Putting in Trim: A Newbie’s Information

To finish a large-scale trim undertaking, I (not an expert, only a DIY-er) suggest the next:

1. Analysis Find out how to Set up Trim

After I began my first trim undertaking, I had no expertise putting in trim.

Earlier than I priced wooden or thought of what instruments I would want or did anything, I watched a number of YouTube tutorials. I searched beneath key phrase phrases like “easy methods to” and “wainscoting” or “easy methods to” and “crown molding.”

This gave me an concept of what I used to be getting myself in to. It’s additionally how I discovered to put in trim (together with the assistance of the 2 books listed under).

2. Create a Work Area

If in any respect potential, have a chosen work area the place your instruments are organized and accessible and the place there may be enough room to work comfortably with lengthy and unwieldy items of trim.

3. Purchase Instruments and Provides

I discovered the next instruments to be completely obligatory for my large-scale trim undertaking. Hire, borrow, or purchase, however you will need to have them.

(These instruments signify a major funding. Should you’re doing a big sufficient undertaking, it will likely be value it to purchase, however for a smaller undertaking, lease or borrow.)

4. Plan Out Each Element

To give you a design for my trim work, I browsed websites like Houzz and Pinterest for concepts.

(Remodelaholic observe: We even have a put up right here with a number of wainscoting kinds.)

As soon as I made a decision what I wished to do, I measured all of the partitions and calculated how a lot wooden I would want.

Phrase to the clever, give your self loads of overage. You gained’t be capable of use the whole thing of each piece of trim and you’ll definitely make errors.

Should you’ll be endeavor a big, multi-room undertaking like I did, I like to recommend doing a small room first to get a really feel for the way a lot wooden you’ll actually need (it will likely be greater than the precise measurements) and for the way a lot time it takes.

Among the rooms in my residence already had crown molding and chair rail, so I merely matched what was already there for the brand new trim work.

I priced the wooden I wanted at Lowe’s and Dwelling Depot and at my native lumber yards. I discovered I may get the perfect deal at a neighborhood lumber yard and ordered from there.

The lumber yard additionally delivered (for a charge), which, given the scale of my undertaking, was enormously useful. Retailer the wooden indoors the place you’ll be putting in it and provides it 3 or 4 days at room temperature earlier than utilizing it.

I drew each final piece of trim on my wall earlier than making any cuts or nailing something in place. It’s loads simpler to make changes with pencil drawings than with wooden.

I measured from the ground to the highest of my chair rail molding, making a mark on the wall about each 18 inches. I then used my stage to attract a straight horizontal line connecting all of the marks so I might know precisely the place to position the trim.

Identical factor for shadow containers. I measured then marked the place they might go and used my stage to attract straight strains connecting all of the markings. Additionally, once I drew the strains, I measured them proper then and wrote the measurements on the partitions (I double-checked the measurements earlier than slicing any wooden.)

When it got here time to connect the wooden, I may simply line it up with the pencil markings (although, on the time of set up, I nonetheless double-checked that the trim piece was straight utilizing a stage).

6. Nailing

When it comes time to nail, keep in mind you’ll must fill every nail gap with wooden filler. Don’t go loopy, however you additionally need your trim to be secure and safe.

I discovered that if I put a nail at every nook (not too near the sting, although, otherwise you’ll threat splitting the wooden) and about each 8 to 10 inches, that was lots.

7. Ending

The end work (wooden filling, sanding, and caulking) appeared to take so long as the measuring, slicing, and nailing, but it surely’s the end work that basically makes your trim look beautiful.

• Nail holes. Use wooden filler, not caulk to fill your nail holes. Use a lightweight hand with the wooden filler as you’ll must sand no matter dries in your trim. I counsel utilizing a lightly-damp rag to wipe over newly-filled nail holes to attenuate sanding in a while.
• Sanding. Sanding sponges are nice for carved moldings and most trim work with minimal wooden filler to be sanded.
• Caulk. It’s going to really feel such as you’ve caulked miles of seams, however do it! It gives you that seamless look the place the wooden seems to simply develop out of the wall.  As talked about above, that is my favourite caulk (I attempted a number of completely different varieties over the course of my undertaking). Purchase by the case to economize. You’ll use a ton of the stuff!

Get ideas for caulking like a professional right here.

I put up lots of of ft of trim: chair rail, crown molding, and dozens of shadow containers.

(The cabinets and mantel across the fire within the household room have been constructed by a carpenter, not me).

I did each final little bit of the job solely on my own. I had a normal contractor come by to try the entire trim work I did. He advised me that if I’d employed him to do the work, he would have charged me at the very least $10,000. The wooden for my total undertaking price me about $1,500.

Paint colours are Benjamin Moore White Dove (white) and Restoration {Hardware} Silver Sage (gentle blue).

With Sherwin Williams Naval for the darkish navy blue

I employed somebody to color all of it after I completed putting in trim.