Marica, The first photo is one of an 'obesum' of a very kind woman that allowed here photo of this beautiful tree to be used on this forum. It would be one that she has had for many years. The multitude of roots on the bottome 2/3 rds of tree would be roots, now called it's 'caudex' as they are exposed. This same process is true with the second photo. This being a Arabicum/TS with what could be natural root form, but very possible with what they call 'Decorated Roots". To achieve this, when you they would cut off the entire lower portion of the tree, treat it, repot to have roots form all the way around the lower edges of the caudex. Then once the roots are large enough, they then remove roots selectively in a manner to create a balance between roots and branching. This I have not tried and could not venture to explain to anyone.

https://catalog.wildwoodlamps.com/wwjc/e/wwfc-2/products?category_id=9493 Could be vintage. The closest I could find is Frederick Cooper. See link above.

A photo would help especially of the trim removed. Is the wall cladding also PVC and the siding fits into grooves on the trim or does the cladding butt against the trim? Vinyl is PVC which is made in different ways. The most common types are hollow or foam filled thin PVC and solid cellular PVC. I suspect its the thin PVC that cracked because it depends on plasticizers to keep it flexible and eventually they outgas leaving a very brittle material. I would replace it all with cellular PVC.

The cabinet line that you're remodeling your kitchen with should have DREP’s. They have to match the cabinets. Some are 32” and have to be field cut.