Wall  47  is spaced away from finger  41  to provide a space for the head of nail  30 . In this example, at least two of the three upper surfaces of finger  41 , shoulder  43 , and/or shoulder  45  provide support for abutting surfaces of lower joint member  44 . 
     The joint assembly  40  allows for seating of one member to the next. In one embodiment, the interlocking joint assembly  40  also includes sealing members such as foam rope  90  and extruded gaskets  100 . The foam and gaskets constitute a multi-point seal to prevent air and rain infiltration providing a weather-tight barrier for the building product system discussed herein. 
       FIG. 5  shows one embodiment of an interlocking joint assembly  109 . In this example, a pair of pultruded members include a lower joint member  90  and an upper joint member  95 . Upper joint member  95  includes a first finger  96  and a second finger  97  defining a U-shaped portion  98  therebetween. Fastener  30  can be fastened to a building through a hole in finger  96 . Lower joint member  90  includes a curved portion define an upper shoulder  101  and an arm  102  that extends down and divides into a first finger  102  and a second finger  103  that define a U-shaped portion  104 . Arm  102  is spaced out from finger  96  to provide a space for the head of fastener  30 . When assembled, U-shaped portion  104  envelopes finger  97  while finger  103  extends into U-shaped portion  98 . Shoulder  101  abuts the top of finger  96 . At least two of the three upper surfaces of finger  96 , finger  97  and/or the bottom of U-shaped portion  98  provide support for the downward facing surfaces of shoulder  101 , the bottom of U-shaped portion  104 , and/or finger  103 . 
     In some embodiments, a sealing member such as gasket material  100  can be provided between the joint members  90  and  95 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a top view of joint assembly  75  of pultruded products  70 ,  80 . In this embodiment, the joint  75  is locking in two places to prevent prying under force. This embodiment is suited for vertically oriented laps, for example. In this embodiment, upper joint member  82  includes a first finger  111  which extends upwards and curves inward defining a shoulder  112 . A second finger  113  extends outwards and upwards to define a U-shaped portion or channel  114 . Lower joint member  84  includes a first finger  115  which extends into channel  114  and a second finger  116  which defines a U-shaped portion or channel  117 . Finger  111  extends into channel  117 . Finger  115  includes a shoulder  118 . Finger  115  is spaced away from finger  111  to provide space for the head of fastener  30 . At least two of the surfaces of joint member  82  contact or abut joint member  84 . For example, the surface of shoulder  112 , the upper surface of finger  111 , the upper surface of finger  113  and/or the bottom of channel  114  can contact the corresponding shoulders and fingers of the corresponding joint member  84 . In one example, a sealing member, such as gasket material  100  is provided. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 ,  2 , or  3 , in use, a plurality of pultruded products  10 ,  20  (or  50 ,  60 , or  70 ,  80 ) are provided. Starting at a bottom of the building a first product  10  is fastened directly to the frame of the building. The fasteners can be nailed all the way into the frame through the pultruded product, for example through finger  41  of joint member  42 . In some embodiments, one or more guiding or mounting holes  46  can be provided in the pultruded product. For example, the holes can be located through finger  42 . This is in contrast to how vinyl siding is hung. Vinyl siding is loosely hung through elongate slots in the siding. This is because of the high CTE of vinyl. (Typically about 33×10 −6  in/in/F). In contrast, the pultruded products of the present system have a CTE of about 4×10 −6  in/in/F or less. In various embodiments, the CTE can be from about 3 to about 5×10 −6  in/in/F. This allows them to be tightly fastened to the frame because there is no danger of them expanding enough to come loose. Tightly fastening the pultruded members to the building also provides for a sturdy structure, which, in one example, can be used to replace the traditional sheathing of a building. 
     After product  10  is mounted to the building, the second product  20  is placed adjacent the first product such that joint  42  mates with joint  44 . In this example, at least two points of support are provided between the upper and lower joints. One embodiment provides a sealing material on all the abutting surfaces so as to provide a three-point (or more) seal. The joint members are further designed such that the lower joint covers the fastener  30  of the lower product. After the upper product is fastened to the frame, the process is repeated. 
