A friend has an archtop window, a 3′ diameter half-round. The question is, what to trim it with? The rest of the house is 5/4 x 4 Hardi (yes, cement trim and cornerboards). Obviously it would be a major nightmare to wrap that around this window, so… what’s a flexible trim material that might work for this? The possibility of cutting a curved piece out of sheet goods or a solid-wood glueup is already on the table too. I just figure there’s gotta be a flex material out there.
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I googled this up with --- exterior "flexible molding"
http://www.ultraflexmoulding.com/index.html
I can't remember the exact name of the product but it is similiar to the link above. I can purchase it from the lumber yard and they order it from somewhere?
I recently ordred a 1x4 piece, they only come in 10' lenghts, though I know other companies make longer, cost $50, so it isn't to bad.
You can also have Azek bent to a radius, I don't know what the limitations are but a kansas city lumber yard will bend them for me.
I had not thought of Azek. I wonder if you could bend that using the heater that electricians use to heat PVC conduit for bending?
>>"I had not thought of Azek. I wonder if you could bend that using the heater that electricians use to heat PVC conduit for bending?
Maybe. Think that was gone over in a prior thread, can't find now. PVC bender likely not long enough if you need a long piece bent.
To cut to the chase, somebody suggested electric space heaters (like cheap baseboard heaters) in the bottom of a makeshift long box. Maybe do it outdoors with fire extinguishers handy. ;-)
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
I don't know how to make this a link but the message was 71362.10, explaining my homemade oven.
Bingo. I knew I was pretty sure I saw it here.
Anyway, to post a link, I just cut and paste the browser URL. Probably a better way to do it, but that works.
http://forums.taunton.com/n/main.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=71362.10
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
I'm not sure.
I know they heat it to bend it, just don't know how.
Probably couldn't hurt to try, at worse you're out a few bucks in a material.
How are you liking the cement board trim?
We used it on one project and the general consensus was it was a PITA.
Personaly I'm not a fan.
The link that you were forwarded for ultraflex molding from BF Adams is not the greatest stuff. unless they have drastically improved their product in the last three years.
There is a company in Costa Mesa, California that is really, really good. I'll try and search through old invoices and see if I can find their number if you are interested.
Just had an epiphany: I looked them up and they are now on the West and East coast
http://www.flexmoulding.com
Thanks, I will forward that link as well. I don't think the local yard is aware of anything like this.
My only concern is whether or not this stuff can be used outdoors or not. The company I referred you to makes two differnt grades. One is flexible, the other is REALLY flexible that you can tie the stuff into pretzels. Shipping is not as much of a concern as thae available lengths, usually 10' or less. Which means more seams that don't bond as good as azek does.
If you know of someone with a W/H molder or shaper, I'd go the azek route first. At least you know it is exterior grade and can take a freeze/thaw.
My plumber/electrician has a couple of different things for heating PVC... some blankets and a big electric box thing. I still doubt you could bend a piece of 1" x 3-1/2" PVC trim into a 18" radius, it just seems too tight. If the stuff was easily available here I would give it a whirl, but I've never seen it around.
Have used the Ultraflex moulding that link was given you, and think you'll like it for your project. It comes packaged coiled up in box, and can be abit of a pain when cold weather install needed. Let it soften in sun or indoors first. Found its easier to precut slightly over desired radius length and trim to fit end with razor knife.
I sent that link over to my buddy. It looks like what he needs. Regarding the 5/4 FC trim, yeah that looks like a pain, but he actually made mitered corner boards for it to wrap some 45-degree and 90-degree intersections on his house. I'm not sure what blade he used for it, but he did it on a tablesaw. I know he bought a 7-tooth 7-1/4" circ saw blade for some of the cutting.
Is there a profile to the moulding or just square? Easiest to probably cut the radius from a piece of 5/4 MDO with a router and call it done. You could also get a piece of Ply-trim (MDO Trim) and piece together the radius with 3 or 4 pieces of 5/4 x 10 and then use the router with a trammel. Glue the pieces with CDX plywood splines and epoxy. As far as I know you would be able to then route the profile in the trim if it has one and paint as usual.
I have used a lot of the flex trim for interior work but can not comment as to its reliability in exterior applications.
J.P.
somehow, I missed the 5/4x4 trim part of the equation on a 3' diameter window. I would have my doubts on the composites bending that too, but i've never tried. i'd thing you would get some buckeling. Or reading the other posts probably gave me brain fade
The resin art websites says that the stuff can be used out doors, but not recommended to be installed below 54* or someting like that. Their stuff will easily bend to those specs. You can also have the same texture of the hardi trim casted into the flex material, if they already don't have the mold made. This way, it will match the rest of the house and no one will no the wiser.
They should be able to get that material locally(hardi trim) in SoCal so you don't have to have to ship the sample molding to them. The casted piece you need can be rolled up into a reasonably small box and shipped UPS. Not too expensive.
Ganahl Lumber in Costa Mesa probably carries it. If they do, they could deliver one piece. Their ph # is (714) 556-1500. Their are a few BT'er in the area who could maybe help.
I miss all the material suppliers of Socal. Specially the Hardwoods, Marble and Granite Dealers, but not the traffic/people
They had the heat blankets set up at the 2005 JLC show for Azek. (Maybe they also had it at this years show but I wasn't there). As I recall the blankets were pricey and also as I recall they were quite hot. They demo'd it right there. The piece of Azek was heated for maybe five or ten minutes with the heat blankets under and over it.
When they removed the blankets, the material was as floppy as wet spaghetti. They used thick insulated gloves to bend it around a premade plywood form, then bent another piece around the form but at right angles to the first piece. When they were done they joined the two pieces together with Azek adhesive and a finish gun. It made a very nice trim piece and (assuming you had the set up ready to go) only took maybe 20 or 25 minutes.
It would be worth it if you had alot of pieces to make, but if it was only one then maybe some of these other ideas would work better.
Build a base form, wire it, and have some one who's good with a trowel build up a smooth stucco arch to match the Hardi?
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." Voltaire
That's a very good idea. A guy I know about 4 states over does plaster over rigid foam insulation board. Cuts it to shape, nails it up, plasters it. I imagine the same type of thing could be done with acrylic stucco.
It's common proceedure down here in stucco country.Hope it helps.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." Voltaire
Did you ever get this solved with the curved molding/trim???
I forwarded the various links to my friend, but I don't know if he's done anything yet. I'll find out...