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Shop Class


Shop Class

Trusted solutions for common construction details.

How-To

Exterior PVC Trim: Water Table and Cap

In this Shop Class video, learn how to use cellular-PVC boards and drip caps to create this traditional architectural detail that will be the foundation for your siding installation.

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Exterior PVC Trim: Water Table and Cap
In this Shop Class video, learn how to use cellular-PVC boards and drip caps to create this traditional architectural detail that will be the foundation for your siding installation.
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    After fascias and rakes are on the house, the next place I usually start is going to be at a water table or a base of wall detail, and I’m going to set this based off of my reference lines that I shot earlier in the building process. The purpose of a water table—also called a splash board or a mud board—is to protect the lowest section of the building so when rain would hit the ground and splash back, it would hit this sacrificial piece instead of rotting the ends of your siding. They’ve just become a part of the architectural vernacular now even though today’s construction details and building materials make them less necessary from a functional standpoint.

    After installing the water table it’s nice to add a little bit more detail by adding a cap profile. In this case we’re using a profile from Kleer that’s actually meant to be a window head, but I find that it makes a nice detail on top of our water table. It has a built-in drip kerf on the bottom as well as an upturned leg that helps with the start of any siding above. Watch the video to see how I make all of these details fit together nicely, and to learn how to fasten everything firmly without running into problems caused by expansion and contraction.

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    Videos in the Series

    • Layout and Preparation for Exterior PVC Trim

      Builder Ben Bogie shows how to establish a control height as a reference point for laying out exterior trim on a house.

    • Exterior PVC Trim: Soffits, Fascias, and Rakes

      In this episode of Shop Class, builder Ben Bogie shares tips for getting tight joints, for cutting PVC trim with standard carpentry tools, and for keeping your job site clean when installing cellular-PVC trim.

    • Exterior PVC Trim: Water Table and Cap

      In this Shop Class video, learn how to use cellular-PVC boards and drip caps to create this traditional architectural detail that will be the foundation for your siding installation.

    • Installing Exterior PVC Trim Corner Boards

      Learn the best options for fitting outside corner boards and inside corners when installing exterior PVC trim.

    • Exterior PVC Trim: Wire and Pipe Penetrations

      In this episode of Shop Class, builder Ben Bogie shares tips for installing escutcheons to create solid mounting surfaces for exterior electrical and plumbing fixtures.

    • Installing Exterior PVC Window and Door Trim

      Learn how to assemble and install casings for windows and doors in a wall that has been furred out for a rainscreen.

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    About This Video Series

    Cellular PVC is a durable and clean-looking alternative to wood when you need to install trim that will hold up to the elements. PVC trim can be shaped and fastened with the same tools you would use for wood, but there are some differences that it's helpful to know before you get started. In this Shop Class video series Builder Ben Bogie will share tips and tricks for a professional installation of PVC trim over… More about this Video Series

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