Exterior trim repair: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What exterior trim repair is

Exterior trim repair replaces or fixes rotted, cracked or loose trim around windows, doors, corners and eaves. It treats the cause of the damage, then the trim is primed, caulked and painted to protect it. People call when trim is soft, pulling away or flaking, or when water is getting in behind a window or door.

Signs you need it

  • Soft wood on window or door casings that gives when pressed with a screwdriver
  • Corner boards that have split, cupped or pulled away from the wall
  • Peeling paint and bare wood on sills, headers or door trim that faces the weather
  • Gaps between trim and siding, or caulk that has cracked and let water in
  • Water stains or dampness on the wall or interior trim beside a window or door

What the pro does

  • Probe the trim and the wall around it to find soft wood, and check for water coming from the window, door or roof edge
  • Remove the damaged trim carefully, leaving the wall and the flashing behind it undisturbed where possible
  • Check the window or door flashing, the sill pan and the wall behind the trim, and repair them before the new trim goes on
  • Install new trim, or a repaired piece, with joints caulked and nails set and filled
  • Prime all cut and new surfaces, caulk the joints, and paint the trim to protect it from the weather

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Number of windows, doors, corners and eaves that need trim work
  • Trim material, such as wood, fiber cement, PVC or composite, each with different cutting and fastening needs
  • Extent of rot in the trim and in any sheathing or framing behind it
  • Whether the window or door flashing must be redone to stop the water
  • Height and access, including second-story windows and tall corners
  • Profile match for the existing trim, including decorative or custom shapes
  • Paint or finish needed, including primer and the number of coats

What a written quote should spell out

  • Each trim piece listed by location, with the material and profile named
  • Rot repair in the wall or sheathing shown as a separate line, with photos
  • Flashing and sill pan repair at each window or door, listed by opening
  • Primer, caulk and paint type, with the number of coats on new and existing trim
  • Profile match method, and whether a custom piece is needed
  • Cleanup and removal of old trim and debris from the work area

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What trim material are you using, and how does it handle the sun and rain on this side of the house?
  • Will you check the flashing and sill pan at each window or door before you replace the trim?
  • How do you match the profile of my existing trim, and what if the profile is discontinued?
  • What primer and paint do you use, and how many coats go on each new piece?
  • How do you seal the joints where the trim meets the siding and the window?
  • Who is on the ladder or lift for the second-story windows?
  • Will you show me the rot you found before you replace the wood behind it?

Red flags

  • New trim nailed over rotted wood, with the rot left in place behind it
  • Caulk used as the only fix on a trim joint that has water getting in
  • Trim installed with no primer on the cut ends or back surfaces
  • No check of the window or door flashing before the trim goes on
  • A quote with no line for the flashing or the sill pan repair

What you can do yourself

You can safely probe trim from the ground with a screwdriver, photograph gaps and cracks, and repaint sound trim you can reach from the ground after priming any bare wood. Do not work on a ladder to remove second-story trim, and do not pry out a window or door trim without checking the flashing behind it. Call a pro for rot, water behind the trim, or any work above ground reach.

Licenses and permits

Exterior trim repair is commonly done by licensed general or exterior contractors, and flashing, framing or sheathing repairs can need a permit. Check your state and local licensing and building office requirements.

Exterior trim repair questions

Can soft trim be painted and saved?

Not if the wood is soft all the way through. Paint over soft wood holds moisture and the rot continues. A pro should replace the trim and fix what caused the rot.

Why does trim keep rotting around one window?

Usually the flashing or sill pan under the window has failed, so water runs behind the trim. A pro should check that flashing before replacing the trim again.

Can I use PVC trim instead of wood?

Often, yes. PVC does not rot the way wood does, but it still needs proper fastening, sealing and paint for the look you want. Ask the pro how they cut and fasten it.

How do I stop the caulk from cracking?

Use a sealant suited to the trim material and paint, clean and dry the joint first, and size the bead to the joint the way the sealant maker directs. Replace caulk that has pulled away instead of adding more on top.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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