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Molding, interior trim, columns, and similar woodwork are terrific for adding character and style to a home’s interior rooms. Crown molding, chair rail, fireplace surrounds—these are the types of elements that give a home distinctive architectural style and character. And yet they are lacking in many of the houses that were built in the last 50 years. If this is the case with your home, maybe it’s time to add elements yourself.
The one caveat here is that it’s important to be true to the style of your home. Corinthian columns don’t fit with a ranch-style house. And intricate crown moldings can look odd in spare, contemporary rooms.
Many different types, styles, and materials of moldings and trim are available—and most are relatively easy for do-it-yourselfers to install. This section will help you make informed buying decisions, and give you step-by-step instructions and helpful advice about installing moldings and similar trim, as well as handling various types of care and repair projects.
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Softwoods
Most interior trim projects are done with stock softwood moldings. Clear, or stain-grade, moldings are made from single lengths of lumber without knots and are meant to be clear-finished (stained or unstained). Paint-grade moldings may have cosmetic flaws or be made up of many shorter pieces that are butt- or finger-jointed together. Pine, poplar, and basswood are all common species. |
 
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Hardwoods
Hardwood mouldings—oak, maple, and cherry, all more expensive than softwoods—evoke Old World craftsmanship. You’ll probably need to visit a specialty dealer to find a wide variety. |
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Medium-density fiberboard (MDF)
This is a paint-grade trim that is less expensive than wood but when painted is difficult to distinguish from the real thing. Made by compressing wood fibers with resins, MDF trim has a smooth surface.
Because it comes pre-primed, it can usually be finished with one coat of paint, and it requires little or no sanding. It won’t split when nailed and is more resistant to dings and dents than most softwoods. However, it’s heavy, is best fastened with a nail gun, and will reflect every undulation in an uneven wall. |
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Polyurethane trim
If your trim will be painted, high-density polyurethane is a lightweight, inexpensive alternative to wood. It comes in many patterns (including ornate classical profiles that are extremely expensive to duplicate in wood). The one-piece moldings, especially those that are joined together with corner blocks, are easy to install.
Polyurethane can be cut and nailed without cracking, splintering, or splitting. It requires no predrilling for nails or screws, no priming, and no sanding before painting. It won’t rot, and it expands and contracts much less than wood when exposed to severe changes in temperature and humidity. |
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Specialty pieces
Sometimes a project cries out for a special accent piece. Specialty pieces, both molded and hand carved, are available in hardwoods, softwoods, and composites to meet these needs. Specialty pieces are usually expensive, but then you don’t need many to make a real difference in a room. |
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Combination moldings
These moldings are first milled from poplar. Then a composite material, carrying highly figured “carved” designs, is bonded to them. The result is an elaborate piece of trim that would be prohibitively expensive to produce by other means. When painted (they cannot be clear-finished), these moldings lend great richness to a room. |
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Flexible vinyl
As the name suggests, these moldings will follow a curving wall, creating an elegant effect. This is the only material that can make tight curves smoothly, as proved by the short length of baseboard shown here. Vinyl is cut and fastened just like wood. It is impervious to water. |
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Custom moldings
Sometimes stock moldings don’t quite create the look you’re trying to achieve. Or you may need to match an older profile that is no longer made. For a setup charge, which includes grinding shaper knives for the profile you want, you can have a dealer make custom moldings.
Although this is expensive for a single room, if you are doing a large project, the cost will be minimal when spread over the whole job. |
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