Guide to Building Porch Trim

Choosing a Style

• The first decision to make before building porch trim is the style you want to emulate. Some types of homes have specific porch trim styles that are most common. For example, homes in the American Craftsman style typically feature painted porch trim that matches the simple lines of exposed roof beams. A Victorian home, with more ornate features, would likely look best with similarly ornate porch trim such as a series of beaded rails. Trim may include running trim along the edge of the porch roof, rail trim along handrails, or trim that covers the structural rim around the porch floor.

Selecting Materials

• Wood and vinyl are the two most common materials for porch trim. If your home has vinyl siding, vinyl trim may offer a perfect match. Wood trim is easier to make yourself from raw lumber. Both materials are suitable for painting, though you can stain wood trim to show off its natural grain pattern and give your home a rustic or natural look. Hardwood and pressure-treated lumber will offer the best protection for outdoor use if you prefer wood to vinyl.

Constructing Trim

• Prefabricated trim comes in standard lengths, which you can cut to size using a miter box and saw. If you decide to build your own trim from raw lumber, use a table saw with an adjustable, tilting blade to cut away wood and create a rough design. Use sandpaper or a power sander to smooth the edges of the trim, especially pieces that will attach to porch and stair railings that people will handle often. If you choose to use pressure-treated lumber, wear breathing protection to avoid inhaling the chemicals that cutting and sanding produces.

Installation

• The process for installing porch trim depends on the type of porch you have and the materials you use. Nail wooden trim in place directly to the finished edge of the porch rim, posts and roof fascia. Vinyl trim may require you to first install brackets, which the trim will hang from. While you may find it easier to paint trim before installing it, you will also want to touch up the corners, fill nail holes and repair damage from installation once all the trim is in place.