What is the best material to use for exterior house trim?
Exterior House Trim Materials
- Solid Wood. Solid wood trim is one of the oldest materials around. ...
- Engineered Wood. Engineered wood has become a fast growing alternative to solid wood. ...
- Fiber Cement Trim. Fiber cement has become another alternative that tends to get a lot of attention as being more durable and longer lasting than wood.
- Plastic Trim. ...
- Preservative-Treated Trim. ...
What material is used for exterior house trim?
- specify vertical grain material (heartwood of durable species best)
- specify exterior-exposure adhesive in joints
- factory or field-apply oil-base prime coat on all surfaces.
- use 2 coats of 100% acrylic latex paint for top coats (do not use stains)
- maintain protective coating on regular basis
- carefully detail architectural elements to minimize exposure
How do you paint an exterior house?
- Before you start painting, get your siding in top shape. ...
- After power wash, allow your surfaces to dry completely so that you will have no trapped moisture under your paint. ...
- Observe the weather to ensure that painting is done when the weather is dry and mild
How to choose exterior trim colors for your home?
What Color Should You Paint Your Exterior Trim?
- Choose High or Low Contrast for Your Exterior Trim. Your house’s trim can either blend in with your siding, or stand out and create an entirely different look.
- Use a Monochromatic Finish for Your Home’s Exterior Trim. ...
- Determine Neutral Tones or Bold Colors for Your Exterior Trim. ...
- Using Your Home’s Style to Find Your Colors. ...
- Make Your Home, Your Home. ...
What is polymer trim?
What is cellular PVC trim?
How long is fiber cement trim good for?
Why do people prefer wood trim?
Can PVC trim be painted?
Is fiber cement trim durable?
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What does exterior trim mean?
The finish materials on the exterior of a building, such as moldings applied around openings (window trim, door trim), siding, windows, exterior doors, attic vents, crawl space vents, shutters, etc. Also, the physical work of installing these materials.
What is the purpose of exterior trim?
The primary function of exterior trim protects the internal structure of the building from the elements. Having trimming that looks good is half the charm! For instance, the roof and gutters on your home are a system.
What is exterior trim made of?
The most classic choice for exterior house trim is wood. Solid wood, as well as composite options, are available. Many homeowners prefer wood trim because of its natural look and feel but quality wood products are becoming scarcer, and therefore more expensive.
What should I use for exterior trim?
Choosing Rot-Resistant Woods. Since the end of the last century, the first choice for exterior trim has been the naturally rot-resistant woods of America's Northwest. These include redwood, red cedar, Alaskan yellow cedar, and Port Orford cedar, all of which may last a century or more without protection.
Does exterior trim go on before siding?
That said, the trim goes on first when installing lap siding.
What is interior and exterior trim?
•Exterior Trim – SEE FROM OUTSIDE OF A CAR. •Interior Trim – SEE FROM INSIDE OF A CAR.
How long does exterior wood trim last?
Without proper maintenance, wood trim can quickly fall victim to the elements and require replacement within just 10 years or less. To avoid that kind of irreversible and costly damage, wood trim has to be repainted at least every 4-5 years.
What is the trim around siding called?
Utility Trim: a piece of trim used any time the top lock has been removed from the siding, to secure a siding panel. Also referred to as “undersill” or “finish” trim; double utility trim is also available.
What is the exterior trim around a window called?
CasingCasing is the decorative molding or framing around a window that is used to cover the space between the window frame or jamb and the wall.
Can you paint exterior house trim?
Painting your home's trim, fascia, or doors can be easy. This is a project that can make the biggest impact in changing your home's appearance. For Best Results: Start at the corner and use a smooth motion to brush or roll the project area.
What paint is used for exterior trim?
semiglossBut despite the shade you ultimately select to heighten your home's curb appeal, there's only one real option for the finish. It has to be semigloss. The same goes for exterior trim. Semigloss paint gives you a smoother surface than lower-sheen finishes and has a degree of shine, providing a visual contrast.
