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Expansion and Contraction

Cellular PVC contracts in cold temperatures and expands in heat, so it’s  important that installers follows best practices to save any future maintenance from movement. These practices include:

  • Controlling movement at board joints – These joints should be glued to move expansion or contraction out to the end of a run. The  recommended number of fasteners for the board’s width should be used on both ends of the joint. Screws work best.
  • Southern exposures receive more light, causing greater expansions and contraction. Use more fasteners and wider expansion joints in these spots.
  • It is best to allow the PVC to acclimate to the outside temperature before installing, and ideal to install PVC when the outside temperature is 60-70°F.
  • Leaving an Expansion joint – Gaps should be left at the ends of boards every 18′ of run, or at inconspicuous joints. These gaps should never be completely filled with adhesive.

Sealants and Adhesives

Make sure the installer uses a recommended adhesive on longer runs of trim. The following allow maximum working time before dying and provide excellent bonds: Extreme Adhesive PVC TrimWelder™, Bond & Fill© Structural.

Sealants and adhesives alone are never enough to fasten trim to a home. Silicone and adhesives alone are never enough to fasten trim to a home. Silicone adhesives should not be used.

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Spanned Applications

Bead Board and Sheet are perfect for fascias, soffits and ceilings, but should never be used in load bearing situations. Installers should be familiar with local building codes before installing Bead Board and Sheet in spanned applications. Proper spacing and fastening is a must.

Filling Nail Holes

Nail holes should be filled with sealant designed for PVC products. No silicon caulk should be used. Once the sealant has set up, the hole should be sanded over for a smooth finish.

Painting

Painting cellular PVC isn’t required, but should an installer choose to, be sure to choose a 100% acrylic latex paint specifically designed to work with vinyl products. Darker colors can lead to heat distortion, so if decided to go dark, used a paint designed to counter this problem, such as Sherwin-Williams© VinylSafe™ paints. The surface of the trim should be clean and free of debris like dirt, oil, mold or mildew. An airless sprayer or paint gun system gives the most consistent finish. A roller or brush may also be used.

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Heat Bending

A cellular PVC trim can be heated and bent to form unique design elements like arches and curves. Pieces of trim wider than 6″ should not be heat bent. The process of heating Cellular PVC should be done carefully and gradually to prevent irregularity and discoloration.

Storage and Handling

Cellular PVC trim should be handled with care to avoid damage. It should be stored on a level surface before installation and protected from excessive heat. Storing on asphalt on a hot day can cause overheating, for example. If stored outside, the trim should be covered with a tarp to keep it clean and protected.

Cleaning

If the trim becomes dirty or stained, it can be cleaned with a mild soap and water mixture and a soft bristle brush. A nylon brush may be used to scrub stubborn stains.

Click here to download the Ply Gem Trim and Mouldings Installation Guide.

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