Innovative Wall Surfacing with Trim

Regardless of the building type, among the first surfaces that people experience in an interior space are the walls. They can be as simple and understated as white painted gypsum board or as elaborate and detailed as a designer’s imagination allows.

All the while, interior walls need to be easy to maintain and clean over the life of the building. With this in mind, many interior designers lean toward a simpler, more elegant wall surface solution with a clean, modern look and minimalistic details. Others select certain walls to feature added detailing and trim to create a total aesthetic. Achieving any of these looks typically involves panels of some sort, such as gypsum board or other rigid materials with reveals or trim around the edges. That trim can be metal, wood, or other suitable choices to frame and accentuate a wall surface while protecting and aligning the panels.

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Aluminum trim systems can create simple but stunning profiles for innovative wall surfaces. They can provide base and corner protection or produce vertical, diagonal, or horizontal drywall designs.

Benefits of Extruded Aluminum

Material performance and sustainability are two top requirements in modern interior design. This applies to everything from design to materials, and in the case of trim, extruded aluminum is one of the top materials. Not only does aluminum have numerous sustainability features, but it also has performance characteristics that make it an affordable choice for interior projects.

Extruded aluminum is frequently referred to as the “miracle metal” because it has such an extensive list of favorable properties, including physical and health characteristics (it is durable, doesn’t rust, poses no health or physical hazards, and is fire resistant and noncombustible). Furthermore, when used for interior architectural purposes, aluminum trim can withstand daily use and long-term wear and tear better than most other materials, as well as being lightweight and easy to install.

All this, combined with its sustainability features (aluminum products can help earn LEED v4 certification) and versatile aesthetic and design, make extruded aluminum ideal for many building applications.

Aluminum Trim Pieces

In fact, one increasingly popular method of dealing with finish panels on wall surfaces is the inclusion of manufactured trim pieces made of aluminum. Products are readily available that are designed to be used with drywall, panels, or in conjunction with wrapped surface finishes, such as fabric or vinyl wall coverings. They are available in a variety of traditional, contemporary, and modern looks to create subdued or emphatic three-dimensional appearances. As noted, since aluminum is highly durable, recyclable, lightweight, and noncombustible, it is a popular and logical choice for interior trim of this type. Its strength helps provide wall protection when used for corners and other areas that need some reinforcement. In that sense, it is a good example of a well-known material that can be used in innovative ways for interior designs.

In addition to standard products, custom profiles can be made to not only accommodate particular styles but also to hold other materials, such as glass, tile, or panels in a variety of thicknesses. Some manufacturers offer customized service and designs to architects and will readily meet to discuss design ideas and solutions. This service is not only centered on aesthetic issues but also on technical and performance issues of the trim related to its ability to hold up over time. The results can be profiles that are project specific or part of a mass-production selection, such as aluminum extrusions of simple reveals and transitions to improve and enhance drywall surfaces. It can also include new shapes and forms that introduce the appearance of fine-crafted metal integrated with drywall and panelized surfaces. Part of the beauty of aluminum extrusions is that they are very economical, meaning that they can more easily be incorporated into projects.

The unique design possibilities of this trim approach can create clean lines, shadow lines, or reveals that make a wall surface stand out as part of an interior space. It is also possible to create rounded corners, smooth transitions, or other shapes that enhance the overall design of the space in ways that wouldn’t be possible with traditional wall-surfacing techniques. Economical aluminum trims are available in a primed finish for painting in the field or prefinished in common anodized aluminum colors, such as clear, champagne, bronze, and black.

Wayne Braun, an interior designer with a leading firm in Houston, has worked with manufacturers on designs of this type and created some very successful interiors in the process. He notes, “The manufacturer has introduced the appearance of fine metal craft integrated with drywall and panelized surfaces at a fraction of the cost of having custom metalwork designed, detailed, and fabricated for a project.” Needless to say, it is easy to see why his firm is able to continue to innovate with this wall surface and trim approach.

Designers like Braun have also found that to be fully successful, a design needs to address all of the conditions and details of wall surfaces. That includes the wall base, corners, top edge, and any openings or variations. In that regard, they find that working with a single manufacturer who can provide all of the needed trim pieces in a coordinated system is a big key to success. Maybe just as importantly, being able to work out the details using a consistent and proven system means that innovation is possible without taking on undue design risk.

