4 Reasons Why You Need Exterior Trim Repairs

Of all the things homeowners need to worry about when it comes to the care and maintenance of our homes, trim is probably not very high on the list. After all, why worry about something that's just there for cosmetic purposes and hardly makes a difference?

Hold on just a moment, there! That trim does a lot more than just sit there looking pretty. It has important functionality that protects your house from costly damage, and when it is damaged, it can't carry out its duty to protect your home.

But what exactly qualifies as "exterior trim," anyway? And why is it so important to keep it in good condition? We'll cover four reasons that will hopefully convince you to give it the tender, loving care it deserves.

When you're ready to find top-rated exterior trim repair services, you need to look no further than Mr. Handyman of Frisco for a team of handyman service professionals who take great pride in providing excellent quality workmanship and superior customer service on every single job.

What Is Exterior Trim?

Typically, this category includes parts of the exterior of your home such as the window frames and door frames that trim the house and make it look complete and polished. Some styles of home, such as Victorian, have more elaborate elements such as corbels, scalloped gables, spindles, and shutters. It's almost always made of wood, even on houses built with brick or vinyl facing.

Fascia and soffit boards are sometimes included in the category as well. Fascia is the board that runs along the outer edge of your roof overhang, parallel to the wall, and it's usually where the rain gutters are attached. The soffit is the board underneath the overhang (it's the part you see when you stand under the edge of the roof and look straight up) and is usually ventilated.

Why It's Important to Repair Your Trim

What can a little piece of wood do to protect your home? Actually, it does a lot more than most people would suspect. Here are some key reasons why it should always be kept in decent condition:

1. Protect Against Water Damage

Anyone who has had to deal with walls full of mold and mildew, or an attic with rotting roof beams, knows how critically important it is to keep moisture away from the interior of your house structure. Your trim is actually a first line of defense against water, which can leak through window frames and door frames or enter the roof through the damaged fascia and soffit boards, causing a serious structural integrity issue.

2. Stop Wood Rot From Spreading

Wood rot is decay caused by fungi that thrive in damp timber with a moisture content of 20% or higher. This means that wood on the exterior of your house, where it's often exposed to dampness, is especially vulnerable to rot.

While it's expected that rot will eventually affect exterior trim unless it's rigorously maintained regularly with a fresh coat of paint and sealant, many homeowners don't know that it can spread from the exterior to internal parts of your walls and beyond.

The fungus is alive and therefore will continue to seek new timber to infest. Some varieties of fungus, called brown rot or dry rot, don't even need to be adjacent to the new timber—they are capable of traveling across or through materials such as masonry or plaster.

This means wood rot that is allowed to fester on trim is not just unsightly—it's a threat to the stability of your home and, if allowed to spread, can cause damage that will be much more expensive and time-consuming to repair.

3. Save Money By Maintaining Instead of Replacing

Doing regular maintenance on your trim can feel like an unpleasant chore with little reward, but there's no doubt that the investment of time and money you put into maintaining it will be far less than the cost of a major replacement to correct years of neglect.

According to The Washington Post, delaying exterior trim upkeep could cost you big bucks. The article notes that "the cost to belatedly fix exterior trim could be twice as much as what it would have been had the owner tended to the painting and caulking all along."

You may be thinking, "I don't have the time or ability to climb up on a ladder once per year and spend my weekend maintaining trim." That's okay! Mr. Handyman can take care of your annual maintenance so you can rest easy knowing you won't have to deal with a massive repair bill in the future.

4. Increase the Value of Your Home

This should be a huge consideration if you're thinking of selling your house in the next few years. Even if you're not, it's a good idea to keep up with repairs that will help fetch a higher price when you do bring your property onto the market.

You may think exterior trim doesn't do much to boost your curb appeal (can you even see it from the curb!?) but when buyers make the trek to your front door, they will absolutely notice rotten framing, peeling paint, and other signs of disrepair. Then comes the home inspection; damage to fascia and soffit boards, or crumbling window casings, are red flags that can cause the home inspector to give your house a thumbs down.

Rely on Mr. Handyman for Exterior Trim Repair on Your Frisco Home!

Convinced that keeping your trim maintained is important, but not sure where to start? The experts at Mr. Handyman of Frisco are committed to finding the best solutions for all your exterior home projects. Complete customer satisfaction is our goal!

Pick up the phone and give us a call, or book an appointment online, and we'll be at your door in no time to get your home looking and functioning at its best!