Exterior Trim
About Exterior Trim
Exterior trim is what gives a building its character - framing windows and doors, capping corners, and finishing every transition in the cladding system. The difference between trim that looks right for 30 years and trim that splits, peels, and fails in ten comes down entirely to material. Pro Materials supplies a comprehensive exterior trim catalogue: CertainTeed Restoration Millwork® cellular PVC trim boards, mouldings, corners, brickmould, and column wraps with a 25-year limited warranty; Kaycan PVC and vinyl trim accessories; and Mitten aluminum trim coil in 13 colours matched to their siding palette. Every product in this catalogue is coordinated across the Mitten and Kaycan siding lines - so your exterior reads as one cohesive system from the siding profile to the corner to the fascia. Wholesale supply to contractors and builders across Canada.
Exterior Trim Buying Guide
Key factors to evaluate when specifying exterior trim for your project.
PVC vs. Aluminum Exterior Trim: When to Use Each
Cellular PVC trim
(CertainTeed Restoration Millwork®, Kaycan, Mitten) is the premier choice for boards, mouldings, brickmould, corners, and column wraps. It accepts paint like wood but never rots, never cracks from moisture cycling, and maintains clean paint adhesion indefinitely. CertainTeed Restoration Millwork uses co-extrusion technology to create a dense, smooth face with consistent cell structure throughout - no hollow core, no delamination. Available in boards (5/4, 4/4 thickness, widths from 2¾" to 11¼"), mouldings, sheets, beadboard, corners, and brickmould. The 25-year limited warranty is the strongest in the category.
Aluminum trim coil
is the standard material for field-fabricated fascia wraps, window trim wraps, soffit trim, and custom profile bends. Mitten aluminum coil is available in pre-painted finishes matched to their vinyl siding palette - no field painting required. Available in 24" and 50" wide coils (0.019" and 0.024" gauge) for a range of brake-formed profile thicknesses. Essential for every professional siding installation.
Matching trim to siding
PVC trim boards should coordinate with vinyl siding - white and almond trim is universally compatible; accent colours add contrast. Aluminum coil should be matched to the siding line's colour chart for a tight colour match. Both Mitten and Kaycan offer colour-coordinated trim and siding catalogues.
Installation
PVC trim boards should be glued at joints with PVC cement for a nearly seamless appearance. Leave a 3/16" expansion gap per 18' of run. Paint cut ends immediately on-site. Aluminum coil work requires a quality hand brake - rent or own a 10' minimum for residential work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cellular PVC trim and how is it different from regular vinyl trim?
Cellular PVC trim (like CertainTeed Restoration Millwork®) is a rigid, foam-core PVC product that looks, machines, and installs like wood but without any of wood's liabilities. Unlike extruded vinyl trim (which is hollow or semi-hollow), cellular PVC has a dense foam core that makes it dimensionally stable, nailable, routeable, and paintable. It holds a crisp paint edge and never rots. It's the closest low-maintenance equivalent to traditional wood moulding and trim.
Can PVC trim boards be painted?
Yes. Cellular PVC trim accepts standard exterior acrylic paints and can be painted any colour. For light colours, no primer is required on Restoration Millwork products. For dark colours (LRV below 55), use a quality exterior latex with sufficient pigment loading and check the manufacturer's dark-colour guidelines - dark colours can cause thermal expansion in PVC that exceeds the fastener capacity. CertainTeed Restoration Millwork's 25-year warranty covers paint adhesion on the factory-primed surface.
What aluminum coil gauge should I specify?
0.019" aluminum coil is standard residential gauge, used for fascia wraps, window trim caps, and light-duty soffit trim. 0.024" is heavy-duty residential/commercial and provides more rigidity for wide fascia applications and soffits in exposed locations. Heavier gauge (0.027"+) is used for commercial fascia and custom architectural details. Specify 0.019" for most residential work; step up to 0.024" for wide profiles or high-exposure locations.