The buildings material industry is a multiple-billion dollar business, with companies from large (like 3M) to small constantly innovating and releasing new products that are less expensive, more durable and increasingly aesthetically pleasing. You have more options than ever before to decorate your home, so how do you choose? There are a few key factors to consider when selecting your exterior trim, like what finished look do you want? How long will it last while exposed to the elements?

There are dozens of types of "looks" available when it comes to exterior trim. There is the classical wood and precast concrete window trim, but as is evident from any old building these will rot, decay or crumble over time. Many plastic-based materials have come out over the years as well - imitating the wood look, but still giving off a cheap, plastic look like it was meant for a barbie playhouse. The clear winner when it comes to aesthetics are stucco or "EIFS" exterior trims - styrofoam-core moldings layered with mesh and a specially modified cement coating. While they look like intensely expensive concrete trim and can imitate and even exceed any design shape, they are priced at a fraction of the cost. This EIFS trim works well over any siding - brick, stone, precast, ICF, stucco, EIFS, wood and vinyl.

So how long should exterior trims last? Wood trim has many natural enemies - insects like to use it as a home as well as a supply of food, mold and rot are a factor of the amount of moisture the wood is exposed to, and because of the nature of the material it can warp over time, leaving unsightly gaps. Solid concrete trim is another option, but is so heavy that it cracks over time from it's own internal stresses. Other plastic-based materials last years at times, but are susceptible to UV rays and lack design flexibility.

Again, EIFS trim comes out on top. Having been developed in the Canadian climate, and tested on Las Vegas buildings, these exterior trim are impervious to all types of weather. All the materials used on this composite trim are biologically inert, meaning they can not support life, whether it is pesky insects or harmful mold. Additionally, while looking like precast concrete, it lacks the weight of solid concrete; and as such it will not crumble under it's own weight. The layer of reinforcing fiberglass mesh, 2 layers of specially reinforced cement and beautiful final coating protects these products from decades of exposure to the elements.