Trim It Up

It also is resistant to all insects, including termites and carpenter ants. The product can be applied with no adverse effects in areas where it will make direct contact with masonry, concrete, ground or other potentially wet surfaces. Kleer is highly recommended for use in areas of high humidity or salt and fresh water environments.

Using co-extrusion technology, Royal Wood composite trim boards promise the look of wood without the drawbacks.

Royal Wood is smooth and free of surface defects and is as easy to work with as wood. It can be cut, profiled, drilled, fastened, glued or nailed and is installed like conventional wood trim. Royal Wood products never need painting and are reversible — one side wood grain texture, one side smooth. Ideal for fascia, frieze, corners, rakes, band boards, water tables, soffits and window and door trim, Royal Wood trim boards come with a limited lifetime warranty against performance defects, and a 15-year warranty against significant color change.

Developing Business Through Differentiation

“Value selling the customer takes a little work, but if Contractor A can make identical home models look entirely unique using varying width boards and applying mouldings, they can differentiate themselves from Contractor B, who sticks to the status quo casings and fascia,” says Patrick Shabal, national sales and marketing manager for Koma Trim Products. “It is important to point out that labor is a greater component per installed linear foot on elegant trim installations, and at present the price of the best wood product (cedar) has permitted a direct switch and a savings in some markets.”

The Allure Collection from Koma is a line of extruded mouldings that are intended to complement the company’s existing line of products while providing jobsite flexibility and versatility. Each Allure profile is produced with the same Celuka technology as Koma’s trim boards. Koma’s specialty mouldings are backband-style profiles that clip over the edge of flat trim boards and sheet. With three or four of these mouldings at a jobsite, a contractor can achieve a multitude of combinations of trim styles, as well as use these same mouldings as interior or exterior frame and cap details on pediment and panel work.

“More trim is being used per home as builders seek to differentiate one home from another,” says Bob Merrill, CEO of CMI. “Decorative, machined trim and millwork are growing in footage per house as consumers seek a more personal look to their homes. As the McMansions give way to smaller, more efficiently planned homes, a desire for better craftsmanship and a focus on details is growing. In addition, the traditional building style is flourishing.”

“Trim is probably one of the most cost-effective ways to dress up a house or add interesting architectural details, and homeowners have always strived for uniqueness and distinctive curb appeal,” says Ben Skoog, business marketing manager for LP’s engineered siding business. “Now that there are more options, homeowners demand their homes become personal reflections of themselves vs. a cookie-cutter look. Homeowners tend to pay for the perceived value of owning a unique look or design.

“The two hottest styles we’re seeing are the shake or shingle and the board and batten,” adds Skoog. “In many cases, shakes — sometimes considered an accessory in the same category as trim — are applied to the gable ends, above garage doors or another location on the front elevation for a classic look. The board and batten look is often found in the same areas as shingles and shakes, but are sometimes on a whole house.”

This year, LP Corporation introduced more than 80 new SmartSide Trim and Siding products in varying dimensions and textures, adding to the company’s existing 1x2 battens and smooth panels. SmartSide includes cedar shakes, reversible trim and stucco panels.

In the second half of 2008, LP SmartSide will introduce 2-in. thick trims in addition to its offering which already includes 4/4-in. and 5/4-in. trims. They’ve also started to include more literature and design tools to help contractors and builders use LP SmartSide trim to craft the latest looks and styles. All LP SmartSide products use Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)-certified wood, are made from small-diameter, rapidly regenerating trees and are treated with environmentally friendly borates through the SmartGuard process.