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EXTERIORS of buildings

ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION
AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine
ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS
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ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings
ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID
ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE

BARK SIDE UP on DECKS & STEPS
BASEMENT WATERPROOFING
BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE
BRICK FOUNDATIONS & WALLS
BRICK STRUCTURAL WALL Loose Bulged
BRICK WALL THERMAL EXPANSION CRACKS
BRICK VENEER WALL Loose, Bulged
BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES
BOOKSTORE - EXTERIORS
BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE
BUILDING SETTLEMENT

CARPENTER ANTS
CARPENTER BEES
CATCH BASINS
CAULK GUN TYPES, CHOICES
CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
COLUMNS & POSTS, DEFECTS
CONTAINER HOUSING
CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS
CONNECTORS, FASTENERS, TIES
CRAWL SPACES

DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION
DECK CONSTRUCTION BEST PRACTICES
DECK COLLAPSE Case Study
DECK FINISHES COATINGS PRESERVATIVES
DECK FLASHING LEAKS, ROT Case Study
DEFINITIONS of ENGINEERED WOOD OSB LVL etc
DRYWELLS, FRENCH DRAINS for FLAT SITES

EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS
EIFS & STUCCO EXTERIORS
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY
EXTERIOR WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES
  ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION
  CAULK GUN TYPES, CHOICES
  CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR
  FIBER CEMENT SIDING
  FLASHING MEMBRANES PEEL & STICK
  FLASHING for METAL ROOFS
  FLASHING ROOF-WALL SNAFU
  FLASHING WALL DETAILS
  GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION
  HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
  HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS
  HOUSEWRAP PRODUCT CHOICES
  HOUSEWRAP at SILLS, SOLES, TOP PLATES
  LOG HOME GUIDE
  PAINT / STAIN SELECTION & PROCEDURES
  RAIN SPLASH-UP SIDING DAMAGE
  SIDING TYPES, INSTALLATION, DEFECTS
  SIDING, ALUMINUM
  SIDING, ASBESTOS FIBER CEMENT
  SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS
  SIDING ASPHALT SHINGLE or SHEET
  SIDING DAMAGE by SPLASHBACK
  SIDING EIFS & STUCCO
  SIDING, FIBER CEMENT
  SIDING HARDBOARD
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  SIDING STEEL
  SIDING VINYL
  SIDING, WOOD PRODUCT CHOICES
  SIDING, WOOD INSTALLATION
  SIDING WOOD, FAILURES OVER FOAM BOARD
  SIDING WOOD, FLASHING DETAILS
  SIDING WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION
  STONE CLEANING METHODS
  STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER
  STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION
  TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION
  VINYL SIDING INSTALLATION
  WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION
  WOOD SIDING PRODUCT CHOICES
  WOOD SIDING INSTALLATION
  WOOD SIDING FLASHING DETAILS
  WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR

FLASHING MEMBRANES PEEL & STICK
FLASHING for METAL ROOFS
FLASHING ROOF WALL DETAILS
FLASHING ROOF-WALL SNAFU
FLASHING SIDING DETAILS
FLASHING WALL DETAILS
FLASHING WINDOW DETAILS
FLASHING WOOD ROOF DETAILS
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB
FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS
FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING
FRENCH DRAINS

GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION
GLUES ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION
GRADING, DRAINAGE & SITE WORK
GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS

HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams
HOUSE PARTS, DEFINITIONS
HOUSEWRAP / SHEATHING WRAP
HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS
HOUSEWRAP PRODUCT CHOICES
HOUSEWRAP at SILLS, SOLES, TOP PLATES
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET

ICE DAM PREVENTION
INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS
INSECT INFESTATION / DAMAGE

KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others

LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
LEAD TEST KIT for HOME USE
LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION
LOG HOME GUIDE
LIGHTNING PROTECTION

METAL LATH, PLASTER & STUCCO
MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
MOISTURE CALCULATIONS
MOISTURE PROBLEMS: CAUSE & CURE
MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE
MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS

ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE
OIL TANKS

PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR
PAINT & STAIN LIFE CHART
PAINT & STAIN SELECTION & PROCEDURES
PAINT ANALYSIS, DIAGNOSTIC USES
PAINT ANALYSIS, TYPICAL COSTS
PAINT FAILURE ANALYSIS LAB PHOTOS
Paint Failure Case Photographs-SITE
Paint Failure Case Photographs-LAB
PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION
PAINT FAILURE DICTIONARY
PAINT LAB SAMPLE PREPARATION
PAINT SURFACE PREPARATION
PAINTING MISTAKES

PORCHES & Sunrooms
PORCH CONSTRUCTION & SCREENING

RAILINGS, DECK & PORCH
RAILINGS, STAIRWAY
RETAINING WALL DESIGNS, TYPES, DAMAGE
RETAINING WALL GUARD RAILINGS

ROOF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES - PHOTO GUIDE
ROOF CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS
ROOF COLOR RECOMMENDATIONS
ROOF DORMER TYPES - PHOTO GUIDE
ROOFING DIAGNOSIS INSPECTION & REPAIR
ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS

