"God is in the details," one of several iconic phrases attributed to Mies van der Rohe, continues to haunt architects. Whether the meaning is a disguised plea for creating ornamentation for buildings or adding a few more inches to a roof overhang, details are where architects can and do make a difference. With today's focus on green materials, detailing needs to meet both an architectural design aesthetic and sustainability requirements. Specifying trim for use with fiber cement siding, is one instance where a knowledge of detailing can contribute to both.

Design Aesthetic

Manufactured to work as an integrated/complementary system with the major U.S. manufacturer of cementitious or fiber cement siding, extruded aluminum profiles are available in variety of choices. Their design, mostly driven by architects seeking cleaner details, adds a distinctive profile to interiors and exteriors of buildings. In addition, it breaks up the monotony of flat panel walls where the same siding products are used repeatedly. Installing aluminum trim rather than using wood trim or cutting and ripping fiber cement boards or panels is more convenient and saves time. "Using trim over panel joints becomes an architectural element and is a way of expressing the joints and defining their deliberate placement. It adds a level of architectural refinement," says Russell A. Hruska, AIA, principal and co-founder of Intexure Architects in Houston, Texas. In our climate, stucco often requires additional oversight to be correctly executed. Aluminum trim when used with fiber cement panels or lapped siding is more cost effective than stucco and provides long term durability while achieving our design aesthetic."