Smooth trim adds clean lines.
Fiber cement trim planks have an advantage over wood in that they are weather tight and available prefinished in a variety of colors. The Hardie board brand has the added advantage of being available in a larger selection of styles, textures and sizes than regular wood trim. Though not as cheap as rough stock, Hardie board products cost a fraction of the price of stain-quality wood. Replacing your trim doesn't have to be about simply putting up what you took down -- use the opportunity to get creative and change the look of your house for the better.
Smooth and Modern
The smooth HardieTrim boards provide a clean, contemporary look suitable for most home styles. The nontextured surface is less likely to collect dirt, making it an ideal choice for low-maintenance white trim. Use smaller widths to keep the trim inconspicuous, or use wide planks to add a new visual line to the angles of your house -- this look is particularly effective on houses with low-pitched roofs, which can look plain with small trim.
Rustic Wood Grain
The is textured to mimic the look of wood grain without sacrificing moisture resistance. Ideal for rustic homes, farmhouses and arts-and-crafts style homes, the wood grain turns the trim into a focal point if there is no other wood texture present on your house. To carry the look further, use the Rustic HardieTrim around windows and doors as well as along the roof. This look works better in rural rather than in urban settings, where it may come off as gimmicky.
Crown Molding
If you have a colonial-style home that needs a special touch, Hardie Trim comes in a crown molding style that is just as weather resistant as the planks made for exterior use. This style is better for light-colored trim because a dark color could cause the profile to not be visible from a distance. Although the crown molding looks nice when used on the roof and around doors and windows, if your home has a large amount of trim, limit the trim to either the roof or the doors and windows. Otherwise, the competing lines from the trim profile, the roof shape, and the locations and shapes of openings will create a visual clutter.
Get Fancy
There's no law that says you must use Hardie Board in the form you bought it in. If you are skilled with a jigsaw, experiment with cutting your own design into the edge of the board. A scalloped pattern would perfectly suit a Victorian home, while a subdued wave would add charm to a beach cottage. Avoid strong patterns that aren't normally found in architecture -- while a is classic, a zig-zag or saw tooth pattern may be a bit abrupt.
Tags: your house, doors windows, Hardie board, Rustic HardieTrim, scalloped pattern