MiraTEC trim is for homeowners and installers finishing siding corners, door openings and exterior architectural details. Its treated wood composite resists moisture and rot, and the reversible boards offer smooth or woodgrain faces. It’s a good fit for a painted exterior project if you’ll keep up the finish.
MiraTEC is an exterior trim brand under Woodgrain Building Products. Its trim technology originated in Towanda, Pennsylvania. The brand is known for treated wood-composite boards made as a single solid piece.
The material and finish choice
MiraTEC is treated wood composite made with the TEC sealed-press process. It combines wood fiber, phenolic resins, zinc borate and a water repellent. The preservative and resin help give the boards their moisture and rot resistance.
Prefinished MiraTEC suits a job where you want the finish applied ahead of installation; reversible trim suits a job where choosing the face and painting it are part of your plan. On the reversible boards, settle the face choice before cutting so the whole elevation looks intentional. The 5/8-inch, 3/4-inch and 1-inch boards have smooth and woodgrain faces; the 1-1/4-inch trim has two smooth faces.
Fit the boards to the siding
MiraTEC can accent cement-fiber, vinyl, brick, wood and stucco cladding, among other materials. At siding corners, the boards can protect the siding ends and finish the edge. Actual thickness matters here: it determines how far the trim stands out from the siding. Work out that relationship before making the corner assembly.
You can handle, cut, machine and nail MiraTEC with familiar woodworking tools. Follow the installation instructions for fastening, joints and clearances. Lay out cuts around openings and corners before cutting the boards.
Keep the exposed edges coated
Giving the face all the attention and leaving an exposed bottom edge thinly coated is the mistake to avoid. MiraTEC needs an exterior coating designed for wood trim. Low- or non-chalking exterior acrylic-latex paint is an allowed option. Coat every exposed surface well, including the bottom edges.
Inspect the trim annually. Replace loose or cracked sealant with good-quality polyurethane sealant. Roof runoff and sprinkler water can accelerate paint erosion, so position sprinklers to keep spray off the trim. Where the finish has eroded enough to expose the material underneath, clean it, prime it and apply two topcoats.
MiraTEC trim specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Material | Treated wood composite |
| Reversible thicknesses | 5/8 inch, 3/4 inch and 1 inch; smooth face and woodgrain face |
| Smooth on both faces | 1-1/4-inch trim |
| 4/4 nominal thickness | 3/4 inch actual |
| 5/4 nominal thickness | 1 inch actual |
| 6/4 nominal thickness | 1-1/4 inches actual |
| Listed board length | 16 feet |
| Warranty | 50-year limited warranty |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MiraTEC trim made of?
MiraTEC trim is treated wood composite made with wood fiber, phenolic resins, zinc borate and a water repellent. It’s pressed into one solid piece without finger joints or laminated layers, and it isn’t hardboard. The resin and preservative help resist moisture, rot and termites, but you still need to maintain the painted finish.
What is MiraTEC trim used for?
You can use MiraTEC trim for siding corners, decorative window framework and horizontal architectural details across a wall. It can also add detail to column supports, but that trim is nonstructural: the support carries the load.
How do you install MiraTEC trim?
You can cut, machine and nail MiraTEC trim with ordinary woodworking tools. Fastener selection, fastening intervals, joint gaps and clearances need to follow the product’s installation instructions. Actual thickness matters when you’re laying out the work: 4/4 is 3/4 inch thick, 5/4 is 1 inch and 6/4 is 1-1/4 inches.
Does MiraTEC composite trim need to be painted?
Yes, primed MiraTEC composite trim needs an exterior coating designed for wood trim; the primer isn’t the finished surface. If you’re repainting a finish that’s thin but still unbroken, it needs cleaning and two topcoats. Any exposed wood composite needs priming first, and mildew needs to be removed with a mildew-cleaning solution before you paint over that area.
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