     In various examples, the pultruded products can be made having profiles defining the following siding styles: straight lap, curved lap, dutch lap, flat, beaded, fluted, reeded, or smooth siding. In one or more examples, a pultruded part can contain one or more repeating siding features per part. In some embodiments, any of the pultruded products discussed can be used as horizontal siding, vertical siding, or angled siding. 
       FIGS. 7-11  show embodiments of some trim components for assembly of the present system onto a structure. These components include starter strips  110 , j-channel  120 , f-channel  130 , inside corners  140 , and outside corners  150 . For example, starter strip  110  can include a shape defining an upper joint portion to mate with the lower joint portion  84  ( FIG. 5 ) of one or more of the plurality of pultruded products discussed above. Starter strip  110  can be used as the first element when siding a building, with the pultruded products (such as product  80 ) then added to it. J-channel  120  is used when a siding member meets a window or door. F-channel  130  is used when a siding member meets a soffit. Inside corner  140  and outside corner  150  are for inside and outside corners where one wall of siding meets another wall of siding. Other details of one or more embodiments of  FIGS. 1-11  are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/032,315, filed on Jan. 10, 2005, entitled “PULTRUDED BUILDING PRODUCT”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       FIGS. 12-18  show views of a building product  210 , in accordance with one embodiment. In one example, the building product  210  is configured to be attached to a surface of a building or other structure to form the exterior of the building. The building products  210 , in one example, replace the sheathing, weather barrier, and siding of typical construction. In other words, the building products  210  are configured to be attached directly to a frame  225  of the building. Thus, for example, a plurality of building products  210  are fastened directly to the 2″×4″s or 2″×6″s used to build the frame of a house. In this example, the building products  210  can have the properties to be exterior siding, a weather-tight barrier, and/or structural sheathing of the building. Accordingly, one or more of these typical building components can be omitted and the time of construction is reduced. In one example, the building product  210  attaches to a building having house wrap  232  and sheathing  230  attached to the frame  225  of the building. In one example, several building products  210  of similar configurations are used to cover at least a portion of the surface of the building. 
     The building product  210  of this example includes a siding product  212 . The siding product  212  in one example is a pultruded product  212  generally similar to the pultruded products  10 ,  20  described above. The pultruded product  212  of this example includes a first side  212 A and a second side  212 B. The pultruded product  212  includes a first engagement feature  214  disposed on or near the first side  212 A. In one example, the first engagement feature  214  generally includes a channel or slot disposed proximate the first side  212 A and extending at least partially along the length of the pultruded product  212 . In one example, the first engagement feature  214  is a slot that is downwardly-facing or, in other words, open in a direction generally toward the second side  212 B of the pultruded product  212 . The pultruded product  212  of this example further includes a second engagement feature  216  disposed on or near the second side  212 B. In one example, the second engagement feature  216  is a generally upturned lip or tab extending at least partially along the length of the pultruded product  212 . In one example, the second engagement feature  216  is a tab that is oriented in a direction generally toward the first side  212 A of the pultruded product  212 . The second engagement feature  216  is configured to selectively frictionally engage with the first engagement feature  214  of another similar pultruded product  212  such that any curvature in either or both of the pultruded products  212  increases frictional engagement between the pultruded product  212  and the other similar pultruded product  212 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIGS. 16-18 , several building products  210  are shown assembled to form a partial exterior structure of a building. As seen in  FIG. 18 , the second engagement feature  216  of one pultruded product  212  is disposed within the first engagement feature  214  of another pultruded product  212  to form a joint therebetween. In one example, the channel of the first engagement feature  214  includes a bump  214 A extending from one wall of the channel toward the other wall of the channel, and the lip of the second engagement feature  216  includes an enlarged end  216 A. In one example, the first and second engagement features  214 ,  216  are configured to engage each other with a clearance distance X between the bump  