Extruded Aluminum Trim Gaining Popularity for Interiors

While extruded aluminum trim has become a popular material for a building’s exterior—usually as cladding or a facade—it is also increasingly being used indoors to change the face of drywall construction. Extruded aluminum trim provides a high-quality, practical material that can be used to create a featured design and focus in a space. The variety of shapes, forms, and profiles provides designers with a material that has the appearance of fine metal craft and can be seamlessly integrated with drywall and panelized surfaces for significantly less than custom metalwork. Moreover, extruded aluminum trim is easy to install. It provides a clean look and works well with modern designs.

To this point, Dan Brunn of Dan Brunn Architecture was looking for the perfect finishing solution for all of the firm’s modern building needs, such as work done on Bridge House in Los Angeles. He says, “I love the unique extrusions to create light pockets and that perfect reveal.”

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Detailing needs to meet an architectural design aesthetic along with meeting durability and sustainability requirements. Extruded aluminum trim interior products can help meet all of these needs.

DETAILS AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AESTHETICS: WORKING WITH DRYWALL IN MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS

The practice of using ⅝-inch-thick drywall on metal studs is still considered one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to define interior spaces. It’s simple to install and also easy to remove. Not surprisingly, it is very popular in projects where designers and architects face the challenges of balancing cost, schedules, and client design goals. Multifamily residential projects are no exception.

When it comes to drywall interiors, multifamily residential projects have a unique set of challenges. In particular, these buildings are subject to much more wear and tear than single-family homes because of frequent occupant turnover. When tenants move in and out of the units, there inevitably will be drywall damage from oversized items that puncture walls, chip corners, damage overhead archways, and otherwise impact the wall surface. Repairing or replacing damaged surfaces can be costly, but leaving them untreated reflects poorly on the overall property. The trick is to design the space with materials that provide modern architectural design aesthetics while accounting for the bumps, bashes, and dents that come with tenants. One area where designers can keep drywall looking good is trim details.

Trim products in general are made of a wide variety of materials depending on the application. Some of the more commonly used materials include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), wood, rubber, and aluminum. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages, and some trim materials are better for certain applications than others—some are also more costly than others, and so they may not be the best choice for multifamily residential projects. When it comes to cost-effectiveness and durability, though, extruded aluminum trim offers a sleek, modern aesthetic that can help multifamily residential projects keep costs down.

As an interior design material, extruded aluminum trim is considered a top performer for many reasons, but particularly because it is lightweight, inexpensive, and aesthetically pleasing. This material is versatile and can be used in place of more expensive metals to provide high-quality details on drywall surfaces that both meet a designer’s aesthetic eye and protect drywall with a strong, durable material. Extruded aluminum is also easy to install, which can drastically reduce project times and costs compared to more custom metalwork.

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Extruded aluminum trim is lightweight and easy to install, and it greatly enhances both the aesthetic design and performance of a drywall surface.

Many developers are taking on a “resident-first” tactic to project design, and that approach includes elements of a new modern design aesthetic.

One trend that lends itself well to extruded aluminum trim is “mixed-material” design. Millennials in particular tend to be happy to mix older, more rustic materials with sleek, modern looks. Aluminum trim is versatile enough that it can accomplish either look: a clear anodized finish, for example, can keep the natural metal look, or a custom powder coating can add a splash of color into a space of plain drywall.

Also worth considering is dwelling size. Baby boomers are in their downsizing stage of life, and millennials tend to be minimalists, so both demographics benefit from creative techniques that can fit added design features into the structure of the space. Walls that look like they are floating or with deliberate shadow lines built in, for example, can add a unique look to a small apartment or condominium unit. This attention to detail can make a multifamily project stand out from other buildings and help draw tenants. The variety of aluminum trim profiles and finishes can play an important role in a design while keeping projects within a fixed income or renter budget.

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Millennials and baby boomers make up the highest percentage of multifamily residential occupants. Extruded aluminum trim interiors can meet the modern design aesthetics of both generations and everyone in between.