Abstract: A deck system including cooperating plastic planks, fastener covers and end caps. Each of the plastic planks has at least one channel in the upper surfaces which extends the length of the plank. Each channel includes at least one pair of opposed ledges. Each fastener cover is configured for insertion into one of the channels. The fastener cover is an elongate member having an upper face portion and a pair of legs downwardly depending from the upper face portion and extending substantially the entire length thereof. The fastener cover includes a pair of upper laterally projecting flanges and a pair of lower laterally projecting flanges. When a fastener cover is inserted into a channel, the pairs of upper and lower flanges receive the at least one pair of ledges with a gap sufficient to accommodate displacement of the fastener cover arising from ice expansion in the channel.

Abstract: Exterior finishing panels are provided which contain an elongated, thermoplastic sheet which is supported by a rigid support member disposed along a portion of the length of the sheet. The rigid support member has a flexural modulus which is significantly greater than the modulus of the thermoplastic sheet, so as to support the panel during handling and installation. The panels of this invention will be more kink-resistant, and will ride uneven walls better to present a flatter-looking finished wall surface. These panels are also capable of being worked with ordinary hand tools, such as a standard wood saw made of steel or carbide.

Abstract: Siding panels and intermediate articles of their manufacture are provided. The siding panels include a central portion including an aesthetic pattern and a pair of lateral edge portions which are formed while the polymeric material is still above its heat deflection temperature, and preferably, when the central portion has been hot-formed and cooled. This invention improves the art for vacuum-forming siding panels, dentil molding and other building products made by continuous vacuum forming.

Abstract: A window balance cam housing has a body generally in the form of a rectangular prism having a generally cylindrical bore therethrough. The body has a bottom side, a top side, a right side, a left side, a near side, and a far side. The generally cylindrical bore extends between the near side and the far side and has a portion of more narrow diameter between the right side and the left side respectively. The top side has a gap defined therein, permitting flexing to change the separation between the right side and the left side. Brake shoes are provided on each of the right side and the left side. A first pair of vertical ridges extends symmetrically outward from the near side and the far side. A second pair of vertical ridges extends symmetrically outward from the near side and the far side, the second pair of vertical ridges being higher than the first pair.

Abstract: A roof ridge ventilator is provided, comprising preferably a molded ventilator, with openings along the sides thereof for passage of air therethrough and with openings at ends thereof for passage of air therethrough via gaps provided in pluralities of rows of tabs, with a plurality of tabs being in each row, to define circuitous paths for air passage through end walls of the ventilator, with the ventilator being arcuately bendable to accommodate roofs of different pitches and resistance to fold lines being formed in its upper surface when it is arcuately bent, and with a filter medium provided beneath the ventilator.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for applying building panels, such as siding panels, to building surfaces, such as walls. The panels are of a type which undergo expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature, and they are applied to a building surface, such as a wall, by means of nails, screws, staples or the like. In order to accommodate the expansion and contraction of the panels, the panels are provided with an attachment hem, such as a strip of relatively flexible material, generally rubber-like or fabric-like in nature. A strip of relatively flexible material may be secured to the relatively rigid building panel by any suitable means, such as adhesive securement, welding, heat fusing, etc., such that it becomes an integral part of the building panel, or the relatively flexible attachment hem may comprise a separate component which, when applied to a building surface, such as a wall or the like, by a suitable nailing, stapling, etc.