Sue36,
That's a nice house!
I hope to get to Maine sometime!!!
(here in Fargo, ND...well...we can easily hit -30. We DID a few times this past winter...Uffda)

Are there gutters on that upper-roofline anywhere?
(if not...you need some!!!)

>>> As you're putting up new trim...BACKPRIME IT!!!
>>> Make sure endcuts are fully saturated too.

I haven't checked that mfr's. warranty requirements, but a top-notch Ext. Latex primer can do wonders.
(did I say BACKPRIME IT?!?!)

Rotted wood after 3 yrs.?!?!?! That's inexcusable.

Nails...
* Sink to desired depth, and use an OIL primer in the depressions & nail-heads.
* Next day, use an exterior wood filler on these spots, let dry, feather-sand smooth, remove dust, and prime the spots.
* Now, use your LATEX primer on the whole board (that you BACKPRIMED of course...;-)).

Doors...try XIM'S Latex X-tender in your chosen doorpaint.
On avg., you'll get 10 MINUTES of working-time!
Many SW stores have this, as well as good hardware stores.

Faron

All of the trim was fully primed, including cut ends, before it was put on. Yes, some trim is very rotted, to the point there are mushrooms on it. All the window trim bottom and side on the windows above the porch and the piece that runs around the porch, near the mudroom door (the porch corner near the garage). Also, the side and bottom pieces on the sliders (in the back) that are on a deck and don't have a roof over them. The way the rain sheets off the roof causes it to hit certain areas over and over. All the new trim will be Azek, so no backpriming necessary. We are priming it only for adhesion. No, we don't have gutters. They are controversial where we live. We plan to add them, but it will be an expensive endeavor due to the porch, gables, hips, etc. The underground pipes to carry the water away have already been put in.

Thanks for the instructions on the nails. I'll definitely try that.

I purchased some x-tender from SW (after 2 miserable coats of Duration). I am going to do a 3rd coat shortly with it. Hopefully that will help.

Is there an exterior paint you recommend? I appreciate the help.

Gutters are controversial?!?!?

Wow...a builder here would get SHOT if they didn't install them! Even "budget" homes get gutters automatically.

I hate to assume, but does your roof-edge have "Drip-edges" installed? These channels keep water from wicking back under the shingles and getting on trim elements, thus leading to rotting.
Obviously, gutters help greatly in this too. Water drains away quickly from the roof...b4 it can wick under roofing.

Exterior paints?....Hmmm...that always leads to debates!
* Just make sure you're using the best in each brands' lineup.
* Don't use Oil...get a top-notch 100% Acrylic Latex.
* Sheen: AT LEAST Satin...preferably Semi-Gloss, maybe even Gloss.
* We're a C2 dealer. Their Ext. S/Gloss is very nice.
* I've also been playing with some FPE samples...WOW...this stuff is SWEEEET!

Faron

Yes, the roof has metal drip edges, there is also a lot of Grace ice and water shield on the roof.

Gutters are controversial here because our area is prone to ice dams, gutters are seen by the old-timers as troublesome due to snow and ice and that "wisdom" has trickled down to builders, etc. In our small subdivision (all custom houses), I'd say less than 20% have gutters. Often you seen a gutter just over the entry.

A painter friend spoke highly of C2 as well. There is a dealer near us. That same dealer sells FPE, BM, Graham, also.

FPE.

Hey again Sue!
Hope your weather is good today in Maine?
Today in Fargo, we'll see 95-ish today...high humidity too...ugh!
I shouldn't complain...we've only been 90+ twice this year!

Gutter "wisdom"...
You should tell some of those "builders/old-timers" that I'm in Fargo, ND.
Few areas in the country get snow, ice, and -temps like WE do! Ice-dams aren't that big of an issue here, surprisingly. Many people have a "Roof-rake" that you can pull down heavy build-ups with. Once you do that-no worries!
(did'ja here about our big snow/flood battle this spring??)

Oh...back to gutters...
EVERY SINGLE house here has them.

Faron
PS-You have some awesome paint-choices near you!
We've received many nice comments about C2 Exterior as well.

I would invest in the gutters and avoid the whole situation you are going through now. I don't know how much you are spending now,re placing wood and painting but would have to believe that gutters would be cheaper in the long run, as in 3 or 4 years you will be doing it all over again.

Go gutter! Back in the early eighties in and around the Cape Cod area, builders who built many homes per year also came up with the brilliancy of claiming underlayments under roofing and sidings,(red cedar shingle roofs, white cedar shingle sidewall siding), wasn't necessary and caused damage to the framing/ insulation, drywall/blueboard claiming the oils from the felt leached into the substrates and into the interior. It was just a way to save dinero for high volume builders. Some roofers were omitting felt from composition shingles as well. Sounds like the same M.O. with the gutters in your area.

There really aren't any high production builders here. In our subdivision there are only two houses even built by the same builder, and he lives in one. It's just not that common here.

In our subdivision there are only two houses even built by the same builder, and he lives in one.

Does HE have gutters??