Decorative Trim Enhances Outdoor Living

7/14/2005

When it comes to enhancing their home's exterior, homeowners are putting their best face backward. Backyards have become the newest focal point of the home, meeting a range of needs from entertaining to recreation and personal relaxation. Improved outdoor spaces serve as a canvas for personal expression on a home. Features like ponds, pools, fountains, fireplaces, grilling centers and hot tubs have become the hallmark of today's well-appointed yard.

It's no wonder that homeowners are dressing up the back of their home with architectural details formerly reserved for the front. Features such as shutters, window headers, door surrounds and dentil trim give residents and guests an aesthetically pleasing perspective from all vantage points.

According to Roan DelVero of Mid-America Building Products, decorative exterior trim use is growing as people strive to distinguish their home from their neighbors'.

"Especially in newer developments with similar-style homes, using color with trim can make one house distinct from another," he says.

Decorative exterior trim products are available in a range of colors, styles and sizes. Popular options in decorative exterior trim include:

Windows

At one time, shutters served two primary functional roles -- to provide security and reduce the effects of inclement weather. Today, shutters have a primarily decorative role. Different styles convey contemporary, traditional or rustic feels. Want to add a splash of color? Shutters can help do that also. Shutters can match house trim, add a complementary color or go wild with a paintable surface. For that final architectural detail, finish off windows with window headers or sunbursts. Mid-America offers a range of colors to match shutters or complement trim or siding.

Doors

The door to the backyard may be the most-used entrance. That's why it should look as warm and welcoming as the front door. If the door to the deck or patio looks like an afterthought, consider a door surround. A door surround "frames" a door, with pilasters that run vertically on each side and a header that runs horizontally along the top of the door.

Walls

Custom opportunities don't stop with windows and doors. Dentil trim adds architectural interest to rooflines. Square-tooth or scalloped profiles are among the most popular options.