214 A of the first engagement feature  214  and the enlarged end  216 A of the second engagement feature  216 . The clearance distance X allows for the second engagement feature  216  to be relatively easily placed within the first engagement feature  214  to form the joint. Curvature present in the pultruded products  212  of mating building products  210 , however, causes at least a portion of the joint to have no clearance distance X. In other words, curvature causes the enlarged end  216 A of the second engagement feature  216  to become disposed within a recess  214 B of the first engagement feature  214  along at least a portion of the joint, effectively creating a snap fit between the first and second engagement features  214 ,  216 . Such curvature in the pultruded products  212  can result from a number of causes. For instance, in one example, curvature of the pultruded product  212  results from attachment of the pultruded product  212  with the surface of the building, wherein the surface of the building is not perfectly flat. That is, the building surface includes a curvature, which the pultruded product  212  assumes when attached thereto. In another example, curvature of the pultruded product  212  results from manufacturing of the pultruded product  212 . In one such example, the curvature is purposely introduced into the pultruded product  212 . In another example, curvature of the pultruded product  212  occurs as a byproduct of the manufacturing process. In other examples, other factors result in curvature of the pultruded product  212 , either before or after fastening to a building, to allow for engagement between first and second engagement features  214 ,  216  of the pultruded products  212  of mating building products  210 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 18 , in one example, the pultruded product  212  includes an attachment portion  217  configured to fasten the pultruded product  212  to the building. In one example, the attachment portion  217  is integrally formed in the pultruded product  212 . In one example, the attachment portion  217  is disposed on or near the first side  212 A of the pultruded product  212 . The attachment portion  217 , in one example, is a tab extending upwardly at the first side  212 A of the pultruded product  212 . In another example, the attachment portion  217  extends upwardly from the first engagement feature  214  of the pultruded product  212 . 
     In one example, the attachment portion  217  is configured to frictionally engage with a clip  218  configured to space the building product  210  a distance from the surface of the building. The clip  218 , in one example, is a spacer clip  218  for attachment of a building product  210  to the surface of a building. In one example, the clip  218  includes a first leg  218 A. The clip  218 , in one example, includes a second leg  218 B coupled with the first leg  218 A to form a U-shape. The first and second legs  218 A,  218 B can have various lengths. In one example, as shown in  FIGS. 14 ,  17 , and  18 , the first and second legs  218 A,  218 B are generally similar lengths. In other examples, the first and second legs  218 A,  218 B can have a different lengths. For instance, the first leg  218 A can be longer than the second leg  218 B, or the first leg  218 A can be shorter than the second leg  218 B. In one example, the first and second legs  218 A,  218 B are configured to accommodate a portion, for instance, the attachment portion  217  discussed above, of the building product  210  therebetween for frictional engagement therewith. In one example, the second leg  218 B is angled toward the first leg  218 A, such that the gap between the first and second legs  218 A,  218 B narrows. In one example, the gap is narrowest at the point of the gap farthest from the point where the first and second legs  218 A,  218 B are coupled. In still another example, the building product  210  includes one or more integrally-formed bumps extending rearwardly from the attachment portion  217 . The one or more bumps of this example essentially function to space the building product  210  a distance from the surface of the building in a manner similar to that described herein with respect to the spacer clip  218 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , in one example, when the building product  210  is attached to the surface of the building, the first leg  218 A is disposed between the building product  210  and the surface of the building. The first leg  218 A has a thickness to space the building product  210  a distance Y away from the surface of the building. By spacing the building product  210  away from the surface of the building in this manner, condensation and other moisture, which becomes disposed between the building product  210  and the building, is allowed to drain. Furthermore, the spacing created by the clip  218  allows for ventilation between the building product  210  and the building. In this example, by using the clips  218  when attaching the building products  210  to the building, a water drainage and ventilation plane is created. 
