PI Engineered wood trim forces builders to choose sides

[tNCtNeeRED wood trim features -U.rthe realistic appearance and full thickness of traditional lumber, but performs differently than solid wood-better, its producers claim.

Acceptance continues to grow for primed hardboard-based products, such as Georgia-Pacific's PrimeTrim, Temple's TrimCraft, and ABTco's TrimBoard, which also is distributed through Weyerhaeuser as PrimeTrim.

You have two different SKUs in one product,"

Manufacturers claim engineered trim's advantages over spruce. pine, fir and cedar are so great, it's just a matter of getting contractors and builders to try the newer products. "Once somebody uses it, they're hooked." says G-P communications manager Karen Mothner.

Lumber prices and availability are notoriously unpredictable. Lower quality wood trim might split, warp, cup, check, bow or feature natural defects not easily hidden by a coat of paint. Installers also have to figure out what to do with short lengths and the occasional bad board.

With engineered trim, its manufac- turers contend, you won't find a bad board. The manufacturing process and application of two coats of primer processes build in moisture and decay resistance, eliminate unsightly, integrity-weakening defects, and provide a straight, uniform, less porous painting surface. Pricing and supply are much less volatile.

Every board is 16 feet long, reducing installation time and waste. The products are offered in nominal 4/4" and 514" thicknesses, and 4", 5", 6", 8", 10" and 12" widths, all backed by lO-year limited warranties. The trim can be used for all non-structural finish applications, including band board. corner board. fascia. soffit. window and door trim. The plowed back on certain widths of fascia board make soffit insertion fast and easy.

G-P offers a smooth finished and a cedar textured version, both with raw backs. Trim from Temple, ABTco and Weyerhaeuser has a smooth finish on one side and a textured surface on the other.

"It's basically two pieces of siding back-sanded and glued together," explains ABTco product manager Tom Rowe. "Both sides are primed, so it's reversible. You have two different SKUs in one product."

Hardboard-based trim does come with a few cautions. "The down side is you can't miter the edges, and you can't nail into the edge of it," says Rowe.

That's when problems may occur. "Application is very, very important," says G-P's Mothner. "There are certain installation techniques that must be used, and it's a little tougher on saw blades, but that's generally not an issue if (the contractors) know that going in. They can always buy an extra saw blade."

According to Sylvia Vera, product coordinator for Temple, the products have been accepted well ever since they were first introduced about 10 years ago. Their strongest market for TrimCraft is Colorado, due to the area's weather and strons market.

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at least once in a lifetime. Yet, according to a study by Owens Corning, it's one of the projects they most dread.

Your preparing them for what's in store when replacing their roof can help keep them from blowing their top.

First, they should check for warning signs that the roof does require replacement-especially if it is more than 15 years old, has gone through some exceptionally harsh weather, or begins to leak. Catching little problems before they grow into big headaches can save a great deal of time, money and aggravation.

Here are things to look for: o Ceiling spots. Often caused by leaks in roof. Check attic and crawlspace for leaks in roof deck, chimney and vents for cracks in flashing, rafters for leaks that travel away from the source, eaves for water backing up from ice dams and damaged shingles. r Damaged flashings. Caused by improper installation, drying or cracking. o Missing shingles. Caused by improper fastening or exposure to high winds.