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Discussion Forum

Fibercement trim vs. Royalwood

JLazaro317 | Posted in General Discussion on January 24, 2003 02:39am

I’m building myself a new house and I’m going to use fibercement siding. Instead of using cedar for my corners, I was wondering if anyone has tried royalwood (www.royal-wood.com). It appears to be a Trex like product.

I considered using fibercement trim but it only comes in 7/16″ (So what do you do? Double it for corners?).

I’d appreciate anybody’s expertise on this one.

Thanks,

John

J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

Indianapolis, In.

http://www.lazarobuilders.com

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  1. xMikeSmith | Jan 24, 2003 02:56am | #1

    we use 5/4 GP Primetrim

    Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

    1. JLazaro317 | Jan 24, 2003 05:20am | #3

      Thanks for the responses. I'm looking for a good "less maintenance" product. I'm tired of cedar lap(splitting and shrinking) and heard great things about fibercement. My current house had to be repainted after three years. I painted it myself with a good oil primer and good latex paint initially).  So I figure that if I use a more dimensionally stable product like fibercement, I'll be better off. I'm not interested in any of the products like Smart Lap (I just don't think they'll have the longevity).

      So if the GP and Certainteed products can perform like the fibercement, count me in. I'd hate to put up cement siding and have to repaint the corners more often because I used cedar.

      Thanks for the input,

      John

      J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

      Indianapolis, In.

      http://www.lazarobuilders.com

      1. xMikeSmith | Jan 25, 2003 03:04pm | #6

        John... we've been using FC for about 4 years... but we 've used the GP Primetrim since '95... it loves paint..

        my office is GP Prime & red cedar claps.... painted in '95... a little fading.. and the usual nicks from the lawn mower & weed wackerMike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

        1. edwardh1 | Jan 25, 2003 06:34pm | #7

          I thought Hardie made a 1x4 trim piece?

          NO?

          1. JLazaro317 | Jan 25, 2003 06:46pm | #8

            Wain,

            Hardie makes "1X" trim pieces......to my knowledge they are 7/16" thick. For corners, I want something that's 3/4 - 7/8" thick. I didn't really want to have to double material to get the desired thickness.

            John

            J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

            Indianapolis, In.

            http://www.lazarobuilders.com

          2. edwardh1 | Jan 25, 2003 07:03pm | #10

            I saw something in slowes last week that was in the Hardie area and looked 3/4 thick

            sign said 1x4 trim.

            i will look again.

            It looked like all the other hardie stuff.

          3. JLazaro317 | Jan 26, 2003 05:19am | #11

            I'll have to check it out myself. If they've got it in a 1X6 I'll be all smiles.John

            J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

            Indianapolis, In.

            http://www.lazarobuilders.com

          4. JLazaro317 | Feb 01, 2003 05:04am | #12

            Made it to Blowes today. My store doesn't stock Hardie trim but they can special order. 5/4 X6 X 12 is over $20 per board. 7/16? X 6 X 12 is around $7.

            I can order Royal Wood for around $23 for a 16' "board".

            I'm thinking Primetrime or equivalent is looking pretty attractive.

            John

            J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

            Indianapolis, In.

            http://www.lazarobuilders.com

          5. abnorm | Feb 03, 2003 09:06pm | #13

            I've read all these posts with great interest ........about PrimeTrim and it's virtues..............GeorgiaPacific website:

            http://www.gp.com/siding/pdf/082155.pdf

            ......10 yr warranty...........No pressure washing.....No sprinkler splashing

            ANYBODY had bad experiences with the product?

            A national builder operating locally near Orlando Florida is in the process of replacing/repairing a huge amount of waterdamaged boards......The homes are expensive ..........in the $500k+ range............the damage exists in the window trim and corner boards............Maybe 500 out of 700 homes need attention...............Repairs to windows replace all rotten trim with "new" PrimeTrim...........Rotten Corner-boards get bevel trimmed ......and "new" PrimeTrim gets replaced...............

            The builder admits installation faults...................

            http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-loccelebration02020203feb02.story

            Comunity Bulletin Board at:

            http://www.34747.org

          6. xMikeSmith | Feb 03, 2003 10:24pm | #14

            been using GP Primetrim since about '95..it is more decay resistant than pine  cedar... and it likes paint better than red cedar..

             we back prime all trim wether it's primetrim or wood.. we also end prime all joints before assembly...

            like any material , you have to pay attention to flashing details...

            GPPT is very cost effective, available in 5/4 thickness and any width to 12"..

            Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

        2. JLazaro317 | Jan 25, 2003 06:52pm | #9

          Mike,

          I have nothing against cedar. In fact, we use it on all the homes we build. My only point is that I've heard how durable cement siding is and how well it holds paint vs. the cedar lap. I've always been resistant to change and I'm going to use my personal house as the test case.

          John

          J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

          Indianapolis, In.

          http://www.lazarobuilders.com

          Edited 1/25/2003 9:17:52 PM ET by JOHN_LAZARO

    2. wivell | Feb 05, 2003 03:18pm | #15

      Mike,

      Do you also use the 5/4 GP Primetrim for the window casing & sills?

