Urethane Millwork – Great Looking & Labor Saving

DEAR TIM: My upcoming building project includes extensive ornate exterior trim. The quotation for the carpentry and painting work to install and finish it took my breath away. What can I do to minimize the cost yet still achieve the rich look? Is there an alternative material or molding system? John D., Pittsfield, PA

DEAR JOHN: How do you think I used to feel when I would deliver my carpentry quotes to homeowners for similar work? More than one homeowner asked me if I needed to make a payment on my phantom 70 foot yacht. Certain house designs can require a carpenter to install built up or compound moldings. These require a series of similar cuts and nailing procedures that are time consuming, repetitive, and expensive. Urethane and plastic moldings - an alternative to wood - can help you achieve the elegant look and allow you stay within your budget.

Wood exterior moldings are a fine product. I used them for years on many jobs and even have them on my own home. However, they can become a liability (high maintenance cost) if not installed with great care. Wood moldings that are not pre-painted on all sides, edges, and cut ends can create troublesome paint peeling problems. Wood is also subject to rot and insect infestation. The urethane and plastic moldings are not prone to any of these problems.

The synthetic molding industry got its start approximately 30 years ago. They are truly fascinating products that perform well in extremes of hot or cold. The urethane moldings and trim pieces are made by pouring a liquid that expands and solidifies inside a mold. This process allows intricate profiles to be created. These products can be cut, drilled, trimmed, or sanded with the same tools one uses for wood. Many urethane trim pieces accept any high quality exterior acrylic latex paint. Some require no painting. Certain pieces that come with a special woodgrain texture accept semi-transparent stains for a true wood look.

Plastic moldings and trim are often made using polyethylene and injection molding processes. These products can be colored by adding pigments during the manufacturing process. Certain plastic trim moldings don't like paint. If you decide to use these, you may be permanently locked into an exterior color scheme. Urethane moldings can be painted any color any time.

Using urethane moldings and millwork you can create virtually any architectural look. Victorian, Colonial, Federal styles and more are possible. You can get classic door surrounds with pediments, fluted pilasters, columns, crown and dentil combinations, railings, balusters, louvers, brackets, shutters, arched moldings, etc. Certain molding profiles come with inside and outside corners that eliminate the need for precision mitering. Windows can be trimmed with exquisite moldings that will make your house the talk of the neighborhood. There are hundreds of possibilities.

Labor savings are achieved because urethane millwork often comes in one giant piece. A finish carpenter working in wood might have to assemble three or four pieces of wood to create the exact same look. You will also save money when you purchase urethane millwork. Wood molding prices in my hometown cost between 70 and 100 percent more than similar urethane moldings. Price differences vary regionally. In some areas of the nation urethane and wood products are competitively priced.

If you decide to use the urethane or plastic exterior millwork be sure to use approved fasteners and adhesives. I highly recommend that you use stainless steel nails to attach the molding to your house. These nails will not cause any future rust problems. Occasionally you will have to glue pieces together. Make sure you use the glue or adhesive recommended by the manufacturer. The use of an incompatible glue can cause real problems.