Trim and proper

No matter how well maintained, most homes will need some exterior trim replaced from time to time. Traditional wood trim boards can split, crack and rot over time as a result of damage from the rain, snow, wind and sun.

Replacing old or damaged exterior trim with engineered wood composite trim is one way homeowners can make their home look better, while using an environmentally friendly product.

Check your exterior trim

Take a few minutes this season to walk around your house and inspect your exterior trim. Look closely at the trim around your windows and doors, at the corners and near the roofline. Pay special attention to peeling or blistering paint, green algae, warped boards and spongy or soft spots. Also, check for termite damage.

There are several options for replacing your existing trim. Although traditional wood trim often looks good when first installed, it can split and swell, and is prone to knots and defects. Other materials, like PVC and fiber cement trim, have performance limitations and may pose installation challenges.

“Like many home products, exterior trim has evolved over the years,” said Peggie Bolan, vice president, building products, for JELD-WEN.

During extensive renovation of their Greek Revival-style farm house, Paul and Joanne Coons used more than 1,000 linear feet of MiraTEC Treated Exterior Composite Trim around windows, doors and other areas.

“We reviewed several trim options, but we liked MiraTEC because it is a wood composite that doesn’t contain oil or vinyl like PVC trim, and it is manufactured with less embodied energy than products like fiber cement, which also creates a lot of silica dust when it’s cut,” says Paul Coons.

With a clear cedar, wood grain-texture on one side and a contemporary smooth finish on the other, MiraTEC trim suits any home style. To learn more, visit www.miratectrim.com.

This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.