      Scott

      1. MikeSmith | Feb 05, 2003 03:46pm | #16

        casings.. but for sills we mold it out of trex  (1.25" thick )

        1. Ledebuhr1 | Feb 05, 2003 11:42pm | #17

          How is Primetrim any different from regular pine boards that are primed?  I would think the material properties are better on Fibercement than pine for holding paint.

          1. Jay72 | Feb 06, 2003 01:42am | #18

            Hardie does make a 5/4 Trim board that I have used.  All Hardie products take some getting used to. The good thing is that once its up it is bullet proof and holds paint well (latex only) . My main complaint about Hardi-trim (5/4) is that to get the same reveal on corner boards you have to rip an inch off one of each pair. This creates a lot of dust as well as wear on the high dollar specialty blades we used. I just finished a Hardi job that involved facia and cornice with site built dentil moulding. We used the 7/16 stuff for facia and soffit then made dentil with hundreds of dentil blocks out of 7/16 laminated onto strips of 7/16. Also hand cut several hundred diamond shingles for gable end out of the Hardi shingles, (5/16) thick. All sidind was regular Hardi-plank and corner boards and window trim as well as arched garage door trim was 5/4 Hardi Trim. We also also built beveled cap for stone foundation from the 7/16 stuff. The only exterior elements that were not Hardi were heart pine window sills. Boy was I glad to get back to cutting wood after a couple of weeks of that stuff.  

          2. carlsperry | Feb 06, 2003 05:51am | #20

            Sounds like a good job.  Any photos to share?

          3. Jay72 | Feb 06, 2003 06:08am | #21

            I'll try to take a couple pictures and post them this weekend.  The Hardiplank reps came to the job and took pictures after our salesman saw the job.  Jay

          4. Ledebuhr1 | Feb 06, 2003 03:15pm | #22

            Would Fibercement hold paint longer than Primetrim? or are they about the same??

          5. MikeSmith | Feb 06, 2003 03:38pm | #23

            i think fibercement would hold longer than PT... but it is probably moot, since the paint will fade on both equally, long before it would fail..

            the fiber cement is more inert than the PT..

            BTW... we are using 100% acrylics for our exterior..

          6. ScottMatson | Feb 06, 2003 05:11pm | #24

            Jay72, you are right about the thickness of the hardi trim. I have used Cemplank's Cemtrim, which is now Hardi, and it is something like an inch thick, whether or not they call it 5/4 I can't remember. I had the same issue with getting even corners.

            Here's what I do not like about it: If you need to use smaller ripped pieces, they like to crack when you nail them. They can be glued though. And finish nailers seem to hold it pretty well instead of a bigger gun. It sure is heavy.

            What is good is that it won't rot and takes paint well. It looks like cedar.

            Anyway, it's a lot thicker than 7/16", wanted to make sure that the original writer's statement about that got some attention.

          7. donvon | Nov 23, 2006 02:03am | #25

            I've got a question on the 5/4 Hardi trim that i hope someone can help answer.  Our material takeoff didn't list enough 3" trim which we used around our windows.  We have plenty of 5/4 6" that I am considering cutting in order to not hold the siding crew up for 2 weeks while the trim comes in.  Is there any danger in having a non factory edge around our windows?  Would I need to paint the raw edge?  We have about 1/3 our windows left to do.  Thanks!

          8. woodroe | Nov 23, 2006 03:15am | #26

            No, no danger in non-factory edges. We used Hardi trim for corners once. I won't use it again unless I absolutely have to. It is fragile, messy to cut, the factory edges are not smooth, and it is very difficult to fasten the corner boards together.
            We used to use GP Prime Trim, but now use a similar product that is called MiraTec. It is a full 3/4" and 1" unlike Prine trim at 5/8" and 7/8" thick.

          9. xMikeSmith | Feb 06, 2003 03:36am | #19

            GP Primetrim is not pine.. it's a GP proprietary MDF.. with some decay resistance and water resistance built in... it loves paintMike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

  2. carlsperry | Jan 24, 2003 04:55am | #2

    We have used the weyerhauser choice trim a couple of times and it worked well.  It has a deep wood grain pattern to it.  It's a 5/4 thickness, they come in 16' legnths, and they are primed.  Pretty much like the GP trim.  I just spoke with the certainteed rep aboput a week ago and he gave me a sample of there new composite trim.  It's also a 5/4 thickness.  It comes in 2 sizes. 1x4x12' and 1x6x12'.  It comes primed with the fiber tect finish, has a class A fire rating, and a 20 year warranty.  It's not a true fiber cement product so it is easier to work with that the Hardie stuff.  You don't need a diamond blade to cut it to my knowledge.  Here's the professional info line # 1-800-233-8990.

    1. JLazaro317 | Jan 24, 2003 06:07am | #4

      I've been searching Cetainteed's website and can't find anything about the new composite. Know the name by chance?

      THanks,

      John

      J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

      Indianapolis, In.

      http://www.lazarobuilders.com

      1. carlsperry | Jan 25, 2003 07:13am | #5

        It is listed as Certainteed composite trim to my knowledge.  It would probably be under the Weather boards heading.  If you cannot find it call the 800 # and ask for the Certainteed rep in your area.  He will be able to get you a sample piece of trim and siding ect.  Just call the number listed above and ask for the rep in your area and they will give you the contact info.   

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