Comments on: Never Underestimate a Good Trim Job

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:45:33 +0000

Wanda,

Hopefully you have have standard door casing and can upgrade the molding. Purchase a flush cut saw, and instal plinth blocks onto the casing.

I purchased a home as a renovation project. They only item the previous owner upgraded was the hardwood floors. They did not cut the door casings, but attempted to scrib the wood to meet the casings. It drove me nuts, but I was hoping to save some money by keeping the new floors. I used the method described above and was satisfied with the results.

By: Wanda

Wanda — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:19:11 +0000

Hey all you trim pros,

Maybe you can give me some advice…i put in my first laminate floor, and didn’t take the trim down around the doors but cut the floor around it. Little did I know that the floor would be shifting every time I laid a new row. For the most part I can trim over the gaps along the walls, but what do I do now that I have gaps around the door trim? I haven’t put in the T-molding in any of the doorways yet; I thought maybe putting in really wide T-molding, by first pulling the door trim off and overlapping the floor then putting new molding back up. Any suggestions, advice?

Thanks!

By: Randall Brown

Randall Brown — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:07:24 +0000

It’s seems to be that way with door trim and other moldings. I am always back in forth to the miter saw. If I try for the perfect cut the first time, I waste more or have to settle for less than perfect joints.

By: Chris Marshall

Chris Marshall — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:32:40 +0000

Pete,

Good trick–I wouldn’t have thought to grind a mini pry bar to sneak behind that trim. I’ll try that! Lots we can learn from you pro trimmers.

Michael,

I think miter joints are the toughest of them all to get right. Just wait until the December print issue of the magazine for another good example of these tricky but “do-able” joints.

Thanks for all of your comments, folks!

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:54:42 +0000

Hi Chris,
I am a trim carpenter by trade. One trip to Lowes will make the job of removing your case work a breeze. They sell a mini pry bar(9 1/2″) that works wonders. It’s in the paint section of the store. You’ll want to sharpen the ends on a belt sander. While your in that section get a couple flat wooden paint stir sticks. (they’ll give them to you for free)
To remove the trim without damaging your previous paint job, use a utility knife with a SHARP blade to score around the trim. This prevents the paint from peeling as you pry the casing up. Lay the stir stick flat on the wall next to the casing. Use the sharpened pry bar to lift the casing from the wall. The Stir stick prevents you from gouging into the paint by accident and allows you to use a little extra force if it’s needed.
Once all the casing is removed, use new wood and recut all of your trim work. You’ll learn some new expletives if you try fixing the mess you have in the pictures. Take your time, measure, and make precise cuts. Be sure to putty all of your nail holes with a matching color when your’re finished. They will virtually disappear unless you’re up close and looking for them.
Thanks for taking the time to acknowledge the craftmanship that goes into trim work. For me it’s a huge sorce of pride when I see a job done right.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:03:57 +0000

I love a good miter joint – probably because I think I suck at it. It seems to be ok with my wife, though. However, I know where every single one of those “suckers” are.

By: Chris Marshall

Chris Marshall — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:04:34 +0000

Javier,

More power to you! That’s the way every job should be done…well or not at all. Wish you had been on the crew when this trimwork was installed! They could have used you.

By: Javier

Javier — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:00:36 +0000

I will not be able to sleep if something did not align or match up. If it takes all day to fix it, then it takes all day.

By: Chris Marshall

Chris Marshall — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:30:55 +0000

Pablo,

Yep, I thought about that, but my wife wanted the painting DONE. So, enough said. A happy wife comes first. I can still get the trim off pretty easily, no matter what.

Thanks for posting!

By: Pablo

Pablo — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:15:59 +0000

“Wooden” it have been a lot easier to re-do the trim work before re-painting? At least the removal-of-the-old?