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TOTAL HOME MAGAZINE
SPRING 2016
|
5
OLDER HOMES MADE NEW AGAINWITH PVC
If you live in an older home, chances are
you love its historical charm, unique trim
details and enduring character. Along with
the positive aspects inherent to traditional
homes, you may also have to deal with
rotting wood, chipped paint and water
damage.
Trevor Martin, a project manager at Way-
Mar, has been responding to customers
over the past few years who want to up-
grade the exterior of their homes without
sacrificing the intricate trim designs that
give their houses architectural appeal.
By working with a product called PVC,
which stands for polyvinyl chloride, Way-
Mar can replace old trim, soffits, columns,
shutters and porch
ceilings with a modern
product that replicates
old details with amazing
accuracy.
Because PVC has the
same density as pine,
it is easy to cut, rout,
mitre and fashion
into exterior trim that
is both durable and
maintenance-free.
Customers can opt for
a PVC product with a
smooth finish or one
that has a wood grain
appearance, so that
when it is painted or stained,
it has the warm, authentic
look of wood. Multiple sheets
of PVC can also be laminated
together to make the product
thicker, as opposed to some
of the constraints builders
might face when working
with wood.
“One of the main benefits
of working with PVC is
that it has a 3% moisture
cycle, whereas wood has a
much higher moisture cycle,
anywhere from 30% to 40%. This means
with wood, paint will begin to chip off,
especially on the exterior of a house,” says
Trevor. “So we can do a lot of things with
PVC to reproduce those wood details for
old homes and new construction without
the homeowners worrying about replacing
them in 10 or 20 years.”
PVC is remarkably resistant to cracking,
warping, and splitting and its versatil-
ity and longevity outshine many other
products that cannot stand up to the
elements over time. “We’ve worked with
a lot of customers recently who have been
very pleased with the way that PVC has
replaced trim that was falling apart and
chipping,” says Trevor.
With its higher price point, Trevor can see
why some homeowners might be reluctant
to make the leap to PVC, but he maintains
that the peace of mind that comes with a
product with this kind of longevity is well
worth it.
Trevor highlights that homeowners also
have more choice nowadays when it comes
to updating the siding on their homes. A
cellular PVC product that is heavier and
thicker than vinyl siding has been designed
to compete with pre-finished wood prod-
ucts and fibre cement siding. Although this
product has only become available recently,
already it is becoming a popular pick for
exterior siding.
Whether you live in an older or newer
home, the team at Way-Mar would be
pleased to help you discover the ways in
which PVC can lengthen the life of your
home
.