SEARS KIT HOUSES
SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY
SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
SHEATHING, Gypsum board
Sheathing Celotex Homasote & Other
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SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS
SIDING TYPES, INSTALLATION, DEFECTS
SIDING, ALUMINUM
SIDING, ASBESTOS FIBER CEMENT
SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS
SIDING ASPHALT SHINGLE or SHEET
SIDING DAMAGE by SPLASHBACK
SIDING EIFS & STUCCO
SIDING, FIBER CEMENT
SIDING HARDBOARD
SIDING STEEL
SIDING VINYL
SIDING, WOOD PRODUCT CHOICES
SIDING, WOOD INSTALLATION
SIDING WOOD, FAILURES OVER FOAM BOARD
SIDING WOOD, FLASHING DETAILS
SIDING WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION
SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS
SOUND CONTROL in buildings
STAIN & BIODETERIORATION AGENT CATALOG
STAINS on & in BUILDINGS, CAUSES & CURES
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS
STAINS on/near CHIMNEYS
STAINS & FINISHES, INTERIOR
STAINS on INDOOR SURFACES: PHOTO GUIDE
STAINS & Thermal Tracking
STAINS CANDLES FIREPLACE WOODSTOVE
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STAINS at HVAC Registers
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STAINS on ROOFS
STAINS on STONE
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STONE VENEER WALLS
STRAW BALE CONSTRUCTION
STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER
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STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION
STUCCO PAINT FAILURES
SURFACE GRADING, SITE DRAINAGE

TERMITES
TEST KITS for DUST, MOLD, PARTICLE TESTS
Thermal Expansion Cracking of Brick
THERMAL EXPANSION of HOT WATER
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THERMAL IMAGING, THERMOGRAPHY
THERMAL IMAGING MOLD SCANS
THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS
TREES & SHRUBS, TRIM OFF BUILDING
TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION
  Exterior Trim Choices
  Solid Wood Trim
  Finger-Jointed Wood Exterior Trim
  Hardboard Trim Performance
  Laminated-Veneer Lumber (LVL) Trim
  MDO Plywood Soffit Facing
  Fiber-Cement Trim
  Polymer Moldings
  Vinyl Molding & Trim
  Exterior Trim Install Details
  Exterior Trim Sources

VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS
VENTILATION in BUILDINGS
VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO
VINYL SIDING
VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS
Volatile Organic Compounds VOCs

WALL CONSTRUCTION BARRIER vs CAVITY
WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING
WATER ENTRY in buildings
WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS
WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING
WINTERIZE A BUILDING

More Information

Justin Morrill Smith Historic Home (C) Daniel Friedman Best Practices Guide to Choosing, Installing, Maintaining Exterior Trim on buildings
     

  • Building Exterior Trim: Product Choices, Installation Details - How to install trim on buildings: wood trim, composite wood trim, finger-jointed wood trim (finger spliced wood) boards, hardboard trim boards, LVL trim, fiber cement building trim, polymer moldings on building exteriors, cellular PVC moldings, vinyl building trim,
    • Wood and Composite Exterior Trim Choices for Building Exteriors
    • Guide to Solid Wood Trim on buildings
    • Paintability of Wood Trim
    • Finger-Jointed or Finger Spliced Wood Used as Exterior Building Trim - telegraphing & joint problems
    • Performance of Hardboard Trim on Building Exteriors
    • Laminated-Veneer Lumber (LVL) Trim on Building Exteriors
    • MDO Plywood Facing for Soffits
    • Fiber-Cement Trim Used on Building Exteriors
    • Polymer Moldings on Building Exteriors: Dentils, Window Pediments, Decorative Brackets
    • Cellular PVC Moldings - Plastic or Cellular Vinyl Building Trim Installation
  • Exterior Building Trim Installation Details
  • Products & Resources for Building Exteriors
  • Questions & answers abouthow to choose, install, maintain or repair exterior building trim
  • References

Click to Show or Hide Related Topics

  • SIDING TYPES, INSTALLATION, DEFECTS - home
  • ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS
  • BRICK VENEER WALL Loose, Bulged
  • BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES
  • CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR
  • DECK FINISHES COATINGS PRESERVATIVES
  • EIFS & STUCCO EXTERIORS
  • FLASHING SIDING DETAILS
  • FLASHING WALL DETAILS
  • FLASHING WINDOW DETAILS
  • HOUSEWRAP / SHEATHING WRAP
  • HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION
  • METAL LATH, PLASTER & STUCCO
  • MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS - home
  • PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR
  • PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS
  • SIDING, ALUMINUM
  • SIDING, ASBESTOS FIBER CEMENT
  • SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS
  • SIDING ASPHALT SHINGLE or SHEET
  • SIDING DAMAGE by SPLASHBACK
  • SIDING EIFS & STUCCO
  • SIDING, FIBER CEMENT
  • SIDING GAPS & CAULKING
  • SIDING HARDBOARD, ABATIBI, BOISE, MASONITE
  • SIDING HARDIEPLANK
  • SIDING, LOG
  • SIDING STEEL
  • SIDING VINYL
  • SIDING VINYL INSTALLATION
  • SIDING, WOOD PRODUCT CHOICES
  • SIDING, WOOD INSTALLATION
  • SIDING WOOD, FAILURES OVER FOAM BOARD
  • SIDING WOOD, FLASHING DETAILS
  • SIDING WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION
  • STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS
  • STRUCTURAL DAMAGE PROBING
  • STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION
  • STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER
  • STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION
  • STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION
  • STUCCO PAINT FAILURES
  • TREES & SHRUBS, TRIM OFF BUILDING
  • TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION
  • VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION
  • WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES
  • WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Exterior building trim guide to product choices, installation methods, details: this article explains best construction practices in the choice, installation, painting, and maintenance of exterior trim on buildings. We discuss solid wood trim, finger-jointed wood trim, hardboard trim, LVL trim, fiber cement building trim, polymer trim products, and cellular PVC building trim products and details.

Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.

Building Exterior Trim: Product Choices, Installation Details

Figure 1-31: Cupping of flat sawn lumber (C) Wiley and Sons, S BlissThis article series discusses best practices construction details for building exteriors, including water and air barriers, building flashing products & installation, wood siding material choices & installation, vinyl siding, stucco exteriors, building trim, exterior caulks and sealants, exterior building adhesives, and choices and application of exterior finishes on buildings: paints, stains.

This article series includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons.

