I have a one and one-half story traditionally built house with pressboard rough cut “cedar” shiplap siding (in good condition) and roughcut 2 x 6 cedar rakes and corner boards and 1 x 6 cedar fascia. I have used semitransparent stain on these trim boards, but need to clean and retreat them every 2 years to keep them looking good.
I wondered if composite decking material might be a viable maintenance free retrofit for the trim boards. Timbertech has a “docksider” plank that is 2×6 nominal with a brushed, wood-grain side and several colors to choose from. I would like to remove the old boards and substitute the decking material.
If any one knows that this is a really bad idea, please talk me out of it. On corner boards, I plan to rabbet the wider board to overlap the shiny edge of the narrower board. I have learned tons from “Breaktime” in the magazine. I hope some of you guys have an opinion.
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that could work but there's other alternatives. Saw 1 in the FHB that somehow I'd been overlooking but have used some Azek for good results. Although not readily available, my local yard as well as yours too probably, can get it pretty quickly.
Thanks for the tip. I am familiar with the Azek products, unfortunately they would need to be painted. Thanks anyway for the input.
I used Trex for trim on my Craftsman style home in 2000. It worked really well. In those days Trex was about the only synthetic material available. It does have quite a texture, which looked fine with the style of the home, but may not with a more refined style.
Thanks - I really appreciate the input. The people selling it around here didn't have any helpful ideas or suggestions one way or another.
Trex makes fascia for decks and such in most of it's colors. But be careful, it is very heavy and has no stiffness to speak of. I would be very reluctant to nail it up, screws would be a must and lots of them. You would also need to make sure your courners are absolutely straight and plumb as any variation will telegraph through the Trex. My yard has it available in 1/2"x4"x16', 1"x8"x12' and 1"x12"x12' it is NOT cheap.
As other have said, painted AZEK or KLEER are probably better choices.
Thanks for your input! You raise some important issues which, I suspect, would apply as well to deckboards that woulld be used as rake and corner boards. I still have some lingering doubts about how that stuff behaves in the heat and it does get hot here. Thanks again for responding.
What is the price on these composite 2x6s? Roughly how many do you need.? Could a 2x6 be paired with a 2x4 to make a corner board?
The price is hefty, which is why I am trying to look at all the angles before investing in them. Mating a 2 x4 with a 2 x6 on the corners is a good idea. I had not thought of that. That would reduce the cost some I am sure, but, alas, the price of the Holy Grail of "maintenance free" is going to be expensive. Thanks for responding.