Exterior trim — the sacrificial layer

Trim is the wood around windows, doors, corners, and at the roofline (fascia and soffit). It is sacrificial by design — meant to shed water and protect the wall assembly behind it. Paint and caulking are its only defense, and both have a finite lifespan. Every 7–10 years a Minnesota home needs fresh paint on exposed trim; neglect it and rot takes hold from the bottom up.

• Window trim: brickmould, sill nose, and casing. Rot most commonly starts at the sill nose (bottom) on south and west exposures.
• Door trim: jamb and casing. Failure at the lower jamb is almost universal on 15+ year-old front doors, driven by ice-melt chemical and snow pile-up.
• Corner boards: vertical wood trim at the corners of the house. Paint failure opens seams for water.
• Fascia: the flat board behind the gutter. Damaged fascia is often caused by ice-dam water overtopping the gutter.
• Soffit: the underside of the roof overhang, usually vented. Blocked or painted-over soffit vents cause attic moisture problems.

Windows from the outside

We walk the perimeter of the home and evaluate each accessible window from the exterior:

• Glass condition (cracked, cloudy, missing)
• Frame condition and caulking integrity
• Drip cap presence above the window (required for most siding types)
• Weep holes clear on vinyl and aluminum windows
• Exterior sill slope and condition
• Evidence of water staining on siding below the window

Exterior doors

• Storm doors: closer function, glass/screen condition, expander sweep.
• Main entry doors: weatherstripping, sill sweep condition, threshold integrity, door sagging, deadbolt strike alignment.
• Service doors (garage-to-house, basement walk-out): self-closing function where required (20-minute fire door from attached garage), weatherstripping.
• Sliding glass / patio doors: exterior threshold condition, bottom-track drainage, caulking at frame.

The probe test

For any area of suspect trim, we gently probe with an awl to test firmness. Firm wood resists the probe; rotted wood gives way. We photograph any probe mark and describe the damage in the report so your buyer or contractor can plan the repair. Typical south-metro findings: soft lower window trim on west-facing walls, soft door jambs at front entries, and fascia damage near gutter downspout elbows.