But the original sketch (at left) showing how to place wood boards & trim when exposed to weather outdoors is not correct - details are at BARK SIDE UP on DECKS & STEPS

Also see EXTERIORS of buildings. For trim selection and installation at building interiors, see TRIM, INTERIOR INSTALLATION.

Our photograph (above) is of the Justin Morrill Smith Homestead, VT, 1840 - more examples of architectural styles including building trim styles can be found at Building Age & Architectural Style.

Wood and Composite Exterior Trim Choices for Building Exteriors

As costs rise and quality levels fall for solid wood board stock, builders have become more receptive to a wide range of alternative products introduced over the past 10 to 15 years.

Some of the products are variations on the material used in hardboard siding, a product that has been largely discontinued due to widespread problems with moisture absorption and buckling.

Others are fiber cement- based and offer the same durability and longevity as the siding.

Still others make use of PVC, urethane, or other types of plastics, which promise longevity and low maintenance but may cost significantly more than the solid wood they replace (see Table 1-10 below).

Table 1-10: Exterior Trim Options

Guide to Solid Wood Trim on buildings

Solid wood is still the first choice of many builders for highly visible trim such as porch columns that require tight miters and smooth edges and need to tolerate a certain amount of wear and tear. Softwoods have served well in this capacity for many years, since they were traditionally inexpensive, dimensionally stable, and held paint well. Decay Resistance of Modern Wood Trim

As smaller, faster-growing trees replace older virgin timber stands, high-quality wood has become more expensive and harder to find. Even when using decay-resistant species, the smaller trees harvested today have less heartwood, which is where the extractives are found in sufficient quantities to be effective against decay (Table 1-11). With any wood species, the sapwood is more prone to decay.

Table 1-11: Decay Resistance of Domestic Woods (heatwood only) (C) Wiley and Sons, S Bliss

Paintability of Wood Trim

Solid wood has virtually no shrinkage along the grain and, if finished on all sides, limited seasonal movement across the grain. In general, the denser a wood species is, the more it shrinks and swells with changes in moisture and the worse it is as a substrate for paint on a building’s exterior (Table 1-12).

Table 1-12: Finishing Characteristics of Selected Wood Species (C) Wiley and Sons, S Bliss

Vertical-grain, or “edge-grain,” softwoods, such as vertical-grain cedar or redwood, are the most stable and hold paint the best. The flat-grained woods more commonly used as trim are more prone to cupping and other moisture movement and do not hold paint as well.

Figure 1-31: Cupping of flat sawn lumber (C) Wiley and Sons, S Bliss


To compensate for the cupping and to keep corners tight and edges from lifting, always install trim “bark-side down,” since the annual rings try to straighten as the wood shrinks (see Figure 1-31).

To improve paintability, it may be necessary to rough up the surface of flat-grained trim with 80 to 100 grit sandpaper before priming. s with siding, it is best to prime all surfaces and to prime cut ends to minimize water absorption through end grain.

Also, hold trim pieces back at least 1/2-inch short of flashings or other surfaces where water may collect and soak the end grain.

Watch out: On wooden decks and stair treads a defect "shelling" can occur with the bark side down method. Shelling is a term used by some builders to refer to the loss of portions of a board surface as late wood growth (the outer surface of the tree and thus the "bark side" of the board) separates from early wood growth (the inner portion of the tree or the tree-center side of the board).

Shelling is reported to occur more often in lumber made from Douglas Fir and Southern Pine. When building an outdoor deck wooden stair tread, it is a good idea to avoid using boards with questionable, likely to separate, portions of their upper surface. Shelling may be less of a problem with wood trim that is to be placed vertically and kept painted or sealed. -Ed.

See BARK SIDE UP on DECKS & STEPS for more details about cupping of flat sawn lumber.

Finger-Jointed or "Finger Spliced" Wood Used as Exterior Building Trim

Many manufacturers now offer solid wood trim made up of short lengths of high-quality lumber that is finger jointed and, in some cases, edge-glued to make boards as long as 24 feet.

As with solid lumber, finger-jointed lumber is available in a number of grades and species.

Telegraphing at Finger-Jointed Wood Trim Joints

Rotted finger jointed window trim and windows (C) Roger Hankey, Daniel Friedman


Finger-jointed exterior trim, unlike its interior trim cousin, is exposed to we ather and has proven less durable than hoped at some homes, as illustrated by Roger Hankey's photograph of a Nov. 2000 inspection in Burnsville, MN.

The rotted window trim shown was found on southeast facing windows. The home was built in 1989 and was found to have wood windows and trim in very poor condition, having decayed in only 11 years.

In general, finger-jointed stock is durable and dimensionally stable since short pieces of wood are less likely to warp and twist. The main concern is whether the glue joints will telegraph through the paint as the material swells and shrinks in response to changes in relative humidity.

Finger jointed or finger spliced trim closeup (C) Daniel FriedmanOur photo (left) shows a close-up of finger-jointed (or "finger spliced) wood before painting, so that you can see how these joints are constructed. -DF

Because no two pieces of wood swell and shrink at exactly the same rate, the joints often do show through.

The best protection is to keep excess moisture out of the wood by starting with quality pre primed stock or using a high-quality water-resistant prime coat and two top coats of paint.

When purchasing finger-jointed trim, look for long term warranties against any delamination or glue lines telegraphing through the paint. As with any wood-based product, minimizing exposure to water and maintaining the finish are important for long-term performance.

Use of finger-jointed trim boards in building interiors is discussed separately and includes additional photos of finger jointed wood at TRIM, INTERIOR INSTALLATION.

Performance of Hardboard Trim on Building Exteriors

Hardboard siding failure (C) Carson Dunlop AssociatesThe leading alternative to solid wood trim, and the oldest in the marketplace, is hardboard, essentially the same material used in hardboard siding.

