How To Install PVC Trim And Moulding?
By far the most common trim material that can make the exterior of your home look better is PVC trim boards. With the right approach, they can add a bit of personality to your home and are available in a wide range of colors, finishes, and designs.
If you’re a fabricator, builder, or carpenter, you should understand what we’re talking about. PVC trim can be used on the exterior and interior of your home if you know how to use it properly. This blog post will provide an in-depth look at “How to Install PVC Trim”. Anyone who wants to learn how to use PVC trim will find useful information in this blog.
Let’s dive right into this complete guide on how to work with PVC trim lines.
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Table of Contents
Cutting the PVC Trim Board
Cutting PVC trim is no different than cutting wood. However, you do need to know some important things about the cutting method.
You can cut PVC trim panels on the exterior of your home using a power tool that cuts wood. However, you should only use a saw blade with a steel tip. Cutting the edges will be more effective if the saw blade has fewer teeth. This is because the material being cut will not heat up and stick to the blade.
It is best to use a saw blade with 32 teeth. We recommend using a standard combination saw blade. On a microscopic level, PVC trim sheets have a porous structure. Therefore, when cutting trim boards, these porous structures can pop open and allow dust to be deposited on the surface. The best way to smooth the surface is to sand it with 320-grit sandpaper and then clean up the dust with acetone.
If the recommended method is followed, the PVC trim will be easy to cut and the surface will look very smooth and plump.
Drilling
Standard woodworking drills can be used to quickly drill holes in PVC trim boards. However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind during this process:
- The tip angle should be between -90° and 110°. The spiral angle should be around -30° and the back angle around 10°.
- Don’t forget to clean the shavings from the drill holes before filling them.
If you remember these simple tips, you can be sure that your PVC trim is perfectly drilled and ready to be attached.
Routing
We recommend that you use a standard work cable with a multi-fluted carbide bit. A router makes it easy to cut decorative ends or grooves. It is best to use a freshly sharpened tool for this process.
To prevent edge stress cracking, it is best to use a tool with a smaller radius rather than one with a larger angle. To avoid damage, it is also important to continually remove dirt and buildup from the board and equipment.
Ensuring that the circuit board remains clean and smooth while you work on it will help you complete your wiring job successfully.
Installing the PVC Trim Board
Stainless steel screws are the best choice for fasteners because they will never rust. If the PVC panels are unpainted, they will also prevent color bleeding from the panels. On the exterior of the house, it is best to use stainless steel screws with small heads. Another option is to use hot-dipped galvanized nails, but they may rust and stain the PVC trim over time.
We recommend that you use 8D nails, which are commonly used for wood trim with a hardness of at least #12. These nails have long thin edges, full rounded heads, and blunt points. Secure these PVC boards at least 2 inches from the end of each board for a tighter hold.
To secure the PVC trim boards in place, you need to make sure they don’t move when the temperature changes. It’s not just about screwing or nailing in the covering.
To best control the movement of the boards, the recommended length of the boards is:
| Board Width | Fasteners per Width With a maximum of every 16” on center |
| 4” & 6” | 2 |
| 8” & 10” | 3 |
| 12” | 3-4 |
| 16” | 4-5 |
Gluing PVC Trim Board Seams Together
You can glue the seams of PVC trim boards together, which makes them very strong and is one of their strengths.
You can buy matching PVC glue at the same time you buy PVC trim. You have about five minutes to clamp and join the seams together before the cement sets. Apply a small amount of cement to all four sides, then use clamps or screws to join the seams together. The planks will last longer if the joints are secure.
It is important to note that wood changes when humidity changes and PVC changes when temperature changes. Wood expands and contracts mostly laterally (i.e., perpendicular to the grain), whereas PVC trim boards seem to move mostly in a straight line.
Splicing PVC Trim Boards
The trim boards must be glued together correctly so that they will last for a long time. The best way to keep PVC trim panels sealed is to use a polymer sealant that contains a solvent rather than a silicone sealant.
Solvents temporarily break down the chemicals in PVC trim boards, which hold the boards together like glue. The best choice is PVC pipe glue or a product manufactured specifically for PVC.
We recommend that you apply the glue to the different trim boards individually and then press them together for a stronger bond.
Pre-assembly of PVC Trim
Cut the beveled edges to the proper shape and dry the cutouts to check lengths and joints. When installing PVC window trim around vinyl or aluminum windows, be sure to leave a 1/8″ gap.
Fill Fastener Holes
PVC planks will have some holes in them when the splices are finished. If left untreated, they can make your PVC exterior trim look bad. To avoid this, be sure to do the following:
- Fill the small holes in the exterior with filler. To do this, you can use a hidden fastening/plug system.
- After drying, sand it with sandpaper to make it smooth.
- Body fillers can be used to repair larger holes or damaged areas. Sand again after healing.
Scarf Joints
Scarf joints are a method of joining two pieces of material end to end. It is often used when one of the materials is not the right size. 45-degree joints and scarf joints overlap. You can see this on the ends of the PVC window trim.
Cut the first piece of trim so that it ends not far from the wall stud. This allows the second piece of trim that overlaps it to be attached to a wall stud about an inch from the end. If you attach the scarf joints correctly, the edges will stay solid!
Painting PVC Trim Boards
PVC trim boards are more durable without painting. However, to liven up the exterior of your home, you should choose 100% acrylic latex paint or paint with acrylic latex and polyurethane additives.
Always make sure that the PVC trim board is dry, clean, and free of grit, mold, chalk, grease, or dirt. This is so the paint will adhere well. To clean and dry the surface, gently wipe it with a cloth moistened with acetone. Once the surface is dry it is ready to be painted. Depending on weather conditions, it may take 28 to 30 days for the paint to dry completely.
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