     In one example, the clip  218  is slidable along the attachment portion  217  of the building product  210 . The slidable clips  218  allow for one or more clips  218  to be attached to and packaged with the building product  210  and then repositioned along the building product  210  during installation to align the clips  218  with the studs or other frame members of the frame  225  of the building. Once aligned with the studs or other frame members of the frame  225 , in one example, a fastener  220  is used to couple the building product  210  to the frame  225 . In one example, as shown in  FIG. 18 , the fastener  220  is placed through the clip  218  and the attachment portion  217  of the pultruded product  212  and into the frame  225  to attach the building product  210  to the frame  225 . In one example, the clip  218  includes a hole therethrough to facilitate placing the fastener  220  through the clip  218 . In another example, the clip  218  does not include a hole therethrough, but is configured to allow the fastener  220  to be driven through the clip  218  during attachment of the building product  210  to the building. It is contemplated that various fasteners  220 , including screws, nails, and the like, are used to attach the building product  210  to the frame  225  or other portion of the building. In one example, the clip  218  is formed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In another example, the clip  218  is formed from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. However, the materials of these examples are not intended to be limiting, as the clip  218  can be formed from other materials in other examples, provided the clip  218  can perform in the manner described herein. By using the clips  218  to attach the building products  210  to the building, as described above, furring strips, as used with other types of siding, can be eliminated. By eliminating the step of attaching furring strips to the building, potentially, time can be saved and material costs can be lessened. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 15 , in one example, a flashing clip  219  is used between side-by-side building products  210 . In one example, the flashing clip  219  includes a first leg  219 A that is longer than a second leg  219 B. The flashing clip  219  is similar to the clip  218  discussed above, except that the first leg  219 A of the flashing clip  219  is longer than the first leg  218 A of the clip  218  described above. In one example, the first leg  219 A is sized to extend along a majority of the height of the pultruded product  212 . In one example, the flashing clip  219  is placed along the butt joint between two side-by-side building products  210  and is configured to assist in maintaining the joint and to inhibit incursion of water through the joint. In one example, the flashing clip  219  is wide enough to allow a portion of the flashing clip  219  to be positioned in frictional engagement with each of the abutting pultruded products  212 , with the portions being sufficiently wide to allow fasteners  220  to be driven through each portion during attachment of the building products  210  with the building. In one example, the flashing clip  219  is attached to at least one of the building products  210  using a fastener  220 . In another example, the flashing clip  219  is attached to only one of the building products  210  using a fastener  220 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 19 and 20 , in another example, a seam support member  221  is used at seams between side-by-side building products  210 . The seam support member  221  can be used in place of at least some of the flashing clips  219  described above. In one example, the seam support member  221  is relatively rigid. In another example, the seam support member  221  is placed behind a seam between two side-by-side building products  210 , such that the seam support member  221  is disposed between the building products  210  and the structure surface of the building. In one example, the seam support member  221  is wide enough to allow a portion of the seam support member  221  to be positioned behind each of the abutting pultruded products  212 , with the portions being sufficiently wide to allow fasteners  220  to be driven through each portion during attachment of the building products  210  with the building. In one example, the seam support member  221  is attached to at least one of the building products  210  using a fastener  220 . In another example, the seam support member  221  is attached to only one of the building products  210  using a fastener  220 . 
     In various examples, the seam support member  221  performs one or more functions, including, but not limited to, the following. In one example, the seam support member  221  facilitates alignment of two building products  210  by providing an abutment lip  221 A along which top edges of two side-by-side abutting building products  210  can be lined up. In another example, the seam support member  221  serves to control water, such as water entering through the seam between two building products  210 . For instance, a ramp-like surface  221 B of the seam support member  221  downwardly directs water entering through the seam and inhibits the water from contacting the surface of the building. In still another example, the seam support member  221  acts as a spacer clip  218 , as described above, to space the building product  210  from the surface of the building. In a manner similar to that described above with respect to the spacer clip  218 , use of the seam support member  221  creates a water drainage and ventilation plane to facilitate the draining of condensation and other moisture disposed between the building product  210  and the building and to allow for ventilation between the building product  210  and the building. In yet another example, the seam support member  221  provides added strength, stability, and structure at the seams between two building products  210  to inhibit deflection and distortion of the building products  210  at the seams. 