Hardboard consists primarily of ground wood fibers and phenolic resin, the same adhesive used in exterior-grade plywood, along with additives to improve weather resistance.

Hardboard trim is typically available with either a smooth finish or a wood-grain texture and is sold in 16-foot lengths. Hardboard weighs about 4 pounds per square foot for 1-inch stock, roughly twice as much as softwood.

Our photo of badly deteriorated hardboard siding, representative of failures with this type of product, is provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates.

Paintability and Dimensional Stability of Hardboard Exterior Trim

To its credit, hardboard trim is very uniform in consistency and holds paint well. However, because it has no grain, it shrinks and swells equally in all dimensions—up to twice as much as wood along its length. In very dry or very humid climates this can lead to gaps or buckling over long sections. Most manufacturers recommend leaving an 1/8-inch gap at butt joints and caulking (CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR) with a high-quality paintable sealant to avoid problems.

Workability of Hardboard Exterior Trim

While hardboard is relatively easy to nail, it does not hold nails well and is prone to split if edge nailed. Drilling pilot holes will help. Compared to solid wood, it is more difficult to set nails and fill the holes in hardboard. Finish nails and pneumatic nails tend to pucker the surface, which must be sanded smooth before filling the holes.

Round-headed nails driven straight in at a 90° angle leave a clean hole for filling. Most manufacturers recommend face nailing flush to the surface of the board to avoid these problems. If nails do penetrate the surface, sand the material smooth and fill the hole before painting.

Water Penetration Concerns with Hardboard Building Trim

Figure 1-32: Water Damaged Hardboard Building Trim (C) Wiley and Sons, S Bliss


The biggest problem with hardboard exterior building trim is swelling and delamination where water has penetrated the material at unpainted cut edges, nail holes, or other penetrations (see Figure 1-32).

Even if primed, the material is vulnerable in wet locations, for example, at the bottom of an exterior door casing or in direct contact with a concrete slab or foundation.

Sharp edges are also vulnerable to chipping, making this not the best choice where wear and tear is expected.

To avoid problems, corners constructed using hardboard trim boards should be butted, not mitered.

 

OPINION-DJF: details about what to expect when using hardboard trim on buildings are at the following articles:

SIDING HARDBOARD
  Abatibi Siding Claims
  Boise Cascade Siding Claims
  JamesHardie HardiePlank Siding
  Masonite Siding Claims

Laminated-Veneer Lumber (LVL) Trim on Building Exteriors

LVL board siding Widely used in beams and headers, LVL has also been put to good use as a trim material with some minor modifications such as water-resistant edge sealing and adding a couple of cross-laminated layers to minimize cupping.

Like LVL beams, LVL trim is dimensionally stable and is easy to cut, nail, and install, similar to a piece of plywood. Its weight falls in between solid wood and hardboard. It can be used for fascia, casings, corner boards, and most other exterior trim, and is available in lengths from 8 to 24 feet.

According to Laminated Veneer Lumber, Overview [Quoting:]

Being a homogenous and dimensionally stable building material, LVL can be used in both bearing and non-bearing walls, as planks, as beams, as headers, in door and window frames, sliding door rails, steps, as well as in the roof trusses of single-family houses and engineered building constructions such as swimming halls, sport halls, etc.

The example photograph of LVL boards used to form board-and-batten trim on a building exterior is from the above document.

LVL Trim Facing Materials

One manufacturer, Pacific Wood Laminates, makes a pre primed Douglas-fir LVL trim faced either with textured wood veneer (Socomi Lam®) or medium-density overlay (Clear Lam®). Medium-density overlay (MDO) is a highly durable resin-impregnated paper that resists surface checking and holds paint well. It has a 20-year track record as a durable facing in concrete forms, outdoor signs, and other exterior applications.

Georgia Pacific Wood’s LVL trim is sealed on all edges with a water-based elastomeric coating that hides the end grain and resists moisture penetration. It is then primed on all faces, with a second prime coat applied to the finish face and edges.

Exterior LVL Trim Installation

As with other engineered trim products, all cut ends of LVL should be primed in the field and butt joints gapped 1/8-inch and caulked (CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR). Miters and scarf joints can be used. Cut ends should be kept 6 inches off the ground, concrete, or other wet materials. Resistance to swelling and delaminating will be similar to plywood siding panels such as T-111.

The manufacturer recommends that the nails be set below the surface either by hand or pneumatic nailer and caulked. Use a small-headed finish nail or siding nail so as not to make too large a hole in the MDO facing.

LVL is defined and explained at DEFINITIONS of ENGINEERED WOOD OSB LVL etc

MDO Plywood Facing for Soffits

Conventional plywood with MDO facing also makes an attractive and economical smooth soffit material.

Combined with LVL fascia, this should produce a durable and attractive eaves detail.

"MDO" plywood is constructed of a core of overlapping veneers of wood, but with a surface layer of medium density fiber. The resulting product has a smooth surface. MDO plywood can be used once as a concrete form material, but should not be re-used for that purpose.

MDO plywood is further defined and explained at DEFINITIONS of ENGINEERED WOOD OSB LVL etc

APA (The Engineered Wood Association) provides an HDO/MDO Plywood Product Guide that offers details about these products.

Fiber-Cement Trim Used on Building Exteriors

Contractors who install fiber-cement siding are looking for equally durable materials to trim out their houses. Some have found their answer in fiber-cement trim, which boasts the same dimensional stability, paint holding ability, and resistance to rot, insects, and fire as the siding.

Standard 1 7/16 -inch fiber-cement trim is comparable in price to mid grade softwoods and is available with either a smooth face or a wood-grain texture.

