Builder wants window trim, architect says go trimless — rowhome. What would you do?

[Anonymous]

Listen to your builder, who is thinking about practicality and durability. Your architect is thinking about how a photo of the job will look on his website.

Most architects are idiots.

[Anonymous]

Trim.
Are you sure you want something this modern on the back of a dc row house? Seems too trendy and if you ever want to sell, you’re eliminating the majority of buyers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trim.
Are you sure you want something this modern on the back of a dc row house? Seems too trendy and if you ever want to sell, you’re eliminating the majority of buyers

Imagine being that first home on the block that enclosed their sleeping porch or added AC and being told the same thing lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Listen to your builder, who is thinking about practicality and durability. Your architect is thinking about how a photo of the job will look on his website.

Most architects are idiots.

Harsh, but architects do lack practical judgment -- a friend lives in a house previously built and occupied by an architect, who didn't like the look of gutters

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your builder isn't skilled enough to install it trimless and make it look good (and a lot of builders aren't, it's a more painstaking process), then you are better off with trim.

This. Just because somebody theoretically could make it look good, does not mean your builder can or will.

Also, my house (with trim) can sometimes get water in around the windows when the rain blows sideways as it so often does here. I'd at least ask about trimless performance in that situation - is it the same or worse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you black-and-white-ifying a 100-yr old home, stripping it of its original look and period-appropriate embellishments?

If so, go with the trimless windows so your home will be on trend and look like every single other renovation in the District. High end or cheap flip, doesn’t matter as long as it has that look of a Monopoly house

+1 Don't forget the black windows!

[Anonymous]

Unless you want water leaking in, use the trim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go with whatever is more waterproof.

Yes, you're looking for ease of maintenance, not a fleeting trend.

OP here.

About waterproofing — definitely agree that's priority #1. That said, my plans already call for:

* ZIP-R sheathing (integrated WRB + insulation)
* ZIP flashing system (tape and liquid flash)
* Rainscreen assembly (drainage mat)

So from what I understand, the actual waterproofing is handled at the sheathing layer, not the siding or exterior trim. The siding is essentially decorative and part of the outer cladding. The rainscreen adds a pressure-equalized drainage plane behind it.

Wouldn’t trim vs. no trim mostly impact appearance and install complexity—not true waterproofing—especially if the flashing is done right?

More than happy to hear pushback if I’m missing something.

I’m starting to think the builder prefers trim because it hides imperfect siding cuts and makes installation easier, whereas a trimless approach is more technical but aligns with the clean, modern and luxury look.

bulk water management should be done by the cladding (siding/trim) not by the drainage plane, which is a backup that manages drying of bulk water and moisture on the backside of the cladding

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your builder isn't skilled enough to install it trimless and make it look good (and a lot of builders aren't, it's a more painstaking process), then you are better off with trim.

This. Just because somebody theoretically could make it look good, does not mean your builder can or will.

Also, my house (with trim) can sometimes get water in around the windows when the rain blows sideways as it so often does here. I'd at least ask about trimless performance in that situation - is it the same or worse?

I think this has more to do with what's under your trim (lack of rain screen and WRB) rather than the siding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go with whatever is more waterproof.

Yes, you're looking for ease of maintenance, not a fleeting trend.

OP here.

About waterproofing — definitely agree that's priority #1. That said, my plans already call for:

* ZIP-R sheathing (integrated WRB + insulation)
* ZIP flashing system (tape and liquid flash)
* Rainscreen assembly (drainage mat)

So from what I understand, the actual waterproofing is handled at the sheathing layer, not the siding or exterior trim. The siding is essentially decorative and part of the outer cladding. The rainscreen adds a pressure-equalized drainage plane behind it.

Wouldn’t trim vs. no trim mostly impact appearance and install complexity—not true waterproofing—especially if the flashing is done right?

More than happy to hear pushback if I’m missing something.

