We also used Azek as trim with our pre-painted HardiShingles and are glad we did. Our builder really liked working with Azek since it's light-weight and so consistent (no knot-holes, etc.). He even did some bending of it, although that was quite a challenge! Although it technically doesn't require painting, we painted it with a 50-year BM exterior white paint so it would match the white of some of our decorative trim pieces (brackets, crossheads, etc.). We also caulked the nailholes, although they weren't as obvious as we expected because our builder used smaller nails. We're hoping the Azek will never need to be repainted! By the way, we were very glad we got our HardiShingles pre-painted and we didn't have any problems. They were painted by a company called Weiss who gives a 25-year warranty. Weiss has a nice range of colors or will paint a custom color. They're a good company that stands behind their product. Here's a photo showing some of our Azek trim next to HardiShingles. Even the flower box is made from Azek! I should mention that the paladian crosshead in the photo is not Azek. It's by a company called "Custom Decorative Moulding" ("CDM"). We really like CDM products and found their company to be extremely helpful. Their products can be made to custom sizes (as this crosshead was) and they come pre-painted in white - - although not the same shade of white as Azek. P.S. If you decide to paint Azek, our painter learned that it takes special prep first. Not hard, just different.

I used a napolean, a heat-n-glow and a couple mendottas. All the mendottas are current model years, two are great-- the best I've seen-- and one just sucks. The flames are just too uniform and scarcely show above the logs. I suspect that the regulator isn't allowing enough pressure. The napolean is a 'Park Avenue' model, tall and thin with a built in electric light and is very good if the size suits your space. The only issue is that the coal bed is molded, and at the front the gas comes through uniform holes in little jets-- way too regular almost like a gas range, but other than that I'm pleased with it. The flames toward the back have a very nice flicker effect. The heat-n-glo was a discontinued model, far and above the best from a 'bang for the buck' perspective. It was around $900, doesn't look as good as the 'good' mendottas, but doesn't look like it cost two thirds less, either. It has a tilted burn bed to give the effect of higher flames at the back. The downside is that the burner box is very square and sits just below the level of the rest of the fireplace floor. Hurts the look a lot. I think I'll put a screen in front of it to soften the look a little.

My builder in FL is recommending Hardie for soffit and fascia. It's the most expensive option, but will the last the longest and will hold up to storms the best. Expensive because of material cost plus special way it now needs to be installed per Florida codes to deal with winds/hurricanes. I'm told aluminim (for soffits) would be a lot less expensive, but only last 25 years or so, is likely to come off during storms, and could therefore compromise the integrity of a roof during a storm.

I think it looked beautiful in her re-do, and not at all bathroom-y. I have a gas FP, but I would think if the fireplace is constructed correctly, the draw would pull the smoke up the chimney and not stain the surround. I have to say that the first pic above posted my nosoccermom makes my heart beat faster! Just gorgeous in that setting. And peppapoodle's light soapstone is also beautiful.