Eikenhout : Roofing, Siding and Windows

Home Exterior Design Change

In our designer society, homes are getting major design changes by adding the simplicity of trim boards around windows and doors.  A vanilla exterior becomes transformed by the architectural detail of a trim package that can include color, texture and dimension.

With this addition comes a simple question.  What type of trim board should I use – cedar, composite, cellular pvc or primed wood?  Here are a few of the characteristics of these different products.

Cedar is what everyone is trying to catch as it is the texture most imitated.  It is easy to work with but requires the most maintenance as it attract insects, woodpeckers and it requires staining every few years.

Composites, like Miratec, provide a cedar finish with an amazing look and feel along with a paper and wood fiber mixture for the center of the board.  It is inexpensive and provides a 10 year warranty on finish and the actual board.  The downside is that the pulp needs to be carefully protected from the elements.

Cellular PVC has become extremely popular as it can withstand the abuse of wet weather and it requires no maintenance.  It’s natural color is white and never has to be painted.  It does expand and contract and requires a heat reflective paint if any color besides white is applied.

Armor Coat has created a system that allows a person to go natural while enjoying the full benefits of a tight grained white wood.  It’s patented priming system gives it a 20 year warranty against  peeling, cracking or splitting.  This also is the most economical system available.

Eikenhout has all of these available and can explain in much more details the best application practices for each trim board.  So go ahead and plan a major face lift for your tired house that begins with trim boards.  You’ll be surprised at the transformation.