Workability of Fiber Cement Exterior Building Trim

Like the siding, fiber-cement trim is heavy, requires special tools and procedures to cut and machine, and presents a dust hazard to those cutting the material. Although special diamond-tipped tools make it easier to cut and form, standard fiber-cement trim is not easy to miter or to make complex cuts in, and it is too hard to hand-nail. Since it is not a nail base, all pieces need solid wood backing. Like the siding, fiber-cement trim must be face-nailed with the nails set flush to the surface.

Applications of Fiber Cement Exterior Building Trim - Soffits

Because of its durability and resistance to moisture, fiber-cement is a good choice for soffits, using 1/4 -inch-thick panels. For other trim, most manufacturers sell 1 7/16-inch planks, which contractors typically build out with 1/2 -inch plywood or oriented-strand board (OSB) to create a thicker profile. In some markets 3/4 -inch fiber cement- board stock is also available, eliminating the need to fur out the trim but adding considerable weight.

Also see SIDING, FIBER CEMENT.

Lightweight Option Low-Density Fiber-Cement Trim Boards (James Hardie)

To simplify installation, James Hardie Building Products has introduced a low-density fiber-cement trim board called HardiTrim XLD that handles and installs more like wood trim.

The new material can be installed with pneumatic finish nails set below the surface and puttied. Unlike standard fiber-cement, XLD holds nails and can be mitered and edge-nailed, simplifying details like corner boards.

The 1-inch-thick material weighs about 4 1/2 pounds per square foot versus about 2 pounds for an equal sized piece of white pine.

Also see SIDING HARDBOARD and see JamesHardie HardiePlank Siding.

Polymer Moldings on Building Exteriors: Dentils, Window Pediments, Decorative Brackets

 Polymer molding trim on buildings (C) Wiley and Sons, S BlissMolded from high-density polyurethane, polymer moldings have been in use for over 20 years and have proven their durability in both interior and exterior applications. Because of its high cost, almost four times the price of premium-grade softwood, urethane is used almost exclusively for complex profiles, such as dentils, window pediments, and decorative brackets (see Figure 1-33).

Installation of Polymer Molding Trim on buildings

Most material is sold preprimed and can be cut, planed, and sanded like wood, only more easily because of the lighter weight. Polymer moldings are installed with adhesive rather than nails, although a few finish nails are often used to hold it in place while the glue dries.

Polymer molding trim butt joints and miters are bonded with the same adhesive used to hold the molding to walls or soffits. Most manufacturers provide a proprietary adhesive for installation of polymer molding trim and building details.

Because polyurethane foam expands and contracts with changes in temperature, installers should cut long runs of molding 1/8 to 1/4-inch long and “spring-fit” the material into place. If installed slightly compressed, the molding will not leave gaps when the temperature drops and the material shrinks.

When joining two pieces of polymer molding outdoors, apply a generous amount of adhesive on both surfaces and clean the squeeze-out with a putty knife. Solvent may be needed to clean adhesive from the joint after it dries.

Painting Polymer Molding Trim on buildings

Before painting, fill any holes or dents with an exterior spackling compound and paint. Avoid leaving cut edges exposed, since without its hard skin, the material has a rough, irregular surface, even after painting.

Since polyurethane will degrade from prolonged exposure to UV radiation, it should be painted soon after installation. If the surface is undamaged, it holds paint well.

Cellular PVC Moldings - Plastic or Cellular Vinyl Building Trim Installation

Cellular PVC exterior building trim and molding (C) Wiley and Sons, S Bliss

Also called expanded PVC, or cellular vinyl, this relatively new material is a form of PVC that has been expanded with foaming agent and extruded into boards and a wide range of exterior molding profiles.

Like other plastics and fiber cement, cellular PVC is impervious to moisture and insects and is approved for contact with ground or masonry, making it well suited to moisture-prone applications such as garage-door trim.

Warranties for vinyl building trim typically run to 25 years. Since cellular PVC is cost-competitive with premium wood, it is an attractive option for those seeking a more durable alternative.

Plastic or Cellular Vinyl Building Trim Boards, Panels, and Moldings

Trim stock is available in thickness from 5/8 to 1 inch and in lengths up to 20 feet. Sheet stock, which can be used for soffits and other panel applications, is available in 3/8- to 1-inch thicknesses, with a smooth or beaded face.

Manufacturer Marley Moldings makes a wide array of molding profiles, while Azek offers a wide range of trim materials, including a 1-inchthick prefabricated corner board for use with any type of siding (Figure 1-34 above.) Our photos (below, from a Home Depot® building supply store) show examples of Veranda™ Cellular Vinyl mouldings that the manufacturer describes as "Specially formulated to withstand termites, moisture, and rot."

Finger jointed interior trim photo (C) Daniel Friedman Finger jointed interior trim photo (C) Daniel Friedman

Workability of Plastic or Cellular Vinyl Building Trim

Similar in density to pine, expanded PVC can be cut, drilled, sanded, and even routed like wood. It has moderately good nail holding ability and is installed similarly to wood trim, although with allowances for thermal expansion and contraction.

Allow for Thermal Expansion of Plastic or Cellular Vinyl Building Trim

Although it has less thermal expansion than polymer (polyurethane) foam, cellular PVC expands and contracts considerably more than wood, so it requires special detailing to avoid gaps, buckling, and other movement problems.

Manufacturers recommend leaving a 1/8-inch gap for movement for every 18 feet of length. This space is required where trim terminates into an inside corner or against an intersecting piece of trim, such as where corner boards meet the frieze board. A small back cut at the end of the board can help conceal the gap.

This amount of movement assumes that the PVC trim board is secured with two nails every 16 inches on-center to a solid substrate (three nails for boards 12 inches or wider). Nailing along the length of the board restricts its overall movement. You can further restrict movement in PVC trim by gluing it to a wood substrate with construction adhesive.

