How to Add Some “Wow!” with Woodwork

I get a lot of requests for posts about woodwork and crown molding, so I asked Tim “The Remodeling Guy” to give us his professional thoughts on the topic. Take it away, Tim!

I have an abnormal fascination with woodwork. I’m a hard core believer. Are you? If so, you’ll love this post. If not, I’m going to try and convert you! Julia has graciously loaned me her platform today and when she suggested that you might like to read about trim work, I was thrilled.

I love trim for two big reasons:

1. It’s wood. That means I can work with it. I can shape it, mold it and otherwise cajole it into the position where it will be the most effective.
2. It makes a huge impact! Just a small amount of strategically placed trim can make a difference much greater than you might imagine. I love that!

Using wood trim, you can take any room of any shape, size, or style and improve upon it in as little as a few hours. And you don’t have to be an experienced pro to do it! You just have to be willing to learn!

Where to Start

If you’re on a mission to upgrade your trim, you might be wondering where to start. Which ones to do first? Of course the answer is unique to your home because each house/room is different. But I can tell you the order I would go in:

1. Door Casing

A nicely trimmed door or opening looks fantastic. Upgrading the door trim is one of the simplest improvements you can make, yet it rewards you immensely and for years to come.

2. Baseboard

I might have mentioned this first, but in order to have flexibility in Baseboard design, you have to have your door casing done right! It’s important to always have door trim that’s deep enough to allow your baseboard to run into the side of it cleanly without sticking out. (sometimes they use “plinth blocks” for this purpose)

A nice baseboard anchors a room in a way that nothing else can. Personally, I prefer them tall and thick. I want room on top for a nice base cap and room at the bottom for a great shoe molding. I love a three-piece or more built-up base trim.

3. Window Casing

I’d do window casing next. Installing wood trim around windows makes more difference in many houses than any other trim job because it’s something that many builders leave out of the package! It’s easy to do and can make a room!

4. Crown Molding

Finally, I would do the crown molding. I’ve seen people procrastinate on this for years because it just seems so hard to do. I say do it! If you just totally don’t want to fight with the angles on large crown, use a flat board with a small cove molding at the top or some similar combination. The smaller the piece of trim you’re trying to cut, the easier it is to get than angle to line up.

I’d encourage you to try the big stuff though. The angle cuts aren’t that hard and installation isn’t impossible if you’re patient. And there is always the option of hiring a professional. I’ve had trim crews who could run the crown in a house, a whole four bedroom house (every room) in a day with three men working. Sometimes it’s easier just to hire someone!

Pick a Spot and Start

No matter which type of trim you start with, I encourage you to give it a try. The change you’ll see in your home is worth every bit of effort and expense. (IMHO!)

Of course, your list of options is much longer than four items! There are choices about materials, profiles, fasteners, and finishes. There are hundreds of other types and uses for trim and they all make a difference! I hope you go for it!

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Thanks Julia for giving me the opportunity to guest post here at Hooked On Houses! I love your blog and I’m honored to be here! ~ Tim

For more information on this topic, check out the very helpful series about trim on Tim’s popular blog Remodeling Guy. And when you’re done there, you should visit his wife Kim’s fabulous site Everything Etsy, too. They’re the incredible blogging duo!

Tagged as: carpentry, crown molding, diy, house projects, How-To, remodeling, trim, woodwork