How do you install exterior wood trim?
0:071:01Installing Exterior Wood Trim Tips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd this includes the cut ends any type of cutting that you do you want to lightly brush over give aMoreAnd this includes the cut ends any type of cutting that you do you want to lightly brush over give a few minutes to dry before installing it. Second you want to put a bead of caulk on the back.
What is exterior trim on a car?
What Is Exterior Car Trim Exactly? Basically, the exterior car trim includes your bumpers, trim, window/door seals, wheel wells, and headlights. Most of the trim consists of plastic, but rubber and vinyl appear in some parts as well.
What are the boards on the outside of a house called?
Definition of Fascia board or fascia trim: The horizontal board running along the outer edge of a soffit, typically covered or mostly covered by a gutter on modern homes, is the fascia board. Don't confuse fascia board with cornice molding which is below the soffit and in the plane of the wall itself.
What does it mean to trim a house?
What Is Trim? Trim on a home's exterior typically includes the material that edges the windows and doors, the fascia board that runs along the lower edge of the roof and the soffits beneath the roof.
What is trim in house construction?
A small yet mighty design element in a room, trim is a type of millwork used on walls for both practical and decorative purposes. “Typically, trim covers the gaps between two areas, but it can also be highly decorative, setting the style and tone of the room,” says Lowe's Project Expert Hunter Macfarlane.
What is house trim?
House trim is a finishing touch that gives a home a more professional, polished look. It also gives you the ability to significantly affect the overall aesthetic of the home.
What is a hardie trim board?
What it does: HardieTrim board can be used as a decorative band board to break up the field of siding on a home and introduce graceful transitions from one part to another. How to use it: Band boards are installed horizontally and you can choose any HardieTrim board width, which will depend on the style of the home.
Why are pre-assembled corners important?
Tip: Your trim width selection (as well as color) will be an important factor in your overall exterior aesthetic.
What is outdoor trim?
Outdoor trim is not only for Victorian homes; it looks great on almost any porch style. Use these ideas on your porch to bedazzle your neighbors. We'll show you the three major types: running trim, spandrels and brackets. Exterior house trim details (courtesy of Vintage Woodworks) Running Trim.
What is exterior trim used for on a porch?
We like the way in which exterior trim was used on this small porch to create a decorative arch and a bit of privacy, too. Looks like it will filter the sunlight nicely, too.
What are the best places to put trim on an exterior house?
Gables are perfect locations for exterior house trim! A close up of running trim and bracket placement. You could just as easily use different brackets and attach them underneath the trim to give it a different look. Brackets and dentil moldings create a whimsical look on this porch. A definitely charming look.
Why do you run trim on a beach house?
Running trim on a beach house! It gives the porch a more charming look and tends to make it look more expansive. Inviting, isn't it!
Why are Victorian porches so unique?
Mary and I love Victorian porches; some are like porches on steroids! But each is unique because of the outdoor trim pieces that are used to enhance their overall appearance.
Where do brackets extend on a porch?
The brackets extend from the columns to the eaves of the porch roof instead of the beam. When considering placement of exterior house trimexplore all of your options and choose what works best.
Can you mix and match trim?
Hope you now realize you can mix and match and add additional pieces to make a statement. It's the same process finish carpenters use on the interior of your home, that is, combining trim pieces to create a cohesive look.
What is trim on a house?
Trim on a home’s exterior typically includes the material that edges the windows and doors, the fascia board that runs along the lower edge of the roof and the soffits beneath the roof. Depending on the style of your home, your trim could include more elements, like a horizontal trim board that runs beneath the fascia.
What is the exterior trim of a Victorian home?
A Victorian home may have corbels and carvings, scalloped gable board, shutters around the windows and spindles that line a porch — all features that would be considered part of the exterior trim. Traditionally, whether a home has brick, stucco or stone siding, the trim material is wood.
What happens when you paint trim?
