Top panel snap-in trim for exterior siding

A method of finishing and securing an exterior siding top panel attached to a wall, said wall meeting an orthogonal surface at a right-angle corner at a top end of said wall, said method comprising the steps of:

• covering said orthogonal surface with a siding panel;
• mounting a J-channel bracket on said orthogonal surface at said corner, said J-channel bracket holding an end of said siding panel covering said orthogonal surface and having a J-channel clip having a hook at an end projecting out from a side facing said siding panel covering said orthogonal surface;
• attaching said siding top panel to said wall;
• interlocking, on a side of said J-channel bracket facing said siding panel covering said orthogonal surface, a top panel snap-in trim having a top panel snap-in trim extender with a grasper formed therein and said J-channel bracket by inserting said grasper between said panel covering said orthogonal surface and said hook in said J-channel, whereby said grasper and said hook are held in place by said siding panel covering said orthogonal surface;
• and
• contacting said siding top panel at a lower end of said top panel snap-in trim, thereby securing said siding top panel to said wall.

A system for assisting in finishing and securing an exterior siding top panel, said system comprising:

• a wall to which said siding top panel is attached;
• an orthogonal surface, said wall meeting said orthogonal surface at a right-angle corner at a top end of said wall;
• a finish trim bracket mounted on said orthogonal surface at said corner, said finish trim bracket having a finish trim clip with a hook at an end projecting out from a side facing said siding top panel;
• a top panel snap-in trim holding a top end of said siding top panel, said top panel snap-in trim having a top panel snap-in trim extender with a grasper formed therein;
• and
• means for interlocking said finish trim bracket and said top panel snap-in trim to assist in finishing and securing said siding top panel to said wall, said interlocking means located on a side of said finish trim bracket facing said siding top panel and formed by inserting said grasper between said orthogonal surface and said hook in said finish trim clip.

A combination comprising:

• a J-channel bracket;
• a generally horizontal soffit panel having a back edge portion mounted in the J-channel bracket;
• a generally vertical siding top panel having a top edge flush with a bottom edge of the J-channel bracket;
• and
• a top panel snap-in trim for securing the siding top panel and concealing the J-channel bracket, said top panel snap-in trim comprising:
• a substantially horizontal snap-in trim extender, said extender having a grasper formed at an end thereof, the grasper being pressed horizontally between a bottom face of the soffit panel and the J-channel bracket to hold the top panel snap-in trim bracket in place;
• a substantially vertical snap-in trim base connected to the extender at an outside end, said trim base extending downward from the soffit panel and concealing the J-channel bracket from view;
• and
• a snap-in trim fastener connected to the snap-in trim base at an angle sloping toward the generally vertical siding top panel, said trim fastener contacting the generally vertical siding top panel below the J-channel bracket and securing the top panel.