Plastic fantastic building materials

Made by injecting air into vinyl chloride (a liquid form of vinyl) and then forming it into solid pieces of trim, the resulting boards get cut, nailed and even shaped into custom profiles by the same tools and techniques used for wood.

But unlike their natural counterpart, these exterior moldings won't rot, crack, warp, split, shrink or become a termite smorgasbord - characteristics that justify their higher price tag and may save you money in maintenance and longevity.

And if you're planning on having white trim (as 90% of homes do), you don't need to paint - or repaint.

NEXT: Stamped concrete patios