Installation Guide

No home is maintenance

-free. Every building is subject to wear and tear from weather conditions and

occupant usage. All building components have a design service life, which may be affected by

environmental conditions and installation and maintenance measures. All building components require

regular inspections and scheduled maintenance to maximize their performance and service life. The

maintenance instructions set out below provide some guidelines for such inspections and maintenance. If

any damage to trim occurs due to the homeowner’s failure to follow proper maintenance procedures, or to

mitigate any damage, including damage caused by water penetration, the damage is excluded.

EXTERIOR PAINT:

Exterior paint is applied primarily to protect the wood substrate. Paint coatings increase the durability of

the Trim and must be checked annually for wear including cracking and peeling. Damage to the paint film

must be corrected immediately. Trim installed on the south and west sides are subject to the most

weathering, and dark or bright colors fade more rapidly on these exposures. Wood siding and trim require

re-coating whenever the surface begins to fade, discolor, or peel. Primed Trim Boards should be

repainted in accordance with the paint manufacturer’s written instructions. Trim should be painted with

the best available acrylic latex coating applied at the manufacturer’s recommended spread rates.

CLEANING:

Remove dirt from the trim with a mild detergent, a gentle brush and a garden hose. Never use a pressure

washer to clean the trim. Excessive water pressure can cause damage to the surface of the wood, and force

water into the wall cavity.

Over time, mildew and moss can grow on a shaded surface on any type of trim. A mild solution of bleach

and water may remove this growth. Wall surfaces should be washed from the bottom upwards; otherwise,

the lower portions of the wall will become excessively stained as they absorb the contaminants washing

down from above.

FLASHING:

Flashing redirects water away from the face of the building and allows water to drain from behind the

exterior wall finish. Flashing is normally installed at junctions of dissimilar materials and above door and

window openings. Flashing may also be installed at each floor level to anticipate movement in the

exterior finish as the building settles. Flashing requires periodic washing to remove grime and re-painting

if corrosion of metal appears. Upon installation, flashing is sloped downwards to the outer edge in order

to drain water. If, with building settlement, flashings begin to slope upward towards the building, repairs

should be made to correct the slope that, ideally, should be 30o.

NAILS:

Rusty nails indicate one of the following:

1. That the wrong nails were used.

2. The protective coating of the nail has broken down.

3. The wood is being subjected to prolonged periods of water.*

*If water is soaking into the wood trim, the moisture source must be eliminated and the trim checked for

water damage. If the trim was installed by counter sinking nails, the sealant used to fill nail holes should

also be checked. If it has fallen out, the holes must be filled with an exterior grade wood putty sealant

designed for filling nail holes. Rust should be scraped & a corrosion resistant coating should be applied to

the nail heads. After it has dried, the holes should be filled.