Exterior Trim Options - What to use

mlowrie · 02-02-2011, 01:15 AM

Evening!

I'm just getting ready to rip off the old cedar siding, tar paper, and aluminum windows to do a complete facelift to the exterior our our house in Vancouver, BC. I'm replacing them with Tyvek, vinyl windows, and Royal vinyl siding (a triple 3 profile in Harvard Slate). I have everything already here waiting for the weather to improve slightly, and in the meantime I'm stuck at what to get for trim work for the windows and possibly the inside/outside corners.

The suppliers here offer Genesis/Royal, CertainTeed which I believe is all PVC, as well as the Hardie fiber trim. Home depot offers some composite wood trim product that I'm not overly eager to try.

I have a few questions on trim:

Has anyone used any of the above and what are your opinions?
We're planning on making the trim dark (possibly black) so most trims will need to be painted. Has anyone painted PVC and how well did it work? I assume the Hardie is pretty straight forward for painting?
With the vinyl siding, do I simply attach j-channel to the trim and caulk it after?
Do the j-pockets work with vinyl siding or are they meant more for the fibreboard stuff?

This is a relatively new area for me so any suggestions or insight is greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to your responses,
Mike

proremodel · 02-02-2011, 02:02 AM

Well What I would do is toss your windows in first. Trim them in azek I believe and do your corners the same way. Make sure they are plumb. Then you run your j-channel around everything. Then run your siding and tuck it into the channel and your done.

fungku · 02-02-2011, 05:18 AM

PVC trim doesn't do so well with dark colors. It's highly susceptible to thermal expansion/contraction and painting it dark colours amplifies that. Though we don't get all that much sunshine this season in Vancouver

. However, if just using it for window trim it might be alright as that would be short lengths. Wouldn't hurt to call the technical/installation dept. of the manufacturer and ask them about it

I wouldn't be too keen on a composite though.

I haven't used the hardie trim (only the siding), but I wouldn't hesitate to use it.

If you were confident in working with metal, I'd recommend aluminum, it seems to go well with vinyl siding.

mlowrie · 02-06-2011, 04:19 PM

It looks like the Hardie is the way to go since they do come pre-primed in the darker colors already. The only issue is the silica/dust, but I'm sure I'll figure something out.

I did see some neat work where the guy made a nice sill but I'm not sure what he used as it looked like site-cut 2-by material. The Hardie only comes in 3/4, 4/4, and 5/4 so I don't think that's thick enough to make a nice looking sill.

I do have access to a brake and shear, but I'm not very experienced using metal so I'll probably stick with the Hardie for the trim.

Thanks for your input!

HardieRep · 02-06-2011, 04:57 PM

Managing the silica dust won't require anything crazy. Cut outside, and mind the wind. Ideally, you'll wear a mask. Don't want to use the FC trim to build a sill.

**Gary in WA** · 02-06-2011, 05:54 PM

Install the windows and the house wrap correctly; http://books.google.com/books?id=ek5...0Guide&f=false

Install a good metal head flashing, pp.8; http://www.mtcc1170.com/images/BCRainScreen.pdf

Air seal the house wrap against moisture. Use beveled siding underneath the windows, pp.9; pp.4; http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildin...rica/28600.pdf

Don’t rely on the vinyl siding alone to keep the water from the framing; http://sidingmaster.com/documents/Ne...ngmoisture.pdf

Personal preference; I’d use Hardie trim before impermeable plastic or the composite (as in plastic and undisclosed percentage of wood which surface molds).

Gary

mlowrie · 02-06-2011, 07:39 PM

Thanks for the great resources Gary.

I have a few different installation documents for housewrap, so I can add that one to the list. (I'm also using Dupont Flexwrap and flashing tape for the windows/doors). The BCRainScreen is a great document since a lot of the condo's up here had severe issues with water damage - still ongoing today. I'm doing my best to ensure I don't have issues with moisture penetration.

I think I've pretty much settled on Hardie Trim. Seems like the optimal solution for my application.

Is there another link about bevelled siding under windows? The 28600.pdf doesn't have a pp9.

Thanks again!
Mike

**Gary in WA** · 02-06-2011, 11:41 PM

Sorry, pp.9; http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...WrZBbBZoIUXgxw

Be sure to prime all edges/sides of cement siding as it is a water reservoir material.

You're welcome, and let's see some during and after pictures....

Gary

mlowrie · 02-08-2011, 02:40 PM

Thanks for the info!

It'll be a few weeks before I start, but I will gladly snap some pics and share.

Mike

mlowrie · 02-14-2011, 01:24 AM

I started reading about all the different trim products out there - I shouldn't have becuase now I'm thinking about using Azek or a PVC product. I think I like the fact that it can be cut, routed, whatever, with basic tools rather than requiring a special blades, respirators and trying to prevent large plumes of dust.

With the newer paints for darker colors that work well on vinyl and PVC, I think I will attempt to source this stuff locally.

From the Azek website, there only appears to be one place in Abbotsford that carries it. I may call Guardian Building Products as they are supposed to distribute this stuff here.

Anyone in the Vancouver area know if there is anywhere else Azek trim is sold?

I'll check into the Royal Group and CertainTeed PVC offerings. I'm pretty sure Convoy in Surrey supplies those products.

Hopefully I'll make up my mind soon. I need to start ripping my current siding off and get my new windows in as my ecoEnergy audit is next month and I want my rebates!

Mike

fungku · 02-14-2011, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlowrie

I started reading about all the different trim products out there - I shouldn't have becuase now I'm thinking about using Azek or a PVC product. I think I like the fact that it can be cut, routed, whatever, with basic tools rather than requiring a special blades, respirators and trying to prevent large plumes of dust.

With the newer paints for darker colors that work well on vinyl and PVC, I think I will attempt to source this stuff locally.

From the Azek website, there only appears to be one place in Abbotsford that carries it. I may call Guardian Building Products as they are supposed to distribute this stuff here.

Anyone in the Vancouver area know if there is anywhere else Azek trim is sold?

I'll check into the Royal Group and CertainTeed PVC offerings. I'm pretty sure Convoy in Surrey supplies those products.

Hopefully I'll make up my mind soon. I need to start ripping my current siding off and get my new windows in as my ecoEnergy audit is next month and I want my rebates!

Mike

Check your PMs

mlowrie · 02-14-2011, 10:06 AM

Thanks for the info fungku. I'd respond via PM but I'm not up to 20 posts yet!

mlowrie · 02-15-2011, 01:43 AM

I like the look of window sills that someone has been doing in the Vancouver area. I have found two ways to do it:
A simple design using two pieces of glued Azek
Using a pre-designed Azek sill (6933)

Both will work for me, but the profile of the Azek sill is a bit puzzling. What is with the extra 1/8" stub at the top of the profile?

mlowrie · 02-22-2011, 12:08 PM

Ok. This is frustrating. Everyone I talk to tell me they don't carry PVC trim material. Azek has been discontinued by the distributor here, and my other supply house doesn't carry any PVC trim material except Hardie.

I was able to find someone who carries Palight. Has anyone used it at all?

cumak · 02-25-2011, 09:25 PM

Did you check Home Depot for Azek? In my area (Massachusetts) HD started selling Azek about 6 months ago. It's a nice material to work with, although a bit on the pricey side. I recently replaced the trim on all of my windows, and for the sill I used the Azek "historic" sill profile. Looks great.