Types of Trim Work

Before choosing trim work for your home, you should first consider its style. A more contemporary home may want to select trim with simpler edge profiles, while a Victorian style home may want to use more elaborate trim. In general, trim work should match the overall design of your home. Listed below are some of the main types of trim work:

Crown molding

Crown molding is a relatively inexpensive way to add an elegant touch to your home. It can cost from $1 to $2 per linear foot, depending on its style and materials. Crown molding is available in a variety of styles and colors, and you can find a variety of paint colors to suit your needs. If you're looking to save money, you can DIY the crown molding, but be sure to hire a professional finish carpenter to ensure a proper fit.

Crown molding can be made from solid wood or a mixture of wood fibers and wax. This type of crown molding is most efficient for rooms with painted trim. Nevertheless, if you plan to paint your molding, it's best to sand it first to ensure a smooth finish.

Scarf joints

A scarf joint is a way to attach two pieces of crown moulding together. It is cut at an angle of 45 degrees, so that the two pieces overlap and form a splice. Before cutting, mark the splice location on the wall with a pencil. Then, swing the miter saw blade 45 degrees to the left. When you have cut the first piece of moulding, brace the saw blade against the fence and make the second cut at the opposite 45-degree angle.

Scarf joints are sometimes called trait de jupiter joints or scarph joints. This trim joint is used instead of a butt joint or a splice joint because the glue line is less noticeable. A good carpenter will also use glue on the end grain of the overlapping pieces to prevent them from moving.

Reveals

Reveals are an important design element for bare walls. They add a distinctive touch and announce to the homeowner that the finisher is serious about their work. Reveals are typically made from vinyl. They can be wrapped around corners or come to a full stop within the wall. The most common vinyl reveal is the Trim-Tex Architectural Reveal Bead.

To install a reveal, use a miter saw fitted with a fine-tooth blade. It's a good idea to use a drywall support piece to hold the reveal bead against the saw guide in a vertical position.

Fill-ins

Fill-ins are tiny pieces of wood used to fix small gaps in trim work. They are often used to fill gaps around doorways. These gaps are usually smaller than the thickness of the casing. Fill-ins are often used to cover gaps that are created by power nailers. When installed correctly, they can create a seamless, smooth surface.

The process of filling in nail holes is quite simple. You should use a putty knife to smooth the area, spackling, and then painting over the piece. A proper fill-in can result in a completely new look. In addition, you can also use a putty knife or a painter's 5-in-1 tool to pry out bent nails or staples. If you don't have any of these tools on hand, you can use a needle-nose pliers to remove them.

Coped joints

The coped joint is used to join pieces of trim work that meet inside corners. This process makes joining trim work a faster process and makes the joints less visible. The first step in completing a coped joint is to cut a square molding piece to fit tightly against the corner of a wall. Then, use a coping saw or jigsaw to cut the second piece of trim.

Coped joints are also easier to make than you might think. You can find detailed pictures that will guide you through each step.

MDF

MDF trim work is commonly used in the construction industry. This material has several advantages over wood, but there are also some drawbacks. For instance, MDF is a little hard on tools, and the exposed edges tend to show paint and drip. The material can also pucker when nailed. Some distributors buy MDF sheet stock in large, 16-foot lengths from the manufacturer and re-mill it into moldings. In addition, the material is dense and heavy, which makes it difficult to work with.

Nail holes in MDF trim work can be filled with wood filler. It should be applied with a putty knife and allowed to dry completely. Make sure that the filler matches the color of the trim.