1. Window Wraps

Window trim is probably one of the most recognizable uses for a siding brake.

Existing windows come in countless sizes, depths, and configurations. A brake allows the installer to fabricate aluminum trim around the actual dimensions of the opening.

Depending on the installation, custom pieces can be fabricated for the window sill, jambs, head, and surrounding exterior trim.

Clean, consistent window wraps can make a dramatic difference in the finished appearance of a siding project, particularly on homes with many windows.

2. Door Trim

Entry doors create many of the same challenges as windows.

Existing brickmould, jamb projections, thresholds, sidelites, and surrounding trim can vary considerably from one house to another.

Brake-formed aluminum gives installers the ability to fabricate trim around the actual door opening instead of depending entirely on standard-width components.

This can be especially useful when coordinating a replacement door with a new siding system.

3. Fascia Covers

Fascia is one of the most visible long-line details on a home's exterior.

Because fascia boards can vary in width and configuration, a brake allows the crew to fabricate covers based on the dimensions of the existing roofline.

Consistent bends and properly planned joints can help create cleaner transitions between the fascia, soffit, roofline, and siding.

On a large exterior, straight fascia lines can have a major impact on the overall finished appearance.

4. Rake Board Covers

Rake boards follow the angled roofline along a gable.

These areas are highly visible and often require trim that coordinates with the fascia, soffit, and siding below.

Custom brake fabrication allows installers to create rake covers based on the actual dimensions of the roofline.

Clean rake trim can help make the entire gable look sharper and more deliberate.

5. Frieze Board Covers

Frieze boards create the transition near the top of an exterior wall where the siding approaches the soffit or roofline.

Older houses can have substantial frieze boards that become an important architectural feature of the exterior.

A siding brake can be used to fabricate aluminum covers around these existing dimensions while coordinating the color with the siding, soffit, fascia, or other trim.

Properly proportioned frieze trim can give the top of the siding installation a much more finished appearance.

6. Garage Door Trim

Garage doors create some of the largest openings on a home's exterior.

Because of their size, inconsistent or poorly fitted trim can be especially noticeable.

A brake allows installers to fabricate trim around the head and jambs based on the existing garage-door opening.

Matching the trim color to windows, fascia, soffit, or other exterior elements can also help tie a large garage elevation into the overall siding design.

7. Custom Transition Pieces

This is where a siding brake can really demonstrate its value.

Exterior remodeling constantly produces unusual conditions.

A new siding system may need to transition into:

• Brick
• Stone
• Existing siding
• An addition
• A porch
• A deck
• An older window
• A roofline
• An architectural projection

There may not be a factory accessory designed specifically for every one of those situations.

A skilled brake operator can measure the condition and fabricate a custom transition that works with the project rather than forcing an unrelated component into the space.

8. Sill and Drip-Cap Details

Brake-formed material can also be used for certain sill, cap, and water-shedding details when appropriate for the installation.

These pieces require more than simply making the metal look good.

They must work with the flashing, weather-resistant barrier, drainage plane, and manufacturer installation requirements of the complete exterior system.

A brake gives an experienced installer the ability to fabricate the physical profile, but proper water-management practices still determine how and where that piece should be used.

9. Decorative Exterior Trim

Brake work does not have to be limited to basic flat covers.

Skilled installers can use additional bends, hems, and formed details to add dimension to certain exterior trim applications.

Depending on the equipment and accessories being used, contractors can create more detailed profiles that help distinguish premium siding projects from basic installations.

The key is restraint. Decorative brake work should complement the architecture of the house rather than becoming a distraction.

10. Custom Repair Pieces

One of the most useful applications for a siding brake may be repair work.

Repairs require contractors to work with whatever is already on the house.

Original trim may no longer be available. Previous work may have unusual dimensions. Storm damage may affect only one portion of an exterior.

A brake allows an experienced installer to fabricate replacement trim or transition pieces around the existing condition.

For contractors handling siding repairs, storm restoration, window replacement, and exterior remodeling, that flexibility can be extremely valuable.

