Self-spacing lap and panel siding

A lap or panel siding system, comprising:

• a pair of lap or panel siding pieces, each piece comprising an outer face, an inner face, a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of one piece is configured to meet with and form a shiplap joint with the second end of the other piece;
• wherein the first end of each piece comprises an over-lap shiplap joint element with an inner face, and the second end of each piece comprises an under-lap shiplap joint element with an inner face, wherein the over-lap element overlaps in whole or in part the corresponding under-lap element when forming the shiplap joint;
• wherein the over-lap element and the under-lap element each comprise a corresponding stop disposed on the inner face of each, configured to position the respective ends at a pre-determined spacing distance by mutual contact of the corresponding stops when forming the shiplap joint;
• and
• further wherein said pre-determined spacing distance creates a visible first gap at least 3/15″ in width between the edges of said outer faces of the pair of lap or panel siding pieces, and a second gap between the edges of said inner faces of the pair of lap or panel siding pieces, wherein the second gap is wider than the first gap.