A siding panel is provided having a front side and a rear side. The siding panel includes a nail hem for securing the siding panel to a support structure. The nail hem has a proximal member for mounting adjacent to the supports structure and a distal member spaced from the proximal member and the support structure. The distal member terminates in a free end. The siding panel further includes a catch projecting outwardly from the panel. The catch forming an impediment for the free end of the distal member thereby preventing further outward movement of the free end of the distal member.

A building siding panel and assembly each assembly having a plurality of interconnecting siding panels that are attached to the building using fasteners that are driven into the building through a plurality of aligned and spaced apart slot pairs in a uniform manner that reduces the distortion that accompanies thermal expansion and/or contraction of the siding material.

A building siding panel and assembly each assembly having a plurality of interconnecting siding panels that are attached to the building using fasteners that are driven into the building through a plurality of aligned and spaced apart slot pairs in a uniform manner that reduces the distortion that accompanies thermal expansion and/or contraction of the siding material.

A system for attaching siding to an exterior wall through use of a fastener guide strip that is held within or against the nailing hem of a siding panel so as to allow the panel to slide along the guide strip during thermally induced expansion and contraction of the panel.

A vinyl siding panel which includes a top lock, a medial main body portion, a bottom lock, and a nailing hem adjacent the top lock comprises a channel with nail apertures in the channel base for receiving siding nails. The channel has an open end which has a dimension smaller than the nail head diameter so that the nail head bears against shoulders or bearing surfaces formed adjacent the channel. The channel can be of rectangular or tapered cross-section in order to space the nail head away from the nail apertures and thereby eliminate stress concentrations at the apertures. The lock structures are generally complementary in shape so that they interlock with other siding panels of like construction. The panel can be reinforced along its length for added rigidity. One area of reinforcement is the channel nailing hem which can be reinforced by extruding additional material to form the channel or by providing an elongated trough-like insert nested within the channel. The channel nailing hem provides improved wind resistance and enhances strength and rigidity of the panel.