       FIGS. 21-25  show embodiments of some trim components for assembly of the present system onto a structure. These components include an inside corner  240 , a J-channel  250 , a starter strip  260 , an outside corner  270 , and a trim casing member  280 . For example, the inside corner  240  and the outside corner  270  can be used for inside and outside corners, respectively, where one wall of siding meets another wall of siding. The J-channel  250  can be used to cover or otherwise mask cut edges of one or more siding members, for instance, roughly cut edges of siding members where the siding members meet oddly-shaped vents, windows, structures, or the like. The starter strip  260  can include a shape defining an first engagement feature to mate with the second engagement feature  216  ( FIG. 12 ) of one or more of the plurality of pultruded products  212  discussed above. The starter strip  260  can be used as the first element when siding a building, with the building products (such as product  210 ) then added to it. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 26-29 , in another example, a corner component  290  is used with building products  210  at one or more corners of a building. In one example, the corner component  290  includes a backer member  292  which attaches to the building, for instance at a stud of the frame  225  or at another portion of the building. It is contemplated that the backer member  292  is attached using fasteners such as screws, nails, bolts, or the like, although this is not intended to be limiting. Other fastening means are further contemplated, such as, for instance, adhesives and the like. 
     In one example, the backer member  292  is attached to the building before the building products  210  for that area are attached. In this example, the backer member  292  is placed between the building products and the surface of the building and functions in a similar manner to that described above with respect to the seam support member  221 . In one example, the backer member  292  facilitates alignment of two adjacent corner building products  210  by providing a top abutment lip  292 A along which top edges of two adjacent corner building products  210  can be lined up and a side abutment lip  292 C along which side edges of two adjacent corner building products  210  can be lined up. In another example, the backer member  292  serves to control water entering at the corner of the building. For instance, a ramp-like surface  292 B of the backer member  292  downwardly directs water entering at the corner and inhibits the water from contacting the surface of the building. In still another example, the backer member  292  acts similar to the spacer clip  218 , as described above, to space the one or more building products  210  from the surface of the building. In a manner similar to that described above with respect to the spacer clip  218 , use of the backer member  292  creates a water drainage and ventilation plane to facilitate the draining of condensation and other moisture disposed between the building product  210  and the building at the corner of the building and to allow for ventilation between the building product  210  and the building. In yet another example, the backer member  292  provides added strength, stability, and structure at the building corners to inhibit deflection and distortion of the building products  210  at the corners. 
     In one example, once the building products  210  and the backer member  292  are attached to a corner of the building at a particular level, a fascia member  294  can be attached to the corner. Various ways of attaching the fascia member  294  to the backer member  292  are contemplated hereby. For instance, in one example, the fascia member  294  includes a protrusion  294 A or other such member that is configured to be placed behind a bottom edge  292 D of the backer member  292 , such that the bottom edge  292 D becomes lodged between the protrusion  294 A and the front wall of the fascia member  294 . A snap arm  294 B or other similar feature at the top of the fascia member  292  can then be snapped or otherwise engaged with an attachment surface  292 E of the backer member  292 . Once the fascia member  294  is in place, the next level of siding at the corner can be installed. While the above discusses one example of attaching the fascia member  294  to the backer member  292 , other attachment means are contemplate, such as, for instance, detents, tabs-in-slots, fasteners, adhesives, and the like. 
     It is important to note that while the above discusses one example of a corner component  290 , other examples of corner components are contemplated. For instance, in one such example, the corner component could be placed between building products and the corner of building, with the building products meeting along a seam at the corner of the building. The building products of this example could be mitered along the meeting edges so as to make a finished look to the siding corners formed. In another example, a corner component could be used to attach over building products at a corner of a building. The corner component of this example covers over the seam between the building products and, in turn, conceals the corner and any rough cuts of the building products along the edges at the corner. 
     Like the products  10 ,  20  discussed above, the building products  210  can be formed by pultrusion and can have a wall thickness of about 0.06 inches to about 0.120 inches. Some embodiments have a wall thickness of as small as about 0.03 inches. Some embodiments can have a thickness of about 1 inch or more. The pultrusions can include a coating or a film  27  on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the member for additional protection from elements or ultraviolet protection. For example, the pultrusion and coating can be as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,412, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The building products  210  can have various heights, for example, from three inches or less to 4 feet or more. They can have lengths of up to thirty feet or longer. In various examples, the building products  210  can define various cross-section siding shapes. In some embodiments, these shapes include straight lap, dutch lap, curved lap, beaded, flat, grooved/fluted, and many other profile shapes. Dimension of the lap height are typically three to twelve inches but could be taller or shorter. The number of repeating laps on a given profile are typically one to four but could be many more. 
