Frieze board is a type of trim installed between two materials at the cornice of a home
Frieze board is a horizontal trim installed between your home's siding and soffit, helping conceal gaps and add curb appeal to your exterior.
Frieze board materials cost $9 to $55 per linear foot, with average costs around $28 depending on your chosen material and design detail.
Your frieze board protects your home from moisture damage and pests while creating a polished look where two different materials meet at the cornice.
Hiring a local siding professional removes the guesswork from measuring, cutting, and installing frieze boards for a seamless fit that protects your 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.
When taking on this project, expect questions only a pro can answer. With our network of local pros, you'll get the job done and your questions answered—without the hassle and stress of doing it yourself.
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.
The guys at PaveWay are top notch. From the estimate to the job being completed,all was done in a timely and professional manner. I myself was a DOT Engineer Inspector(know what to look for) and got to talking with Cameron and he himself was a Contract inspector for a few years,same job as...
All Star Paving and SealingI highly recommend KTM construction! I will look no where else for anything that needs to be done, in or out side of our property. The level of craftsmanship is 5 star service across the board! The level of detail, knowledge and professionalism is 5 star service across the board! Ken is a...
KTM Construction, LLCI purchased the "Big Deal": $199.00 for exterior pressure-washing of one- or two-story home up to 2,000 square feet. They cleaned the siding only. I wasn't aware when I bought the Big Deal that they would not do any other surfaces other than the siding (i.e. sides of the gutters or stucco). I...
Complete Home ServicesThis brownstone is historical and the carpentry work is very detailed. I was very happy to secure a company in NY and living in OH to complete the request. Wood work on this brownstone has been existing since approximately 1888 and West side did a GREAT JOB. I will not be able to...
Westside Home ImprovementNice group of workers, very friendly. Day 1 covered everything before starting, seemed very organized. Things seemed to be going great. Day 2 they didn't show up until around 10:00a.m. and work crew was cut in half, was told they had another job. Day 3 they didn't show up until around...
CertaPro Painters of ColumbusThe work went great! Couldn't ask for better. Joel set a work start date. About the time of the storms that may have been associated with Sandy. He was half a day late. They set up on a Thursday. On Friday they had a full crew at work. By Monday they were finishing up. Now, the best...
NJW ConstructionA few months ago, a tree branch fell across my car, leaving a series of dents across the hood and driver's side fender. I took it to Rife's after reading the Angie's List reviews. Rife's did a great job! My car looks like new. And they made the process as easy as possible. When I came in...
Rife's Autobody IncI received an email from Angie's List offering Car Detailing 4 U's services for $99. Coming from Angie's List, I expected this to be a highly dependable and qualified company that was known for doing exceptional work. I set the appointment for them to come to my home. They were arrive at...
We first had Mark fix the back patio and liked his work so much we had him make a brick patio on the side of the house. When we decided to change our concrete walkway to brick, we wanted Mark to do the job because his prices were fair and he did such good work on t he other two projects.
Mark Monnette MasonryI was very pleased with the cost and end result. I truly expected this job to cost me 50% more than it did. When you factor quality and cost, I would highly recommend Mark's services and plan to use him in the future. The best part was, I asked Mark to match the paint color in one section...
Fresh Touch Custom Painting Inc.From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
OSB is a common material used for subflooring, wall sheathing, and roofing. Here’s a breakdown of how much OSB panels will cost for your project based on type and size.
Choosing the right frieze board size is a minor but very important detail. Learn what frieze board dimensions you need to elevate your home’s exterior.
Drywall has long been the standard, but it’s not your only option. These amazing alternatives to drywall can come with some major benefits.
Ledger boards hold your deck in place—literally. Learn how to choose the best wood and protect your deck from time and the elements.
You may wonder what fascia is on a house. Our guide explains what you need to know about this important part of your roof and what purpose it serves.
Take a deep dive into Trex decking by learning about its pros, cons, pricing, and more. Read on to learn more about Trex decking options.