Installation of Plastic or Cellular Vinyl Building Trim

Installing vinyl building trim (C) Wiley and Sons, S BlissBecause cellular PVC has less strength and stiffness than wood, it must be installed over a solid substrate, and material 1/2 inch thick or less should be glued to a solid substrate. It will tend to conform to an uneven substrate, showing any waviness.

Using PVC cement to weld one piece to the next, contractors can fashion corner boards, window surrounds, or other trim assemblies, using screws or nails to hold the pieces in position while the glue dries (Figure 1-35). The assembled sections are then nailed or glued in place.

For long runs like fascia, scarf joints are best since they provide the greatest gluing area. Manufacturers recommend nailing on each side of the scarf joint to hold the trim in place while the glue dries.

Construction adhesive behind the scarf joint—for example, between the PVC fascia and the wood subfascia—will also help reinforce the joint. As with other PVC joints, the plastic surfaces must be in direct contact to bond properly since the glue will not fill any voids.

Predrilling is generally not necessary as long as you use small diameter, blunt-head nails. Either galvanized or stainless-steel box nails are recommended, but contractors have used pneumatic nailers with ring-shank nails successfully. In general, the nailing pattern is the same as for wood trim except nails should be kept 2 inches from the ends of boards. Typically nails are set and puttied before painting.

Long Runs of Plastic or Cellular Vinyl Building Trim on Fascias

Long runs of fascia require expansion space at each end or in the middle. Where a long run turns a corner, for example on a hip roof, one option is to glue the outside corners and leave an 1/ 8-inch space along the center of each run where it will be less conspicuous than at the corner.

To hide the joint, either leave an unglued scarf joint or butt the two pieces of fascia and fill the gap with a polyurethane caulk (CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR). If building in hot weather, it is best to construct tight joints, since they will open in colder weather as the material contracts.

As Jim Blahut comments, special methods are needed to avoid open butt joints on long trim sections, including gluing, back gluing, 45 degree bevel cuts, and extra nails at the butt joints, and in very cold weather installations, Blahut staggers nails 3/4" away from board edges to avoid cracking :

One of the drawbacks of plastic trim like Azek is its greater expansion and contraction compared to wood. On cold days, gaps can develop at unglued butt joints and miters. On long lengths of trim like corner boards or fascia, those gaps can be obvious, so we overlap joints with opposing 45-degree bevels, glue them with PVC cement, and put some construction adhesive on the back side ... Intersecting trim (corner boards terminating in a frieze, for example) should have a gap of 1/4 inch for every 20 feet of length, so we leave 1/8 inch at each end to make the gap less noticeable. - Jim Blahut, Journal of Light Construction 2002 [1]

Painting Plastic or Cellular Vinyl Building Trim - Optional for Color Change

Like PVC windows and vinyl siding, PVC trim has UV inhibitors and does not need painting.

However, if you want a color other than white, use 100% acrylic latex paint and avoid dark colors, which can cause the vinyl to overheat in direct sunlight. PVC trim requires no special preparation to paint and reportedly holds paint well.

Mark Morsching, Everflashing, adds: "I use Azek® Trim boards and they say that if you use  100% acrylic exterior house paint it bonds muscularly in about 30 days."

Azek indicates that AZEK Trim™ does not require painting but that it can be painted with dark colors using Sherwin-Williams VinylSafe™ paints, Pittsburgh Paints - PPG Architectural Coatings, Duron Paints, ICI Paints, on AZEK trim products.

Questions and Answers About Vinyl & PVC Trim & Moldings

Question: What type of glue is used to lap or butt-joint vinyl molding?

What type of glue is used to glue(weld) lap/ butt joint using this vinyl molding? Thank you for any help you can offer. - R. Whitney

Reply - courtesy of Steven Bliss

If you’re talking about expanded PVC products like Azek, these vinyl or PVC trim and molding products are fastened with PVC cement. In addition, special detailing is required at PVC trim and moulding joints, and allowances must be made for expansion and contraction.

Details about PVC trim installation are in this article at Cellular PVC Moldings - Plastic or Cellular Vinyl Building Trim Installation.

Check the Azek website for details or see this vinyl trim AZEK installation guide: www.azek.com/pics/installation_document/AZEK-Trim-and-Moulding-Complete-Installation-Guidelines-2011.pdf

Also see "PVC trim holds paint well, resists rot, and looks just like wood", Jim Blahut, The Journal of Light Construction, September 2002. [copy on file].

Exterior Building Trim Installation Details

Trim Installation details (C) J Wiley and Sons, S BlissThe best exterior trim details are designed to keep water out but to provide easy drainage for any water that penetrates the exterior. This is particularly important when using trim materials that are vulnerable to decay or moisture damage, such as non decay-resistant softwoods or hardboard.

Caulking trim joints with sealants (CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR) is a double edged sword, since all caulk joints will eventually fail, and when they do, the remaining sealant will tend to keep the joint from drying.

  • Exterior building trim that is subject to frequent wettings from the weather, such as corner boards, water tables, or wrapped porch posts or balusters, is a good candidate for rain-screen installation, where a ventilation and drainage space is left behind the trim (Figure 1-36).
  • Make sure to leave 1/8 to 1/4-inch free at the bottom edge of the trim to drain to daylight. To create the drainage space, either use shims (do not block the drainage path) or synthetic drainage materials, such as Benjamin Obdyke’s Home Slicker®. Foundation drainage materials can also work. If shims are used, add metal screening or drainage matting at top and bottom to block insect entry.

