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Building Skills

How To Fill Nail Holes and Paint PVC Trim

Patrick McCombe, Associate editor

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PVC trim is becoming more popular every day for its durability and clean look.  A lot of people think you don't have to paint it but that's not true.  We asked pro painter Jim Lacey how to paint it right.

Jim's tips for filling nail holes in PVC:

-Use a 2-part epoxy nail-hole filler made for PVC.

-Using your hands, blend the two different epoxy components until the color is evenly mixed.

-Only mix as much epoxy as you can use in fifteen minutes.

-Applcation: For small holes use your finger.  For larger holes use a 1-inch putty knife.

-Completely fill the nail holes, leaving them slightly crowned to sand after the epoxy sets.  Or, work it as smooth as possible by shaving it off with a putty knife or working it in with your fingertips.

-For sanding, use 100 to 120 grit sandpaper with light pressure.

-Use a dry rag to clean away any dust.

Jim's tips for painting PVC:

-Always paint PVC for mildew and dirt resistance.

-Don't use a primer.

-Use a 100% Acrylic paint.

-Spot prime large nail holes with the Acrylic paint.

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Comments (6)

QRR writes: I had a couple of large bay windows installed Fall 2010 and did not paint the PVC trim, by the end of Summer 2011 the trim had mildew and looked awful, cleaned and used the same epoxy which was recommended by local building supply. I agree on the " not easy to work with ". After two coats the windows look better than new. I live in CT. Perhaps not all PVC is created alike.
Posted: 4:22 pm on January 18th

JLacey writes: Thank you for your interest and your comments. It is important to keep in mind that this video and my suggestions are based solely on my field experience. While I cannot argue with you that PVC manufactures do not require their product to be painted, it is my experience that raw PVC is a breeding ground for mildew growth. Just last year my company completed a very large PVC trim job in which all the trim required washing and removing mildew even though the trim was installed only months prior. It is possible that this issue is indigenous to the New England region, however I have no evidence to support this. Also, please remember there are many custom PVC trimmed homes whose owners and architects desire a color other that white. I hope that this video can serve as a useful tool for them.
I have had great success with the epoxy putty. Ordinary putty may be effective in the short term, or even long term, however I am more confident in the strength of epoxy. In regards to types of caulking, I try to caulk sparingly as expansion and contraction can lead to unpleasant cracking. This is a maintenance issue. I have personally not had any allergic reactions as a result of direct skin contact with epoxy, however, I was remiss to not advise the use of a mask while sanding and gloves. There surely is nothing that is more paramount than safety on a jobsite.
Posted: 8:25 pm on January 16th

ordjen writes:
Why the exotic, nuisance to mix epoxy putty? I have used simple acrylic based interior/exterior spackling compound with no problems. You can caulk with acrylic caulk and paint with acrylic paint, so why not acrylic spackling compound? On the topic of caulk, why is he painting when the siding butting up to the trim has clearly not been caulked?
Posted: 6:12 pm on January 16th

RicksWoodCrafts writes: Kurt is absolutely right . As a home builder ,I've been using PVC exterior trim for years and as long as you keep any cut edges unexposed , use the right fasteners (also matching plugs made to fill fastener holes)you'll never have a problem . Painting this stuff would be just adding a lifetime of maintenance . Rediculous ! Where did fine homebuilding get this information that it needs to be painted ?
Posted: 3:26 pm on January 16th

capintah writes: I noticed that Jim didn't protect his hands when mixing the epoxy putty. Repeated exposure to epoxy leads to an acquired allergic response in you body. A similar reaction is also found in latex and poison ivy. To avoid developing a sensitivity, you must wear gloves when handling uncured epoxy and a dust mask when sanding the cured product.
Posted: 1:19 pm on January 16th

kurtbouma writes: I am a manufacturer of PVC products. wholesalemillwork.com if you would like to take a look. This article simply is not true. All cellular PVC is manufactured with UV Stabilizers and is NOT required to be painted. It would be beneficial to fill in the cut edges as they are a bit more porous than the smooth factory face, and more prone to collecting dirt and grime, but PVC is not required to be painted. It will hold up for a lifetime just as well without paint as it will with paint.
Posted: 9:21 am on January 16th

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