As Americans tighten their belts in a sagging economy, adding new trim is an ideal enhancement when looking for a cost-effective change that increases curb appeal. One of the biggest benefits of exterior trim is the exquisite detail it offers a home, as it functions as the finishing touch that personalizes and adds style. And technological advances promise products that are green, easy to work with and will stand the test of time.

“In any geographic area, a remodeling business’s reputation can make or break a company especially in competitive times like these,” says Ralph Bruno, president of Azek Building Products. “Trends are driven by a need to increase margins while satisfying customers and eliminating callbacks. In addition, time/labor savings is more of a sensitive issue than ever before for remodelers”

To address these trend-drivers, Azek creates products that resist moisture and insects, and will not rot, warp or decay. The mouldings are ready to install, while traditional Azek trim products can be custom-milled, routed, turned on a lathe, and heat-formed. Azek mouldings are available in 15 profiles replicating traditional moulding styles. The moulding profiles include crown, rams crown, historic sill, base cap, back band, bed mould, brick mould and quarter round. The benefits of the new mouldings include the elimination of milling costs and the need for painting (although they can be painted).

“Customers are looking for materials that make their installations easy, then survive weather events better than conventional building materials,” says Bob Simon, executive vice president Gossen Corporation.

Gossen has produced cellular PVC moulding since 1968. The company recently expanded its offerings with the WeatherReady exterior line of PVC, beginning with deckboard and broadening into associated products. The WeatherReady line includes trimboards and more than 200 moulding profiles, with a railing line available later this year.

CleanEdge — a proprietary method for sealing all four edges of the solid-core, cellular PVC deck boards — protects WeatherReady decking.

The new PVC Stealth Skirt Board from Versatex is a 5/4-in. thick plank featuring an angled top ridge for the first course of fiber cement or composite siding to rest upon. This tapered edge also allows water to run off and, because it is made from low-maintenance PVC, it can come into direct contact with the ground or masonry with no issues. The Versatex PVC Stealth Bead Board features an extended nailing flange to allow for a true hidden fastening system for porch ceilings and high, hard-to-reach soffit areas. The new plank is a tongue-and-groove design with a kicker. Instead of having to nail through a typical small tongue, the installer now has a wider 1/2-in. surface to nail through.