Softwoods
Most interior trim projects are done with stock softwood mouldings. Clear, or stain-grade, mouldings 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. |  | 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. |  | 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. |  | 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 mouldings, 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. |  | Specialty pieces
Sometimes a project cries out for a special accent piece. Specialty pieces, both moulded 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. |  | Combination mouldings
These mouldings 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 mouldings lend great richness to a room. |  | Flexible vinyl
As the name suggests, these mouldings 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.
|  | Custom mouldings
Sometimes stock mouldings 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 mouldings.
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. |  |
 Decorating With Interior Trim
How to plan, design, and install trim elements—door and window casings, crown moulding, base trim, etc., to dramatically transform any room’s decor, adding character, warmth, and dimension.
Copyright Sunset Publishing Corporation
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