The Real Advantage Is Customization

There are plenty of excellent factory-made siding accessories available.

Contractors should use the correct manufactured accessory whenever the siding system calls for it.

The brake becomes valuable when the project requires something beyond those standard components.

Instead of being limited by what comes out of a box, the crew has the ability to fabricate around the actual conditions in front of them.

Trim Coil Color Is Part of the Fabrication Process

Fabricating the right shape is only half the job.

The color also needs to work with the exterior.

Contractors should consider how trim coil coordinates with:

• Siding
• Windows
• Entry doors
• Garage doors
• Soffit
• Fascia
• Corner posts
• Other exterior accents

Suburban Wholesale & Supply can help contractors coordinate siding, trim coil, soffit, fascia, and accessories before the material package leaves the warehouse.

Explore Gentek Performance G8 Trim Coil available through Suburban Wholesale & Supply.

A TAPCO Brake Gives Crews Serious Jobsite Capability

TAPCO's PRO 19 is a good example of why professional siding brakes are so useful for exterior contractors.

The PRO 19 provides a 19-inch throat depth and a 2-3/8-inch mouth opening, giving installers room to fabricate a wide range of exterior trim profiles.

TAPCO rates the PRO 19 for soft aluminum up to .030", galvanized steel up to 28 gauge, and copper sheet or coil up to 16 ounces.

It is also available in multiple lengths, allowing contractors to choose a brake that makes sense for the type and size of work their crews regularly perform.

A Brake Does Not Replace Proper Siding Accessories

This is an important distinction for professional installers.

Owning a brake does not mean every exterior component should be fabricated from trim coil.

Starter strip, J-channel, utility trim, corner posts, mounting blocks, and other manufacturer-designed accessories all serve specific purposes within a siding system.

Professional installation means knowing when to use the manufacturer's accessory and when custom brake fabrication is appropriate.

A Brake Does Not Replace Proper Flashing Either

A piece of beautifully bent aluminum is not automatically flashing.

Windows, doors, roof intersections, penetrations, and other vulnerable areas still need to be detailed according to the applicable siding, window, flashing, and building requirements.

Brake-formed trim should complement the water-management system rather than being treated as a substitute for it.

The Brake Is the Tool. The Installer Creates the Detail.

Buying a professional brake does not automatically create professional fabrication.

Good brake work requires:

• Accurate measuring
• Clean cuts
• Correct bend sequencing
• Consistent hems
• Proper material handling
• Understanding overlaps
• Understanding drainage and flashing
• Practice

An experienced brake operator can look at an exterior condition, determine the profile needed, and turn flat coil stock into a finished component that looks like it belongs on the house.

Train More Than One Person on the Crew

If only one installer knows how to use the brake well, that person can quickly become a production bottleneck.

Professional siding companies should consider training additional installers on common fabrication details.

Start with repeatable profiles such as window jambs, sills, fascia, and rake covers.

As installers become more experienced, they can move into more complicated custom transitions and repair work.

Standardize Your Most Common Brake Profiles

Every crew member should not fabricate the same detail five different ways.

Contractors can develop standard bend profiles for common situations while still allowing experienced installers to modify them when field conditions require it.

Standardization can help improve:

• Installation speed
• Material usage
• Training
• Consistency
• Quality control
• Finished appearance

Good Material Planning Makes the Brake More Valuable

A brake cannot fabricate anything if the crew runs out of the correct trim coil.

Before the job starts, contractors should think through the siding panels, trim coil, starter strip, channels, corner posts, soffit, fascia, mounting blocks, and other accessories required for the project.

Suburban Wholesale & Supply works with contractors throughout Davenport, Bettendorf, Eldridge, Moline, Rock Island, East Moline, and surrounding Quad Cities communities to help plan complete siding material packages.

Our sales counter team can help with takeoffs, product questions, accessories, color coordination, material returns, and the small details that can prevent unnecessary trips back to the supplier.

Learn more about contractor support from Suburban Wholesale & Supply .