Regardless of the specific detail, the following principles will help create long-lasting exterior trim on any building:

  • Wide roof overhangs, 8 inches minimum, at rake and eaves keeps water away from the side of the house, preserving siding and trim.
  • Avoid wide horizontal wood surfaces exposed to water. Slope for drainage or cap with metal flashing. Cut drip groove under edge to shed water.
  • Slope top edges of exterior railings and horizontal trim boards, such as water tables, to shed water.
  • Avoid exposed end-grain facing upward in vertical trim boards. Heavily prime all end grain and exposed edges.
  • Avoid exterior miter joints, which tend to open and absorb water.
  • Use Z- or drip-cap flashing at horizontal joints, such as above windows or where corner boards meet the water table. Leave 1/8-inch clear above the flashing, and do not caulk the horizontal joint. (CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR)
  • Avoid caulk joints. Instead, flash well behind joints and leave a gap of 1/8 inch for ventilation. Where caulking must be used, apply a properly shaped caulk bead (see “Joint Design,” below).

-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.

Resources for Building Exterior Products

Flashing Tapes and Membranes

Avenco www.avenco.com Butyl flashing tape

Bakor, Inc. www.bakor.com Blueskin self-adhesive, rubberized-asphalt flashing tape

Carlisle Coatings and Waterproofing www.carlisle-ccw.com Self-adhesive, rubberized-asphalt flashing tapes and membranes

Dupont www.construction.tyvek.com StraightFlash and moldable FlexWrap Butyl flashing tapes

Fortifiber www.fortifiber.com Moistop and FortiFlash self-adhesive and nonstick rubberized-asphalt flashing tape

Grace Construction Products www.graceconstruction.com Vycor self-adhesive, rubberized-asphalt flashing tapes and membranes

Illbruck Sealant Systems www.willseal.com/usa Self-adhesive butyl and foil-faced butyl flashing tapes

MFM Building Products Corp. www.mfmbp.com FlexWrap (foil-faced) and FutureFlash self-adhesive, rubberized-asphalt flashing tapes and membranes

Polyguard Products www.polyguardproducts.com Windowseal self-adhesive, rubberized-asphalt flashing tapes and membranes

Protecto Wrap Co. www.protectowrap.com Standard and moldable (Protecto Flex) self-adhesive, rubberized-asphalt flashing tapes

Sandell Manufacturing Co. www.sandellmfg.com Rubberized-asphalt, PVC, and EPDM flashing tapes

Fiber-Cement Siding and Trim Suppliers

  • Cemplank www.cemplank.com Cemplank fiber-cement siding and trim
  • James Hardie www.jameshardie.com HardiePlank, Hardipanel, fiber-cement shingles
  • Nichiha Wall Systems www.n-usa.com Fiber-cement lap siding and simulated shakes, brick, and stone
  • Certainteed www.certainteed.com Fiber-cement lap, vertical, and shingle sidings, and soffits and trim
  • GAF www.gaf.com Weatherside fiber-cement siding

Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS)

Dryvit Systems www.dryvit.com

Parex www.parex.com

Senergy www.senergyeifs.com

Sto Corp. www.stocorp.com

Hardboard Trim

ABTco www.abtco.com

The Collins Companies www.collinswood.com

Georgia-Pacific www.gp.com

Masonite Corp. www.masonite.co

Temple-Inland Forest Products www.templeinland.com

Polyurethane Trim

Custom Decorative Mouldings (CDM) www.custom-moulding.com

Focal Point Architectural Products www.focalpointap.com

Flex Trim www.flextrim.com Flexible polymer composite moldings 48 CHAPTER 1 | Exterior Finish c01.qxd 10/10/05 14:49 Page 48

Fypon www.fypon.com

Mid-America Building Products www.midamericabuilding.com

Nu-Wood Decorative Millwork www.nu-wood.com

Outwater Plastics Industries, Inc. www.outwater.com

Ras Industries www.rasindustries.com

Resin Art www.resinart.com Duraflex flexible moldings

Cellular Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Trim

AZEK Trimboards www.azek.com

Edge Building Products www.permatrimboard.com

Gossen Corp. www.gossencorp.com

Marley Moldings www.marleymoldings.com

LVL Trim

Pacific Wood Laminates www.pwlonline.com

Clear Lam (textured wood facing) and Socomi Lam (MDO facing)

Caulks and Sealants

Bostik www.bostikfindley.com

Construction Sealant (Caulks) Suppliers & Products

Chemrex www.chemrex.com

Polyurethanes and other high-performance sealants

DAP www.dap.com

Acrylic latex caulks

Dow Corning Sealants www.dowcorningsealants.com

Silicone sealants

GE Silicones www.gesilicones.com Silicone sealant

Geocel Corp www.geocelusa.com Acrylic latex, tripolymer, copolymer, Kraton, and clear sealants

Macklanburg-Duncan www.mdteam.com Acrylic latex sealants

OSI Sealants Inc www.osisealants.com Polyseamseal PVA-based caulk. Pro Series includes latex, polyurethane, and Kraton sealants.

www.phenoseal.com Phenoseal vinyl adhesive caulk

Red Devil www.reddevil.com Acrylic, silicone, and butyl sealants

Sashco Sealants www.sashco.com Big Stretch and Mor-Flexx water-based sealants, Lexel Kraton sealant

Sika Corp www.sikaconstruction.com Complete line of Sikaflex polyurethane-based sealants, butyl sealant

Tremco Inc. www.tremcosealants.com High-performance, architectural-grade sealants,

UGL www.ugl.com Acrylic latex caulks

White Lightning www.wlcaulk.com Tripolymer, butyl, polyurethane, silicone, elastomeric, and other high-performance sealants

Exterior Adhesives

Abatron EpoxyWood Repair/Restoration 5501 - 95th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53144 USA Tel: (262) 653-2000 Fax: (262) 653-2019, For orders: (800) 445-1754 Abatron provides a wide range of wood & building restoration epoxy products including a low-viscosity system that penetrates and solidifies rotted wood and a thicker wood repair putty type epoxy.
Epoxy, BestBond polyurethane glue

