A New Spin on Classic Designs

Not so long ago, traditionalists never would have dreamt of using anything other than real wood or metal for decorative architectural elements on their homes even though a new product market was emerging. Manufacturers began to experiment with plastics and composites made from synthetic or recycled materials for everything from ornamental finials and cupolas to shutters and front doors. But the visual appeal of plastics and composites was still questionable. Now that’s changing and use of plastics and composite elements as alternatives to natural wood or metal in residential remodeling is definitely on the rise.

Face Value

In just the past few years, the quality and aesthetics of plastics and composite materials has made enormous strides. Technological advances allow manufacturers to digitize real wood and simulate wood grains. Colors can be added into a product mix so plastics and composites don’t need to be painted, and the plastics and composites that do require paint don’t need primer and accept the paint better than real wood. Like wood, however, many products can be mitered, routed and turned on a lathe. Combinations of plastic and composite substrates with natural material coverings offer homeowners lighter-weight alternatives. These improvements and the flexibility plastics and composites offer have heightened their value at a time when homeowner preferences are shifting.

Steve Mickley, executive director of the American Institute of Building Design, Washington, D.C., says his 900 members report their use of plastics and composites is growing as the desire for decorative home details increases. Mickley points to a surge in homeowners who want to revive their residences to their authentic architectural styles. “There were many unfortunate remodels of older homes between the 1950s and 1970s, and some of the best projects we see today are owners returning their homes to their original splendor,” Mickley says. “In many cases, original products that match the home’s style no longer exist, but plastic and composite materials can be heat-form manufactured to re-create unique ornamental elements.”

Jerry Blais, vice president of marketing for the Siding Group of Cary, N.C.-based Ply Gem, also notes that people with smaller-footprint homes still want curb appeal. “Composites offer homeowners a way out of the cookie-cutter syndrome as subtle details can turn an ordinary house into an extraordinary one,” Blais explains. “By accenting the house, you can distinguish the home with a mix of colors, profiles and textures that deliver historically accurate architectural styles whether that’s Victorian, French Country, Craftsman or Georgian.”

Price and Practicality

The cost of plastics and composites compared to the real thing varies with the natural material being replaced. For many ornamental treatments that were traditionally wood, plastics and composites are cost-competitive. Depending on the type of wood, plastics and composites actually may cost more. Mickley says that although 95 percent of AIBD’s members specify composite products, the availability of less expensive wood products is one reason composites may not get used in the in the field. The other reason is resistance to change. When certain products are glued together correctly the appearance can be seamless, but acquiring the knowledge to do it right can be perceived as inefficient in the field. “There is a tendency to get things done as quickly and inexpensively as possible on the job,” Mickley notes. “Once tradespeople are convinced that composites can be installed as easily—or even more easily—than wood, they will become more widely used.”

Metal is one area where the price of plastics and composites can shine. Teri Ward, president of Sand Springs, Okla.-based Copper Bella, says the trend to replace metals with plastics has been around for years. “In the automotive and aeronautics industry, there was a huge drive to find plastic alternatives to metal to reduce weight,” Ward says. “Similar applications began to make sense in the building industry when the cost of copper kept increasing and many homeowners who wanted to add or replace copper details became priced out of the market.”