New Exterior Trim Makes Great Impression

(HIT) - Whether you are buying a new home or are selling your existing one, first impressions are everything. And, nothing makes a worse initial impression than exterior trim that is cracked, rotted, peeling or falling apart.

Wood, one of the traditional trim materials, may look fine when first installed, but it can split and swell, and is prone to knots and defects. Other materials, like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and fiber cement trim have performance limitations and may pose installation challenges.

Today, homeowners and remodelers are turning to advanced building materials to get long-term performance from their exterior trim. Locally, and nationwide, many homeowners have found MiraTEC® Treated Exterior Composite Trim offers the ideal combination of the beauty of wood and the durability of an engineered product. It provides the perfect accent to any exterior cladding your house may have: vinyl, fiber cement, brick, OSB, stone, stucco, wood or hardboard.

With a clear, wood grain texture on one side and contemporary smooth finish on the other, MiraTEC is ideal for any home style. From new home construction to remodeling and repair projects, MiraTEC is used for roofline fascia, soffits, window and door trim, corner trim, dentil, gables, column wraps, trim along porches and other non-structural applications.

The Science of Trim

Some engineered wood products, like MiraTEC, are manufactured by physically and chemically bonding resins with wood under heat and pressure. They offer increased durability (they are harder and more dense than some species of wood), are consistently straight, and are engineered to resist shrinking, checking, warping, cupping and splitting. In addition, they are widely available and pricing is stable.

The process used to make MiraTEC includes a factory-applied mildew-resistant primer on four sides. The end result is a trim board that offers a unique combination of moisture, rot and termite resistance not found in other materials.

It looks and handles like wood, and offers superior performance over PVC and fiber cement trim. For example, MiraTEC costs half as much as PVC trim and, unlike PVC, it accepts paint beautifully and is not affected by temperature extremes.

Compared to fiber cement trim, MiraTEC is available in longer boards (16 feet vs. 10 or 12 feet) and does not require any special installation tools, making installation easier and more cost effective. Plus, fiber cement costs about one-third more than MiraTEC, and it is harder to cut and nail. Fiber cement also absorbs over five times more water than MiraTEC (based on industry standard 24-hr. soak test), which can lead to mold and/or mildew problems if the trim gets wet enough.

What the Pros Use

Because of its durability and low maintenance requirements, homebuilders across the country use MiraTEC in a variety of applications.

Dick Collier of R.E. Collier, Inc., a builder in Richmond, Va., uses MiraTEC Trim for a variety of projects, including residential town homes and low-rise multifamily buildings. He has found it to be an excellent complement to fiber cement siding applications. "Prior to MiraTEC, we primarily used wood products, including cedar and pine, but we’ve found that MiraTEC is better than wood. MiraTEC is easy to install and paints well. Plus, we really like how it holds up in our weather and that it offers termite resistance."

According to Steve Kothman, general manager, Hanson Builders, Inc., a custom home and townhome builder in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., "We use MiraTEC on all exterior trim applications for one simple reason—performance. It resists swelling and moisture better than any other exterior trim product we’ve used, and it holds paint very well."

Another builder who also uses MiraTEC for all his exterior trim is Mike Reilly of Reilly Homes in Leavenworth, Kansas. Located in the rolling hills of northeastern Kansas on the Missouri River, the Leavenworth/Lansing area is relatively humid, which can lead to moisture problems with wood products. "We were looking for a better answer to issues with wood rot that we’ve experienced with cedar and pine trim, particularly around windows. MiraTEC solved the problem," Reilly said. "Incorporating MiraTEC into all our exterior trim applications has helped us create a truly low maintenance home."

Beyond its sheer beauty, MiraTEC is backed by an industry-best 30-year warranty that covers hail and termite damage, delamination, splitting and more.

If you're looking to add curb appeal or are remodeling your home, look for MiraTEC trim at most local building material suppliers. For more information about MiraTEC Trim, call 1-800-255-0785 or visit www.miratectrim.com.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center