When you are considering options for your home’s replacement siding project a lot of factors are at play. You might be weighing materials – fiber cement vs. vinyl, for example – colors and manufacturers. But what is often overlooked is one of the components that will have a great impact on the final look of the siding installation: trim.
Two factors should influence your trim choice: 1. Type of siding materials, and 2. Project Budget.
1. What Type of Siding Material Are You Installing?
As a homeowner undertaking a siding project, you have a number of siding materials to choose from.
Vinyl siding is a relatively inexpensive and easy-to-install option selected by many people. As a plastic material often imitating wood clapboard, it’s a lower-end material that can be spruced up with the right trim choice. You can, for example, choose a strong contrasting color that draws the viewer’s eye.
Fiber cement siding – such as James Hardie siding – is an increasingly popular siding installation choice. Composed of wood cellulose fiber, cement, sand and water, this siding is more durable than wood, and lasts without warping, rotting, cracking or blistering. It also offers a more authentic wood look than vinyl.
Fiber cement requires precise cuts and installation by trained professionals, unlike vinyl whose overlapping structure and loose nailing to the side of the home allows almost any general laborer to do the work.
Using fiber cement for a siding project enables more trim options, customized effects and authentic details than vinyl, especially around windows, doors and corners, because no J-channel is required.
If you choose wood siding, then wood trim makes sense. But keep in mind that wood requires painting and more maintenance, and isn’t as durable as fiber cement and vinyl.
2. What is the Project Budget
Also, you should be aware, the more elaborate the trim, the more expensive things will be. For example, custom wood-style trim, such as crown molding profiles, dental molding, pediments, and pilasters, take time and expertise to make and install. But these things might not be needed if they are part of your home’s existing trim and can be reused with your replacement siding.
For vinyl siding installation projects, contractors will often wrap existing window, door, fascia and rake trim with a rolled sheet aluminum coil, in a pre-finished color, that forms a seal around the existing wood.
Other vinyl options for windows and doors include using a simple J-channel or specially designed vinyl trim called “lineals.” It’s also possible to get a lineal hollow crown molding and vinyl crown headers that can match a colonial trim style. But keep in mind, the more trim choices you decide on, the more expense the siding project will get.
Since fiber cement mimics authentic wood looks, the synthetic aluminum wrap may clash with it. Synthetic wood trims, such as James Hardie NT3, and full cellular PVC trimboards work best. Full cellular PVC molding profiles can also spruce up the simple flat trim with colonial details.
To get a free siding installation consultation, contact the professionals at Lakeside Renovation & Design. We provide the best custom-designed and installed siding, windows and exterior remodeling solutions to the St. Louis Area.
