I went to Natick, MA the weekend before last to help my brother do some work on his kitchen. We took the obligatory drive to the local Home Depot to pick up a little of this and a little of that, and as we were walking the aisles I noticed an uncommon sight: AZEK exterior PVC trim.
I was immediately jealous that my local store didn’t carry this brand, because I was all too familiar with the normally piddly selection of exterior trim in my store. My only choices used to be a pre-primed wood product with poorly-executed finger joints, they also have a brand called Tuf-Board. Tuf-Board, with it’s spongy-looking core is fine for what it is, but for my money, AZEK is the best.
Why? Because unlike less expensive products that are more brittle on the outside and porous on the inside (lower sample, shown left), AZEK is uniform throughout. If you don’t rout exterior trim, or leave end-grain edges at some joints, then you probably don’t much care.
But on my next trip to my local store in Glastonbury, CT I saw that AZEK was now in stock. Awesome! I for one am pretty happy that Home Depot, a company that I often feel has become a let-down, has partnered with a reputable company like AZEK.
By the way, I didn’t think to look at the time, but I assume that this partnership will also mean the availability of AZEK decking in their stores as well.
Has anybody else noticed AZEK products in their local store, or is this limited to New England?
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View Comments
Whale now Dahlin',
I've been using Azek from local suppliers for many years now up here in Maine - and they say we're backwards and behind the times and all that...
I've also used Koma I think it is, which has the same dense interior structure that is nice for milling, unless this old man's memory is turned around.
When we go to trade shows, it seems like there is about 30 different brands of cellular PVC, all claiming to be the best.
I think like laminates are all called Formica and Circular saws all get called Skilsaws, that Azek is well on the way to owning the title for this product though.
Be well, and keep your thumb out from under the hammer
Whale now Dahlin',
I've been using Azek from local suppliers for many years now up here in Maine - and they say we're backwards and behind the times and all that...
I've also used Koma I think it is, which has the same dense interior structure that is nice for milling, unless this old man's memory is turned around.
When we go to trade shows, it seems like there is about 30 different brands of cellular PVC, all claiming to be the best.
I think like laminates are all called Formica and Circular saws all get called Skilsaws, that Azek is well on the way to owning the title for this product though.
Be well, and keep your thumb out from under the hammer
You make good points, Piffin.
1.) AZEK has been available all over the country for years, but in my neck of the woods, that has been limited to lumberyards. Having the material in Home Depot is a nice step forward.
2.) You may be right about AZEK becoming the Kleenex of PVC trim. I just hope builders take the time to learn the subtle differences involved with PVC - maybe the most notable being the change in the direction of expansion and contraction (along the grain rather than across it).
Hope all is well up there in Maine!
I work part-time at The Home Depot and, yes, we now carry AZEK trim boards. However, we don't carry AZEK moulding or any other sizes of AZEK (3/4 trim is it).
I haven't tried the material yet but have a project from my neighbor. I have been checking out the comments made though and I can hardly wait to give it a try!