A spacer for facilitating hanging and fastening siding strips to a structure. The spacer is placed on a previously-fastened siding strip. An unfastened siding strip is then placed on the spacer, allowing the unfastened siding strip to be fastened. Once fastened, a portion of the spacer may be separated allowing the siding strips to come into unobstructed contact with one another.
1. A method for installing siding strips with a spacer having a hook portion and a shelf portion, said steps comprising:
(a) securing a first siding strip to a structure;
(b) positioning the hook portion of said spacer onto a first siding strip;
(c) placing a second siding strip onto the shelf portion of said spacer with said second siding strip overlapping said first siding strip;
(d) securing the second siding strip to the structure; and
(e) separating said shelf portion of the spacer from said hook portion of the spacer, such that the first and second siding strips come into unobstructed contact with each other.
2. The method of claim 1 , said shelf portion comprising:
(a) a positioning surface;
(b) a ridge; and
(c) a striking surface;
(d) wherein, said ridge is disposed between said positioning surface and said striking surface.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of placing the second siding strip onto the positioning surface of said shelf portion.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of separating said shelf portion from said hook portion by striking said striking surface.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (e) includes applying force to an exposed portion of said spacer extending from said shelf portion to separate said shelf portion from said hook portion.
6. A spacer for use in installing siding panels, said spacer comprising:
a hook attachable to a first siding panel;
a shelf portion dimensioned to receive a second siding panel;
wherein said hook comprises a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall, wherein said first wall and said third wall extend from opposing ends of said second wall;
wherein said shelf portion comprises a fourth wall, a fifth wall, and said third wall, wherein said third wall and said fifth wall extend from opposing ends of said fourth wall; and
wherein said hook includes a frangible portion configured to separate said shelf portion from said hook such that the first siding panel and the second siding panel come into unobstructed contact with each other.
7. The spacer of claim 6 , wherein said third wall has a top end and a bottom end and wherein said frangible portion is adjacent said top end of said third wall.
8. The spacer of claim 7 , wherein said fourth wall is adjacent said bottom end of said third wall.
9. The spacer of claim 8 , wherein said fourth wall is dimensioned to carry said second siding panel.
10. The spacer of claim 7 , wherein said frangible portion extends substantially along an entire dimension of said second wall.
11. The spacer of claim 10 , wherein said frangible portion has a reduced thickness compared to surrounding portions of said second wall.
12. The spacer of claim 6 , further comprising a tab extending from said shelf portion.
13. The spacer of claim 12 , wherein said frangible portion is configured to release said third wall from said second wall responsive to force applied to said tab.
14. The spacer of claim 13 , wherein said tab is integrally formed with said shelf portion and wherein said tab remains integral with said shelf portion upon release of said third wall from said second wall.
15. The spacer of claim 14 , wherein said frangible portion separates said second wall from said third wall responsive to striking of said tab.
16. A spacer for use in installing siding panels, said spacer comprising:
a hook attachable to a first siding panel;
a shelf portion dimensioned to receive a second siding panel;
a tab extending from said shelf portion;
wherein said hook comprises a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall, wherein said first wall and said third wall extend from opposing ends of said second wall;
wherein said shelf portion comprises a fourth wall, a fifth wall, and said third wall, wherein said third wall and said fifth wall extend from opposing ends of said fourth wall; and
wherein said second wall includes a frangible portion that is configured to release said third wall from said second wall responsive to force applied to said tab.
17. The spacer of claim 16 , wherein said third wall has a top end and a bottom end and wherein said frangible portion is adjacent said top end of said third wall.
18. The spacer of claim 17 , wherein said fourth wall is adjacent said bottom end of said third wall.
19. The spacer of claim 18 , wherein said fourth wall is dimensioned to carry said second siding panel.
20. The spacer of claim 17 , wherein said frangible portion extends substantially along an entire dimension of said second wall.
21. The spacer of claim 10 , wherein said frangible portion has a reduced thickness compared to surrounding portions of said second wall.
22. The spacer of claim 16 , wherein said tab is integrally formed with said shelf portion and wherein said tab remains integral with said shelf portion upon release of said third wall from said second wall.
23. The spacer of claim 22 , wherein said frangible portion separates said second wall from said third wall responsive to striking of said tab.
24. A spacer for use in installing siding panels, said spacer comprising:
a hook attachable to a first siding panel;
a shelf portion dimensioned to receive a second siding panel;
a tab extending from said shelf portion;
wherein said hook comprises a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall, wherein said first wall and said third wall extend from said second wall in a substantially perpendicular manner;
wherein said shelf portion comprises a fourth wall, a fifth wall, and said third wall, wherein said third wall and said fifth wall extend from said fourth wall in a substantially perpendicular manner;
wherein said second wall includes a frangible portion;
wherein said third wall has a top end and a bottom end, wherein said frangible portion is adjacent said top end of said third wall and said fourth wall is adjacent said bottom end of said third wall;
wherein said frangible portion has a reduced thickness compared to surrounding portions of said second wall; and
wherein said frangible portion is configured to release said third wall from said second wall responsive to force applied to said tab.
25. The spacer of claim 24 , wherein said tab is integrally formed with said shelf portion and wherein said tab remains integral with said shelf portion upon release of said third wall from said second wall.
26. The spacer of claim 25 , wherein said frangible portion separates said second wall from said third wall responsive to striking of said tab.