Up until about the 1990's, there was only one type of product to choose from when trimming out your house - wood, usually solid, finger-joint pine. Wood was the go-to product and was commonly used on all new home construction until the last 5-8 years or so. Builders have always known that using wood to trim out the exterior of a home, degrades within a few years and is prone to splitting, insect infestation, and even falling apart; however, it was the builder's most cost effective (read cheapest) option. And in the long-term wood trim would outlast the builder's short warranty period on cosmetic issues. But as most homeowners know, wood can become an eyesore if not regularly maintained and also costly to upkeep because it needs to be, well, regularly maintained with paint and caulk!
Currently, there are several trim options and materials to choose from, including Medium Density Fiberboard or MDF, which is basically sawdust and glue fused together under high pressure and heat. This type of material is far cheaper than wood, but we now know that's a bad choice for the exterior of a home. It can quickly mal-form, split, and generally just fall disintegrate when it gets wet - and not just getting wet from rain, but from high humidity and dew moisture. See the results below of what happens when MDF is used on the exterior of a sun room.
MDF is now mainly used for interior shelving and for other less expensive big box furniture. But because of its cost, many homeowner's mistakenly still buy it to patch or replace their exterior trim!
Then there's polyurethane composites (PC), a combination of materials molded together under heat as well. PC's are mainly used for window trim and door accents and around gables and windows. This material is rot, mold, and water resistant. It's a good material, but it is mostly used to make a home's architecture look more impressive and stylish and it is the more costly option.
So What's the Solution?
PVC - my go to favorite. I know when most people hear the term "PVC" they think of plumbing pipes under their sinks. Well, if you thought this too, you wouldn't be wrong. PVC or Poly Vinyl Chloride is a versatile product that has many diverse applications, not just for pool furniture or plumbing anymore.
PVC is virtually indestructible and resists insects, the freeze/thaw cycles, and the high humidity of Montgomery County and unlike wood and MDF, it will not rot, cup, split, twist, or warp. And, because it is impervious to moisture, PVC is particularly suited for contact with concrete and brick and in applications where the trim comes into direct contact with water and rain.
PVC used to be an expensive trim option; but, it is so widely used now in new home construction that it's cost to consumers has also come down and is fairly comparable to pine and other trim board materials. I don't even offer pine as an option anymore because PVC is not only affordable and long-lasting, but it is easy to clean, contemporary looking, and can be painted with common acrylic paints or not painted at all!
Take a look below at the end result of replacing that MDF trim above with PVC. The homeowner asked that I not replace the top wood fascia boards, so as not to disturb the new gutters, but everything else is PVC.
If you are thinking of replacing your window or door trim, call or text Simply Home Maintenance today at 240 324-8081 to explore your options.
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