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Trim & Moulding

Trim & Moulding Installation

The final stage of most interior projects is applying the trimming and moulding. This is usually a very rewarding last step of an improvement to your property. When complete it transforms a basic space into a beautifully finished piece. Fine trim work is both impressive and intimidating to consider though. With the professional finish carpenters at Clean Grain Carpentry installing your trim, you’ll be well on your way to a finished space that you'll be proud to share.

Tools of the Trade

Trim and moulding require precision cuts that result in tight corners and joints. Anything less can detract from a space rather than improve it. To meet this challenge you need the right tools. A finely tuned compound miter saw is a must and a finish nail gun saves hours of labor and cleanup work. 

We have the full assortment of tools required to install your trim and moulding with extreme precision, including but not limited to:

  • Compound Miter Saws

  • Finish Nail Guns

  • Air Compressors & Hoses

  • Ventilation and Dust Mitigation Systems

  • Extremely Precise Measurement Tools

Prepare for Overage

There's hardly a more frustrating delay to your project than material miscalculations. We’ll typically need about 15-20 percent more material than the finished lengths to account for offcuts, overlapping joints, or unforeseen issues. Typically at the beginning of each project, we carefully measure the length of each wall and its openings such as doors or closets. We'll add up all the measurements to find out exactly how much trim your project will take.

The Irreplaceable Compound Miter Saw

Nothing is more important to a trim project than a compound miter saw, especially one that has the lowest margin of error possible. Budget compound miter saws from the local hardware store need not apply. Compound miter saws have a rotating bed that allows you to dial in cutting angles. They can also be tilted from side to side in order to cut compound angles needed in most moulding and trim projects. If angles or cuts are off by as little as a 1/16 of an inch the finished piece can go from pro to "oh no" in a hurry.

Trim Joint Types

It is rare to have an uncut piece of trim fit exactly where and how you need it.

These are some of the types of joints we create to provide a flawless finish:

  • Miter joints. Often used on outside corners they are created by cutting two boards at 45 degrees and then putting them together to create a 90-degree angle. However, in most cases we will try to use coped joints on inside corners.

  • Coped joints. Coped joints are ideal for inside corners. Once cut at the appropriate inside angle, the profile of the moulding is followed closely with a coping saw on the adjacent trim piece. The resulting cut then fits exactly over the first, creating a perfect fit that holds better on walls that are not perfectly square and hold up over time as houses shift and settle.

  • Scarf joints. We use the scarf joint to make two boards look like one long piece. We achieve it by cutting the faces of the two boards with overlapping 45-degree angles. When the boards are placed on the wall next to each other, the board's angles match exactly and the joint disappears.

Final Touches

Ideally, if we are placing trim that will be painted or stained, the painting is done before the trim is nailed in. This saves hours of uncomfortable painting on the floor or holding your arms over your head. We just want to make sure to save some paint for after the trim is nailed in place for touch-ups.

 

We hide all the nail holes using wood filler and then do some light sanding to clear the excess material. Then, finally, we touch up with paint or stain and leave a smooth surface. To prevent anything from warping or interfering with the trim we'll run a bead of caulk along the length of the pieces to finish.

Don't Go it Alone

For anything beyond the most basic trimming or moulding, you should hire a professional. An untrained carpenter might be able to get ok results for small perfectly flat walls, but that is rarely the case with most trim projects. Clean Grain Carpentry will get tight joints and smooth runs on your moulding even in the most challenging rooms and situations.

Serving Wenatchee, Cashmere, Chelan & Leavenworth

In need of carpentry services?
Call Now: 1-509-860-9452

© 2022 by Clean Grain Carpentry. 

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