As your columbus ohio contractors, we know how the addition of trim work can really finish a room and give it a more polished look. For all of you DIY’ers our there we have some tips for you to consider the next time you want to tackle some trim work.

Whether you are doing a simple base or the more complex crown molding, the first thing you will want to do is measure your room. To allow for cutting waste, measure each wall and allow 3 inches for cutting waste. Round up your order to the next available length. If you have a 6′ 7″ piece of base, order an 8 foot piece to account for waste. If you are able to buy in lengths so you have one piece for each side of the room, be sure to do so- this will eliminate you marrying two pieces of molding in the middle of a room, and avoid a seam whenever possible.  At some large home improvement centers, they also sell pre-cut corners that eliminate the need for cutting and matching and outside corner or inside corner. If you are not an expert on the mitre saw this might be a great option. Of course you could also call NJW, your home improvement company of choice and we can take care of the job for you!

If you’re starting from scratch, then you need to find the studs on each wall.  Use a stud finder or if you don’t have one, you can punch a nail into the wall. As long as it’s being covered by the trim itself you’ll be fine. Once you find one stud, you can measure 16 inch intervals to find the other studs. Not all walls are 16 on center. You should test each one with a nail. If there is no carpet on the floor then you can mark the studs on the ground with a pencil. If there is already a finished floor, measure the studs from one wall to the other and write them down on some scrap wood. Then lay out small marks on the trim you cut to fit in its place. Make small enough marks that the nail will cover.

If you are trying to decide to stain or paint your wood, here are some things to keep in mind. What type of wood are you staining? How much you have to spend on wood? Staining fine woods like walnut or oak make a beautiful finish, but come with a more expensive price. Painted woods are cheaper and more forgiving when making cuts. Some woods are unique for staining like pine and create a rustic blotchy look.

When making mitered cuts that join, such as outside corners, our residential remodeling professionals at NJW would cut each side from the same piece whenever possible. This ensures that the molding patterns match up correctly. There can be variations in patterns as the machine spits out trim after trim. If you don’t have enough material for using the same piece for a corner then you can help fix a miss matched piece of trim by using a little caulk or wood putty.

These basic tips, from your custom home remodeling professionals, can help you be successful in doing any type of trim work. Preparing for the job is almost as much work as doing the job, so take the time to plan ahead with these instructions to ensure a quality job you can be proud of.

We currently build in Columbus, Pickerington, Powell,Worthington, Powell,New Albany,Whitehall,Lancaster,Westerville, Bexley,Upper Arlington,Dublin,Gahanna and all of Central Ohio. Contact us today!