You’ve probably had homeowners say thanks in all sorts of ways, like a handshake or, lately, an elbow bump.
“We had the entire back wall installed the first day,” explains Kelly Wysienski, owner of South Carolina-based East Coast Exteriors, discussing a recent residential residing project.
"The owner returned from work, took one look, walked over to me and gave me the biggest hug with tears of happiness in her eyes ‘It’s so beautiful,’” Wysienski says.
Fiber-cement siding highlighted with cellular PVC trim replaced the 28-year-old, over-caulked, over-repaired, and over-painted hardboard panels. “There was rot around the windows where water penetrated the Masonite,” Wysienski says. “Repeated caulking and painting didn’t help. The owners were tired of the hassles and expense.”
Wysienski credits the trim for recasting the exterior with a clean, seamless look. A big contributor to the wow factor is the absence of caulk, nail penetrations, and touchups, thanks to AZEK J-Channel Trim Series, a comprehensive system of cellular PVC trim profiles that eliminates many of the downsides of traditional trim.
No Caulk. No Nails. No Problem.
Wysienski is no fan of caulk or nails. With caulk, the homeowner faces deterioration and discoloration over time. With nails, unsightly penetrations, and ongoing touch-up expense. For contractors like East Coast Exteriors, time is the other factor. “My team puts up a 20-foot length of AZEK corner trim in 10 to 15 minutes. Compare that to the 30 to 45 minutes we used to take. It’s not often you work with a product both the owner and the crew loves,” she says, also noting other reasons to minimize caulk:
- Continuous expense. “You have to re-caulk every two years or so because of caulk expansion and contraction. It cracks and peels.”
- Joint headaches. “Pre-finished fiber cement siding with fiber cement trim requires a welded joint.” Applying a welded joint is a skilled craft that less experienced applicators can struggle with. “Even the best effort isn’t good enough,” she says.
- Higher labor cost. Caulk is usually applied by specialized subcontractors. No caulk eliminates a significant installation step, saving time and money.
- It’s ugly! “When you eliminate caulk, you eliminate a lot of siding ugliness.”
And one more: There’s a far better solution available. “Every single trim piece was AZEK J-Channel trim,” she reports. The product, as the name suggests, has the J-channel built-in which provides a pocket for fiber-cement siding to slide into providing a neat, caulk-free finish. When installing with premium vinyl siding, this all-in-one design eliminates the need to apply a separate J-channel pocket which eliminates extra labor and another seam. What’s more, cellular PVC is impervious to moisture, mold, and rot, and painting isn’t required, another time-saver.
Winning Edge
Wysienski has heard all the PVC trim arguments, notably expense. “I always ask, ‘Do you spend 15 percent more now or twice as much in five years for replacement trim?’” she says
No trim product is perfect. But after 20-plus years in the business, Wysienski has seen more than her share of alternatives for trimming vinyl, fiber cement, and wood composite siding. About two years ago she made the switch to the J-Channel Series from AZEK, unheard of then in that market. Today? “It’s everywhere,” she reports. “All it takes is a few thanks you’s like the one I received.”
To learn more about trim and moulding products for your next project, visit AZEKexteriors.com.
