I have been building in the northeast for some time, a lot of my work is located close to the shore or right on the water. With the idea to make the outside of the houses maintenance free, other than natural white cedar shingles left to age.
I use a lot of AZEK or similar trim. When I install trim in the summer, the trim shrinks up to 1/4″ in the colder months. I have glued each joint bonded each seam, but the shrinking still occurs. Is there some way to keep this from happening or is just not the perfect science yet.
Replies
Field:
That's the trade off with the PVC trim. You can minimize the gaps by using miter joints instead of butt joints. Otherwise, plan for as few joints as you can and expect movement. Glueing will only help when both pieces are moving equally. I wrapped deck railing posts on a project with glued Azek miter joints three years ago in NJ, and they are still tight. All four sides expand and contract equally.
John
Field,
I was just looking at all my Azek facia I put up last summer and sure enough just about every joint has opened up, mine are only 1/8" or so. I was thinking that maybe some caulk put in while the gaps are ther, but then what is going to happen when it heats up again :( I guess I will live with it.
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md