Whether your home is situated in a neighborhood of complementary styles or standing tall on its own, it’s the details that increase its curb appeal. From the color of your door to the trim on your windows, these details personalize the look of your home and the feeling you want to convey when visitors approach.
Many homeowners believe that they can’t have these personalizations if they have vinyl siding. At Advanced Roofing & Siding, Inc., we’re here to assure Minnesota homeowners that this is a myth. Yes, you can install beautiful accents of your choice with vinyl siding. We’ve gathered some vinyl siding window trim ideas as well as some vinyl siding accessories that you can use to brighten and personalize the look of your home.
Explore the Possibilities: Vinyl Siding Accessories
Vinyl siding accessories provide a look of completion and elegance to your home. Most homeowners aren’t familiar with the construction terminology or the availability of vinyl accessories on their homes, let alone how they can customize those features. Your options include:
- Soffits: The soffit is the vinyl siding beneath the eaves of your roof. You can change the look of your home by adding accent color soffits, rather than using the same color as the siding. Be sure to monitor your soffits to keep them free of mold and avoid air circulation issues, especially in your attic. Soffits cover the beams of your rafters.
- Cedar Shake Siding: You’ve probably seen cedar shake siding on coastal homes by the Great Lakes or along the coasts. Some homeowners cover homes completely in cedar shake siding, especially near the beach. However, contemporary trends point towards using cedar shake siding as complementary accents with vinyl siding options.
- Fascia Coverings: Fascia is the end covering of the rafters. The fascia supports the rain gutters. It’s also another opportunity to use color creatively, especially when you update or repair this vital structure.
These accessories are also made of vinyl, so like the siding, they are maintenance-free. You can replace just soffits and fascia boards with vinyl, and then convert to vinyl siding at a later date. There’s a lot to think about, but depending on your practical needs, the look you want, and your budget, we can put together a complete design that works for you.
Complete Your Home’s Look With Vinyl Siding Window Trim
One of the best ways to customize the appearance of your home is to add vinyl siding window trim. You have several options, all of which can fit atop vinyl siding or another exterior:
- Scallops: These embellishments are popular on Victorian-era homes, usually around doors, windows, and roofs. They present not just a flair, but an architectural flow and direction, helping visitors appreciate the real beauty of your home. Current trends indicate using scallops on more modern dwellings, especially in houses with peaked roofs or turrets.
- Painted Trim: Traditional, straight lines emphasize the architecture and style of your window, and come in a variety of colors.
- Shutters: Does your home have a cottage look? Adding traditional shutters (whether functional or decorative) can emphasize that cozy feel. And yes, you can do this with vinyl siding accessories. These elements frame your windows. If you select functional shutters, you can also close some of them in the winter to preserve more heat, assuming you have windows that function accordingly. You can go with one of several different style types, including:
- Raised panel shutters: These come in a variety of styles, and can look very old world or contemporary. They’re simple and come in vinyl materials. Raised panel shutters also have depth, making them ideal for sun-facing homes in need of more detail and full ambiance.
- Louvered shutters: This shutter style is the most popular in America. The slats in the shutters provide a sense of warmth and welcome, and will let in a breeze if closed in the summer with an open window behind.
- Board and batten shutters: Board and batten shutters provide bolder coverage on either side of your window. These vinyl replicas have a wood-like texture and a crossover pattern for variety. They make any home appear more stately.
Combo or hybrid shutters: Got an expressive personality? Can’t decide between two shutter styles? Combo shutters let you have the best of both worlds. The most popular combo is a raised panel and louvered shutter combo.
The Many Advantages of Vinyl Accessories
Remember: even if you don’t have vinyl siding, vinyl window trim and other vinyl accessories can work for your home. They look like wood, but they’re more durable and long-lasting, with less chance of mold, rot, and insect damage.
Like vinyl siding, vinyl accessories also last longer and are more resistant to fading compared to traditional painted or stained siding. They’re comparatively better at withstanding extreme weather (including harsh Minnesota winters), and they are better for the environment in terms of production and labor. Vinyl products also pass the test: they’re internationally rated for safety and durability.
Overall, vinyl products look great and protect your home. Since we also do roofs, we’re able to aesthetically (and budget-consciously) pair your vinyl siding, vinyl accessories, and other exterior home details with the look of your roof. Our free inspection can cover both siding and roofing since housing elements work best when considered cohesively.
Lastly, vinyl products are manufactured in a variety of colors and do not need painting. If you need to replace a piece of siding, the process is easy and does not require paint-matching.