More and more customers
are insisting on low-maintenance
exteriors, while
builders are facing rising
prices for quality lumber. So when it
comes time to choose exterior trim,
many builders are considering new
engineered alternatives to solid wood.
Some builders may be looking for a
lower-cost alternative to clear cedar or
redwood. Others may be willing to pay
extra for a premium product that promises
to outlast wood. In all cases,
builders are looking for something that
won't need to be painted frequently.
There are a bewildering number of
products available. These products can
be grouped into three general categories:
engineered wood, fiber-cement, and
plastics. In general, engineered wood
and fiber-cement are less expensive than
solid wood, and much less expensive
than the