Frieze board is a type of trim installed between two materials at the cornice of a home
If you've ever visited your family member's neoclassical home and wondered what exactly gives it that extra charm but can't quite put your finger on it, frieze board may have been the secret ingredient pulling the home together. But what is frieze board—and, more importantly, how can you use frieze boards to make your home the latest wow factor? Stay tuned to find out.
Frieze board is a thin, flat board most often used as a decorative trim. This board is usually installed horizontally between your home’s siding material and the soffit. In some cases, frieze boards are installed diagonally if you have a gable.
Knowing the anatomy of your roof can help you visualize exactly where frieze board trimming goes in your home. Not to be mistaken for fascia or soffits, frieze boards go at the very top of a home’s siding—right before the soffit. The soffit is the underside of the section of your roof that overhangs the siding of your home, while the fascia goes on the ends of the soffit to help prevent water from entering your home’s roof.
In some houses, frieze board serves only as a fashion statement for the home. The extra trim can do wonders for your curb appeal, as it helps create a complete look for your home’s siding. Unsightly gaps between your siding and the soffit can be easily concealed with a simple frieze board installation. Likewise, some homeowners use beautifully designed frieze boards as interior molding to transform bland walls and ceilings into charming spaces.
In other homes, however, frieze board serves a similar purpose as the soffit by helping to prevent water from entering underneath the siding. Moisture build-up can cause mold damage, warping, rot, and other structural problems that can end up costing a lot to repair. Frieze board trim can also help keep your home pest-free.
Frieze board comes in all kinds of styles and materials, and which material you choose can make a difference in cost, durability, efficiency, life span, maintenance, and appearance. Here are some of the most common frieze board materials:
Composite frieze board: Composite boards are made from layers of wood fibers, plastics, or fiber cement. They tend to come at a higher price, but their longevity and rot, warp, and flame resistance can make them a top contender for frieze board trim. Hardie board siding is a popular choice.
Engineered wood frieze board: Engineered wood comes with all the beauty of natural wood without the susceptibility to water damage that you’ll see in traditional wood frieze boards. Made from layers of plywood and a layer of hardwood on the exterior, this material is durable and more cost-effective than wood. However, it is prone to fading.
Polyurethane frieze board: This material is a high-density foam that can easily be molded into intricate shapes. It’s resistant to rot, mold, splinters, and cracks and is extremely durable with high insulating properties. This material can be more costly depending on the level of design.
PVC frieze board: Also called vinyl, PVC frieze board is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Vinyl is low-maintenance and won’t rot, mold, or encourage pests, but its appearance is less natural—and it’s more costly. PVC is also more likely to become damaged and is harder to repair or replace.
Wooden frieze board: This is a classic material that provides natural insulation and energy efficiency, but wood comes at a higher price tag, is susceptible to mold, warpage, rot, and pests, and requires more maintenance.
Frieze board tends to go on exterior parts of the home, but it isn't just for the siding of a house. Let’s take a look at where you can use frieze board.
You're most likely to use frieze board on the exterior of a home because it covers any spaces between the top of your siding and the roof or fascia. Thin strips of frieze board trim wrap around your home to help pull the look together for a seamless and attractive exterior home.
Frieze board can also serve as a decorative molding on the interior of your home—especially where two different materials meet at the cornice of your home. These spaces include the area between the wall and the ceiling.
With all the delicate patterns and molding available, frieze board molding adds style and sophistication to any space in your home but is extra popular in neoclassical homes where grandeur and ornamentation are the dominating architectural elements
The average cost for frieze board ranges from $9 to $55 or $28 per linear foot on average. The more intricate the pattern, the more you’ll pay. Exotic wood can also come with a higher price tag.
Installing frieze board trim can be a DIY project if you have the time and energy to get on a ladder or step stool and hammer away at each individual piece. It’s not a difficult installation in terms of complexity.
At the same time, the frieze board trim comes in thin, smaller pieces, which can really add to the length of the installation. For projects with unique ceiling or siding layouts, it can also be more challenging to access or cut the frieze board to accurate sizing. The last thing you want is to have to purchase more materials or remove your hard work to adjust the frieze board for the perfect fit.
If you’re not comfortable with hopping on a ladder, measuring your materials, cutting the trim to size, and installing the pieces, you may want to hire a local siding company to do the job. Your local pro can have your frieze boards up and running fast, with the skills and precision to ensure the boards properly insulate and protect your home from the great outdoors.
