Steps On Putting Up Trim

By Jean Parker

When you want to create the best trim of a door or window you should always be sure to have the right tools and purchase only products that are of good quality. With the vast array of wood choices this can be overwhelming to some but the secret to a great job completion is precision and patience.

When cutting the trim, it is easier to use a compound miter saw for the cuts. There are miter boxes that use a manual saw, and these can be fine if you only have a couple of cuts to make, but for larger projects, or if you just want to make your life easier, an electric compound miter saw is the best choice. When making the cuts, be sure to use the golden rule of any carpentry work; which states, measure twice, cut once. Following this rule will help you avoid a lot of bad cuts and mistakes. Remember, a piece of wood can always be cut shorter, but you cannot make it longer if it is cut too short.

Once you have decided on the type of trim you are going to purchase, you will than need to measure the length of the pieces that you will need. If you are purchasing from a home improvement store they sell it by the linear foot so you will have no problem getting the length that you need. When you are trimming a door or window the casing will look the same and should be cut into three or four sides at a 45 degree angle.

After being cut, the corners should be fitted together with a staple or nail so that they do not come apart once installed. This will keep the cracks of the joints at a minimum and make caulking the joints less visible. All of the visible joints should be caulked with a latex paintable caulk. This will hide the gap that any imperfections in the wall and wood show.

When you are ready to nail your frame to the wall you should do so with a nail gun for a more cleaner and smoother look. After you have installed your frame and finished your caulking you are then ready to paint the trim. If you have used a primed wood you can just choose you paint and start applying, however if you went with a bare wood you will need to prime it before you paint the trim to the color of your liking. - 33383

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