BLOG

Companies that try our cement coated architectural EPS typically keep coming back for more, replacing all the other products in their arsenal. We strongly believe that, with a few exceptions, it is the best architectural product on the market for a variety of uses. With that in mind, often contractors and architects need that “reason […]

A building’s water-resistive barrier is supposed to keep water out for the life of the structure. Every hole poked through that barrier is a place where water can find its way back in. Traditional trim, when it’s mechanically fastened with screws or nails driven through the wall assembly, creates exactly that: a series of small,

Architects who specify PW Profiles’ cement coated EPS products for the first time often know what they want the profiles to do and how they want them to look. What’s less clear is where in the document set they belong, what language to use, what the contractor needs to execute the installation correctly, and how

EIFS — Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems — is one of the most common exterior wall assemblies on commercial and multifamily residential buildings constructed over the past several decades. It’s prevalent in the same project types where EPS architectural profiles are most commonly specified: mid-rise commercial, retail, hospitality, and multifamily residential construction where exterior detailing

Most disputes about whether architectural profiles look right on a finished building come down to the same thing: the profiles were too small. The cornice that looked correct on a drawing, the window surround that seemed substantial in the spec book, the bracket that appeared well-proportioned at the product page scale — all of them

Patterson Whittaker’s cement coated architectural EPS profiles are designed to perform for the long term with very little intervention. When installed correctly on a proper substrate and maintained with basic periodic attention to sealant joints, repair is not something most contractors or building owners encounter. The material is lightweight, non-structural, and surface-applied — which means

Cement coated EPS profiles finish beautifully. They take paint cleanly, hold color well, and when the process is done correctly, the finished surface is indistinguishable from what you’d get with stone, precast, or traditional plaster. When the process is done incorrectly, problems show up — peeling, adhesion failure, surface cracking along paint lines, or finish

When architects and contractors compare architectural materials, the conversation usually focuses on appearance, durability, and installed cost. Shipping rarely gets the same attention — and for most material categories, that’s reasonable. For heavy architectural products, it’s a significant oversight. The weight of a material doesn’t just affect how it performs on a building. It shapes

Patterson Whittaker Architectural Profiles sends its products around the world. But we are also based on the West Coast of both Canada and the United States, which means we are uniquely aware of issues related to seismic zones. Seismic design considerations don’t stop at the structural frame. Architects and contractors working in California, British Columbia,

Most contractors who try architectural EPS for the first time do so because a project made it the practical choice — the weight of precast wasn’t going to work, or the lead time on stone was going to push the schedule, or the budget couldn’t support what the architect originally specified. They use EPS to

Wood trim has been a go-to for decades. It’s familiar, it cuts cleanly, it paints well, and most carpenters can work with it in their sleep. But familiarity has a way of obscuring cost — and when you start adding up what wood trim actually demands across a full project, the number is rarely as