Once work gets started, your painters will scrape and sand the existing paint. This will expose the condition of your trim and potentially any additional rotted wood that wasn’t visible before, which could add to the cost of the job.
What is trim painting?
Trim is typically painted with brushes, which is slow detail work compared to the speed of spraying or rolling paint onto large swaths of siding. Find the right painting pro. The first step is to choose a professional painter to work with. Look for one with good reviews and who is licensed and insured.
How much does it cost to paint trim?
The cost to paint your trim can range from the low $1,000s into the tens of thousands depending on your home’s size, the complexity of the project and the cost of labor in your area. In Seattle, where DuPont lives, painting the trim on a typical 1,500- to 1,800-square-foot home would cost about $2,900 to $3,500. A similar job would cost $3,000 to $6,000 in Marblehead, Massachusetts, says John Speridakos, who runs Cosmos Painting Co. there. Outside Mobile, Alabama, in Spanish Fort, the job would cost $1,800 to $3,000. Call around to get a sense of rates where you live.
Why do people hire painters to paint their trim?
Many people hire pros to paint their trim simply because they don’t have the time to do it themselves , says Speridakos, the Massachusetts painting pro. It’s also nice to know that your home is in the hands of an experienced professional who stands behind his or her work. And there’s another reason that the budget-minded might consider: Professionals already have the required tools.
Can a pro repair rotted trim?
An experienced pro will be able to spot most of the rotted or damaged trim that needs carpentry work to repair, though damage could also show up during the job. Before work starts you should get a contract spelling out what specifically is to be done, how much it will cost and how and in what timeframe you will pay.
What are the exterior elements of a house?
Along with the roof and siding, soffit, trim and fascia are all key exterior elements representing a home’s first line of defense—which means they can be susceptible to damage.
What is fascia trim?
Fascia and trim are both exterior elements of a home that contribute to moisture prevention and curb appeal. Loosely defined, trim is used as fascia, and some may refer to it as “fascia trim,” showing that these two terms are often confused due to their similar purposes. But fascia, strictly speaking, is a board that is installed at ...
Why is trim important?
They may look simply cosmetic, but trim and fascia play an important role in finishing seams around windows and doors, helping to keep moisture out (along with durable siding).
What is the difference between fascia and trim?
To understand their roles, let’s first compare trim vs. fascia. Trim is the material used to encase windows and doors , among other features, on a home’s exterior. Fascia is a horizontal or angled board that encloses the edge or face of the projecting eaves.
Why is durability important for trim and fascia?
Along with other parts of the building envelope, both trim and fascia help manage and resist moisture that can infiltrate the structure, while keeping other elements out. Along with the roof and siding, soffit, trim and fascia are all key exterior elements representing a home’s first line ...
What is polymer trim?
Polymer. Polymer trim is manufactured by injecting a polypropylene resin into pre-formed molds of various sizes. On the plus side, polymer trim is easy to work with and easy to paint, which can save you time.
What is cellular PVC trim?
Cellular PVC exterior house trim is manufactured from polyvinyl chloride and molded to various styles and sizes. It is easy to install using standard woodworking tools, but it tends to be on the higher end of the price spectrum. It is also not suitable for areas with dramatic temperature changes.
How long is fiber cement trim good for?
Depending on the manufacturer, fiber cement trim comes with up to a 15 year warranty. While slightly more than primed wood trim and decidedly less than PVC trim, fiber cement trim is a solid choice for exterior trim.
Why do people prefer wood trim?
Many homeowners prefer wood trim because of its natural look and feel but quality wood products are becoming scarcer, and therefore more expensive. In addition, wood is prone to rot and insects, which means repair and replacement are more necessary than with other trim options.
Can PVC trim be painted?
Though the technology has improved over the years, there still are issues with PVC trim and heat. This trim can be easily painted or simply used as is if you desire white.
Is fiber cement trim durable?
Fiber cement trim is one of the most stable and durable trims in the industry. It will not support combustion. It is also rot, insect and impact resistant. Because of this, there is less maintenance than other trims.