I’m starting to think the builder prefers trim because it hides imperfect siding cuts and makes installation easier, whereas a trimless approach is more technical but aligns with the clean, modern and luxury look.

bulk water management should be done by the cladding (siding/trim) not by the drainage plane, which is a backup that manages drying of bulk water and moisture on the backside of the cladding

That's simply not true in modern homes. The primary water management strategy is the drainage plane — i.e., the fully sealed ZIP-R layer behind a ventilated rainscreen. The siding and trim are part of a screened cladding system — they shed most bulk water, yes, but the actual waterproofing happens at the sheathing layer.

That’s why products like ZIP, Delta-Vent SA, or even Prosoco liquid systems are used with open-joint claddings and rainscreens. They’re built to handle water intrusion behind the siding and dry quickly, which wouldn’t be possible if the siding was expected to be watertight on its own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go with whatever is more waterproof.

Yes, you're looking for ease of maintenance, not a fleeting trend.

OP here.

About waterproofing — definitely agree that's priority #1. That said, my plans already call for:

* ZIP-R sheathing (integrated WRB + insulation)
* ZIP flashing system (tape and liquid flash)
* Rainscreen assembly (drainage mat)

So from what I understand, the actual waterproofing is handled at the sheathing layer, not the siding or exterior trim. The siding is essentially decorative and part of the outer cladding. The rainscreen adds a pressure-equalized drainage plane behind it.

Wouldn’t trim vs. no trim mostly impact appearance and install complexity—not true waterproofing—especially if the flashing is done right?

More than happy to hear pushback if I’m missing something.

I’m starting to think the builder prefers trim because it hides imperfect siding cuts and makes installation easier, whereas a trimless approach is more technical but aligns with the clean, modern and luxury look.

bulk water management should be done by the cladding (siding/trim) not by the drainage plane, which is a backup that manages drying of bulk water and moisture on the backside of the cladding

That's simply not true in modern homes. The primary water management strategy is the drainage plane — i.e., the fully sealed ZIP-R layer behind a ventilated rainscreen. The siding and trim are part of a screened cladding system — they shed most bulk water, yes, but the actual waterproofing happens at the sheathing layer.

That’s why products like ZIP, Delta-Vent SA, or even Prosoco liquid systems are used with open-joint claddings and rainscreens. They’re built to handle water intrusion behind the siding and dry quickly, which wouldn’t be possible if the siding was expected to be watertight on its own.

This is why modern stuff is terrible and doesn’t last. The old, sturdier ways are better. Modern is designed without practicality in mind, or to fail so you need to redo it in 20 years. Avoid stupid errors like relying on marketing from product salesmen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your builder isn't skilled enough to install it trimless and make it look good (and a lot of builders aren't, it's a more painstaking process), then you are better off with trim.

A lot of designers are artists, not technicians, and have no clue on what is structurally sound or best, just what is prettiest.

I would trust the builder over the designer on this one, especially since it involves making your home watertight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trim.
Are you sure you want something this modern on the back of a dc row house? Seems too trendy and if you ever want to sell, you’re eliminating the majority of buyers

Imagine being that first home on the block that enclosed their sleeping porch or added AC and being told the same thing lol.

The modern renovations are soooo ugly, and have a staying power of about 5 years before they will look dated and undesirable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you black-and-white-ifying a 100-yr old home, stripping it of its original look and period-appropriate embellishments?

If so, go with the trimless windows so your home will be on trend and look like every single other renovation in the District. High end or cheap flip, doesn’t matter as long as it has that look of a Monopoly house

+1 Don't forget the black windows!

And steel wire railings!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you black-and-white-ifying a 100-yr old home, stripping it of its original look and period-appropriate embellishments?

If so, go with the trimless windows so your home will be on trend and look like every single other renovation in the District. High end or cheap flip, doesn’t matter as long as it has that look of a Monopoly house

+1 Don't forget the black windows!

And steel wire railings!

I actually like steel wire railings (the look) although i've never had them myself.