Ambel www.excelglue.com Excel polyurethane glue

Elmer’s Products www.elmers.com Yellow glues, ProBond polyurethane glue

Custom-Pak Adhesives www.custompak.com Resorcinol and yellow glues

DAP Inc. www.dap.com Weldwood contact cement, resorcinol, and construction adhesives Resources 49

Franklin International www.titebond.com Titebond yellow glue, Liquid Hide Glue, and construction adhesives

Gloucester Co. Inc. www.phenoseal.com Phenoseal adhesive caulk

Gougeon Brothers www.westsystem.com West System epoxy

Gorilla Group www.gorillaglue.com Gorilla polyurethane glue

MACCO Adhesives www.liquidnails.com Liquid Nails construction adhesive

SI Sealants www.osisealants.com PL400 construction adhesive

System Three Resins www.systemthree.com Quick Cure epoxy

Water-Repellent Preservatives (WRPs)

Cuprinol www.cuprinol.com Cuprinol Clear Wood Preservative

Dap www.dap.com DAP Woodlife

Wolman www.wolman.com Premium Water-Repellent Sealer

For More Information on Building Practices for Exterior Wall Products

California Redwood Association www.calredwood.org

Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau www.cedarbureau.org

USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) www.fpl.fs.fed.us

Vinyl Siding Institute www.vinylsiding.org

Western Wood Products Association (WWPA) www.wwpa.org

-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.


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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

  • Steve Bliss's Building Advisor at buildingadvisor.com helps homeowners & contractors plan & complete successful building & remodeling projects: buying land, site work, building design, cost estimating, materials & components, & project management through complete construction. Email: info@buildingadvisor.com
    Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com
  • Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
  • Azek Building Products, "Installation Guidelines for AZEK Trim and AZEK Moulding", Azek Building Products, 801 Corey Street, Scranton, PA 18504, Tel: 877-ASK-AZEK (877-275-2935)
    www.azek.com/pics/installation_document/AZEK-Trim-and-Moulding-Complete-Installation-Guidelines-2011.pdf
  • [1] "PVC trim holds paint well, resists rot, and looks just like wood", Jim Blahut, The Journal of Light Construction, September 2002. [copy on file].
  • Carson, Dunlop &
Associates Ltd., TorontoCarson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
    • Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
    • Home Inspection Education Courses including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
    • Home Inspection Education Home Study Courses - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
      Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
    • The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
      Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
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      Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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      Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
    • The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones.
  • Allen, Edward and Joseph Iano. Fundamentals of Building Construction: Fourth Edition. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2004. pg. 91 [LVL lumber]
  • APA - The Engineered Wood Association, 7011 So. 19th St., PO Box 11700, Tacoma WA 98411-0700, Tel: 253-565-7265. APA provides an HDO/MDO Plywood Product Guide that offers details about these products., provides an HDO/MDO Plywood Product Guide that offers details about these products. Product support help desk: 253-620-7400. Email the APA at help@apawood.org. Web search 09/13/2010, original source: http://www.pacificwoodlaminates.com/img/PDFs/PlywoodGuide.pdf
  • Azek Building Products, (Azek trim boards discussed in this article),
  • Azek Technical Bulletin - Paint, November 2007, explains the use of Sherwin-Williams VinylSafe™ paints, Pittsburgh Paints - PPG Architectural Coatings, Duron Paints, ICI Paints, on AZEK trim products. web search 11/10/2010, original source:
    http://www.azek.com/pics/reference_documents/AZEK-Trim-Paint-Bulletin.pdf
  • Georgia-Pacific Building Products, 133 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30303. Telephone: (404) 652-4000 , Wood Products: 800-284-5347. Gypsum Products: 800-255-6119. LVL lumber: GP-LAM, web search 09/14/2010, original source: http://www.gp.com/build/product.aspx?pid=1392
  • Laminated Veneer Lumber, Overview of the Product, Manufacturing, Market, Department of Forest Products Marketing, wood-Based Panels Technology, Finland [PDF] web search 09/14/2010, original source: http://www.hochstrate.de/micha/finnland/reports/replvl.html
  • Microllam Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) and/or Parallam Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL) MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet, courtesy of Weyerhaeuser Company, PO Box 9777, Federal Way, WA 98063-9777 Tel: 253-924-3865
  • Ohawa, Ontario Wood Reference Handbook, p. 166, Canadian Wood Council, 1991
  • Paul Galow - technical consultant on networking, LAN design, applications support. Galow Consulting Services, 914-204-1749, email: paulgalow@galowconsulting.com
  • John Rudy, Advantage Home Inspections, Flemington N.J. 08822 home inspector, 908-806- 6364, Home, Radon & Termite Inspections, Central & Parts of North New Jersey, email: jonadvantage1@yahoo.com
  • Malco® Products siding tools are available from that company, including the SideSwiper II SRT2 discussed at Malco's website. Websearch 09/07/2010 http://malcoproducts.com/product/roofing-siding-gutter/siding-vinyl/siding-tools-vinyl/sideswiper-ii. Malco also produces other vinyl siding repair tools such as aprons, awls, hole punches, saw blades, and tools for for fiber cement products including power-assisted cutters
  • Mark Morsching, Everflashing, Tel: 800-550-1667, Email: everflashing@gmail.com. The Everflashing product comes in G-185 and Stainless Steel and is intended for use with treated lumber with copper in it. Everflashing produces a variety of specialty flashing products including flashings for use with decks at deck ledgers and deck perimeters.
  • Parmetol, a wood preservativerecommended by the manufacturer was used as a fungicidal additive to paint on the Blue Poplar wood sculpture in Amsterdam, by artist Mari Shields [ - art conservation consult DJF-artist MS 2010]
  • "Weather-Resistive Barriers [copy on file as /interiors/Weather_Resistant_Barriers_DOE.pdf ] - ", how to select and install housewrap and other types of weather resistive barriers, U.S. DOE

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
  • Home Reference Book - Carson DunlopThe Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

    Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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