Q: I’ve seen lots of painted synthetic trim, but will wood stain work with the woodgrain-style of synthetic products?
A: Check the trim manufacturer’s recommendations. Companies such as Fypon offer woodgrain urethane pieces with a neutral colored primer coat that accepts both paint and non-penetrating stain in any color. And unlike wood, these synthetic materials require no sanding between coats or sealing of the pieces once the stain is applied, which saves a lot of time, labor and materials. Most importantly, urethane trim doesn’t deteriorate from temperature extremes or humidity levels. This makes the material ideal for applications in kitchens and bathrooms inside the home, and for all areas on the outside.
PVC is a different type of synthetic material called a thermoplastic polymer. PVC trim products must be finished with a paint—one with a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 54 percent or higher. Today, there are many specially formulated paint systems that even allow dark paint colors to be applied to PVC with low heat absorption.
