Lancaster County, PAAZEK Trim &
AZEK Trim &
Aluminum Work
Two of the most durable exterior materials available for Pennsylvania homes — installed by people who actually know how to work with them.
Most contractors list these as services.
Few do them well.
AZEK cellular PVC and aluminum exterior work are both specialty trades. They look straightforward from the outside, but both materials are unforgiving — the kind where shortcuts show up immediately and installation errors cause damage years later.
AZEK needs to be fastened with expansion gaps accounted for. Joints need to be glued properly so they don’t open up over time. Aluminum requires clean cuts, tight seams, and transitions thought through before anything goes up. Neither material gives you room to improvise.
At D&E Mako Renovation, we’ve installed enough of both to do them right. If AZEK or aluminum is part of your project, that matters more than most people realize until something goes wrong.
What We Install
Two materials. One crew that knows both.
AZEK Cellular PVC
AZEK Trim — The Smarter Alternative to Wood
AZEK looks exactly like painted wood trim, takes paint the same way, and can be routed and shaped just like wood. The difference is what it doesn’t do. It doesn’t rot when moisture gets behind it. It doesn’t swell in humid summers or crack in cold winters. Carpenter ants aren’t interested in it.
For a Lancaster County home that sees real seasons, replacing failing wood trim with AZEK is one of the best exterior investments you can make. You’re not just fixing the problem — you’re removing it permanently.
- Fascia boards along the roofline
- Window and door exterior casing
- Corner boards and band boards
- Soffit panels (solid and vented)
- Porch columns and post wraps
- Beam wraps and deck trim
- Frieze boards and frieze details
- Custom architectural millwork
Aluminum Work
Aluminum — Precise Work That Holds Up Permanently
Aluminum exterior work is one of those trades that looks easy until you watch someone do it badly. The cuts need to be exact. Seams have to be tight. Corners require forming before the material goes up, not improvising once it’s there. When aluminum work is done carelessly, it buckles, gaps, and lets water into the wall behind it.
Done correctly, it’s maintenance-free for decades. We treat aluminum as the precision trade it is — not as an afterthought on a larger job.
- Fascia capping over wood fascia
- Soffit panels with correct venting
- Window and door frame wrapping
- Flashing at all transition points
- Seamless gutters and downspouts
- Custom fabricated trim pieces
- Column wraps and beam caps
- Commercial exterior metalwork
Why It Matters
What you get when these materials are installed correctly
The difference between a good installation and a rushed one isn’t visible the day the crew leaves. It shows up two winters later.
No more rot cycles
Wood fascia and trim rot, get replaced, rot again. AZEK breaks that cycle completely. Install it once and it’s done.
No more paint failure
Paint holds longer on AZEK than on wood. If you choose a factory color, you may never need to paint at all.
Water stays outside
Properly installed aluminum flashing and capping directs water away from the wall. Improperly installed, it directs water into the wall.
Handles Pennsylvania winters
Both materials expand and contract with temperature changes. We account for that in how they’re fastened — preventing gaps and buckling.
Works on historic homes
AZEK can be milled to match original trim profiles closely. Painted correctly, it’s nearly indistinguishable from the real thing.
Decades of lifespan
AZEK carries a 25-year manufacturer warranty and realistically lasts the life of the building. Aluminum installed correctly is similarly long-lived.
The Honest Comparison
AZEK and aluminum vs. wood trim
| Property | Wood trim | AZEK / Aluminum |
|---|---|---|
| Rot resistance | Fails with moisture over time | Will not rot. Ever. |
| Paint lifespan | 3–7 years before peeling | Much longer, or not needed |
| Insect damage | Vulnerable to carpenter ants | No insect vulnerability |
| Seasonal movement | Swells, cracks, joint gaps | Stable when installed correctly |
| Maintenance over 20 years | Repeated repainting, repairs | Essentially none |
| Long-term cost | Lower upfront, higher over time | Higher upfront, lower over time |
How We Work
What to expect when you hire us
01
Free on-site estimate
We come out, look at your existing exterior carefully, and talk through what needs attention. You’ll get a written estimate that breaks down scope, materials, and cost — no vague totals, no pressure. Usually within 24 to 48 hours of the visit.
02
We fix what’s behind it first
Before any AZEK or aluminum goes on, the surface behind it has to be in good shape. If we find rot, damaged sheathing, or missing flashing during removal, we address it before new material goes up. We don’t cover problems — we fix them.
03
Detail work done right
Corners, joints, end returns, transitions between materials — this is where the job succeeds or fails. We take the time to get them right instead of moving fast and hoping the caulk covers it.
04
Clean site, final walkthrough
We clean up at the end of every workday. When the job is finished, we walk the full exterior with you and check every detail before we call it done. Anything that isn’t right gets fixed on the spot.
Common questions
AZEK is a cellular PVC product made to look and work like painted wood but without wood’s vulnerabilities. It doesn’t rot, doesn’t swell or shrink with moisture, and doesn’t attract insects. Paint adheres better to it and lasts longer. The upfront cost is higher than wood, but it eliminates the ongoing maintenance cycle — repainting, rot repair, replacement — that wood exterior trim requires in Pennsylvania’s climate.
It depends on which product you choose. AZEK comes in a range of factory colors that don’t require painting. If you want a specific color that isn’t available in the factory finish, it accepts paint well and holds it significantly longer than wood. Many homeowners choose a factory white and never think about painting again.
In most cases, yes. AZEK is available in a wide range of profiles, and for homes where the existing profile is unusual or historic, custom-run molding is sometimes possible. We’ll look at what you have and tell you honestly whether a close match is achievable before we start.
Yes, and this is often the most practical approach. On a typical exterior renovation, AZEK handles the trim boards, corner boards, and architectural details while aluminum covers the fascia capping, soffit, window wraps, and flashing. One crew doing both means the transitions between materials are handled correctly and the job is sequenced properly.
Yes. We install aluminum fascia, soffit, capping, and custom fabrication for commercial buildings, multi-unit residential properties, and mixed-use buildings throughout Lancaster County. For larger commercial projects we also travel to Chester County, Lebanon County, and Berks County.
Everything. We break down the scope of work, the specific materials going in, and the total cost. No line items hidden in a vague lump sum. If we find rot or damage during removal that adds scope, we stop and talk to you before we proceed — we don’t make decisions on your project without you.
Serving Lancaster County and surrounding areas
Based in Ephrata, PA. For larger commercial projects we travel to Chester, Lebanon, and Berks Counties.
Ephrata
Lititz
New Holland
Manheim
Elizabethtown
Lancaster City
Leola
Denver
Mount Joy
Columbia
Strasburg
Millersville
Marietta
Quarryville
Ready to stop maintaining and start forgetting about it?
We’ll come out, take an honest look at what you have, and put together a clear written estimate. No obligation, no pressure — just a straight answer about what your exterior needs.