     The building products  210  can be formed in virtually any profile shape. Accordingly they can be provided with projecting portions, and other profile shapes, so as to define relief portions on the exterior of the house. Accordingly, they can be formed to be aesthetically pleasing, such as present siding shapes, as discussed above. 
     Furthermore, the building products  210  provide protection from wind and rain. In one example, each building product  210  itself is air-tight and weather-tight. In one example, the joint between adjacent building products  210  can be sealed to provide an air-tight, rain-tight seal. Additionally, in one example, the building products  210  are stiff enough and sturdy enough to provide structural support when attached directly to the frame  225 . For example, the building product  210  of one example can be stiff enough to match or exceed the strength of OSB as sheathing. 
     Additionally, in one example, coloring is added during manufacturing of the building products  210  so that the building products  210  are pre-finished. By providing a finished colored surface on the building products  210 , the building products  210  can be installed as is and do not need to be painted or touched up. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 15-18 , in one example, a method includes arranging at least one spacer clip  218  along a first building product  210 . In one example, the at least one spacer clip  218  of the first building product  210  is aligned with a stud or other member of a frame  225  of a building. In another example, the at least one spacer clip  218  of the first building product  210  is aligned between studs or other members of the frame  225  of a building. In still another example, multiple spacer clips  218  of the first building product  210  are aligned with at least some studs (every stud, every other stud, or some other combination of studs) or other members of the frame  225 , aligned in between studs or other members of the frame  225 , or aligned with a combination of studs and spaces in between studs of the frame  225 . The first building product  210  is fastened to a surface, such as the frame  225 , sheathing  230 , house wrap  232 , or other surface, of the building. At least one spacer clip  218  is arranged along a second building product  210 . As with the first building product  210 , the at least one spacer clip  218  of the second building product  210  is aligned with a stud or other member of the frame  225  of the building. The second building product  210  is fastened to the surface of the building adjacent the first building product  210  with a joint member or second engagement member  216  of the second building product  210  mating with a joint member or first engagement member  214  of the first building product  210 . In one example, the at least one clip  218  and the first or second building product  210  are fastened directly to the frame  225  of the building. In one example, the building product  210  is adapted to be external siding of the building. 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 15-18 , in another example, a method includes fastening a first building product  210  to a surface of a building. A second building product  210  is fastened to the surface of the building adjacent the first building product  210  with a joint member or second engagement feature  216  of the second building product  210  mating with a joint member or first engagement feature  214  of the first building product  210 . In this way, any curvature in the first or second building product  210  increases frictional engagement between the first and second engagement features  214 ,  216  of the first and second building products  210 , as discussed in more detail above. In one example, the curvature of the first or second building product  210  results from attachment of the first or second building product  210  with the surface of the building. In another example, the curvature of the first or second building product  210  results from manufacturing of the first or second building product  210 . In one example, at least one of the first building product  210  or the second building product  210  is fastened directly to a frame  225  of the building. In one example, the first and second building products  210  are adapted to be external siding of the building. 
     The pultruded building products discussed herein can be designed in various manners. For example, a building product can include a pultruded part that constitutes exterior siding of a building. Also a building product can include a pultruded part that constitutes siding and a weather-tight barrier. Also a building product can include a pultruded part that constitutes siding and the external and structural sheathing of a building. Some embodiments provide exterior siding, sheathing, and a weather-tight barrier. In some embodiments, a building product can include a pultruded part that constitutes the necessary attachments, trim, and accessories for installing siding, weather barrier, and sheathing. 
     The present pultruded building products offer the low thermal expansion that vinyl and metal siding lacks. Pultruded products can be formulated to exhibit dent resistance that metal siding lacks. Pultruded products are thermal insulators while metal siding is thermally conductive. Pultruded products do not soften due to solar heat gain, even in very dark colors, unlike vinyl siding. Pultruded products are manufactured with a particular finish color and do not require painting or touching up like fiber cement siding. In one example, pultruded products can be designed and formulated to have superior structural properties in terms of actual strengths and strength-to-weight ratios compared to traditional sheathing products like plywood or OSB. 
     The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.