Shell Lumber- Do-It-Yourself-Moulding

WHAT IS MOULDING?

MOULDING IS DECORATIVE TRIM USED TO ADD DISTINCTIVE STYLE AND DETAIL TO ANY ROOM. ALTHOUGH MANY MOULDINGS ARE DESIGNED FOR SPECIFIC USES, MOST MOULDINGS MAY BE USED IN MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS. BY ADDING MOULDING, YOU WILL ALSO INCREASE THE RE-SALE VALUE OF YOUR HOME. SHELL LUMBER HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1928, AND WE HAVE A WIDER SELECTION OF PROFILES AND MORE IN STOCK MOULDING THAN ANY OTHER DEALER IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

IN OUR MOULDING SHOWROOM, WE HAVE FREE SAMPLES OF ALL OF OUR STOCK MOULDING PROFILES, AND FINDING YOUR MOULDING IN OUR SELF SERVICE MOULDING RACK IS AS EASY AS A, B, C. SIMPLY FIND THE LOCATION AND CHOOSE THE CORRECT LENGHTS FOR YOUR PROJECT. EACH PIECE IS CLEARLY MARKED WITH THE LENGTH.

WHAT ARE THE BASIC TYPES OF MOULDINGS?

BASEBOARD: DESIGNED TO HIDE THE JOINT BETWEEN THE WALL SURFACE AND THE FLOOR. SIZES AND STYLES VARY GREATLY, HOWEVER, OUR MOST POPULAR BASEBOARDS ARE THE 5 1/4" PROFILES.

CASING: CASINGS ARE DESIGNED TO "FRAME" DOORS AND WINDOWS, AND TO HIDE THE JOINT BETWEEN THE DOOR JAMB AND THE WALL.

CHAIR RAIL: ORIGINALLY USED IN DINING ROOMS TO PROTECT WALLS, CHAIR RAILS ARE WIDELY USED TO HORIZONTALLY DIVIDE WALL SURFACES, ALLOWING FOR MANY INTERIOR DESIGN TECHNIQUES. CHAIR RAILS ARE TYPICALLY INSTALLED 3 TO 4 FEET FROM THE FLOOR.

CROWN: CROWN MOULDING IS USUALLY INSTALLED AT THE TOP OF THE WALL TO HIDE THE JOINT BETWEEN THE WALL AND THE CEILING. CROWN MOULDINGS ARE DESIGNED TO BE INSTALLED ON AN ANGLE, AND ARE AMONG THE MOST DIFFICULT FOR THE DO IT YOURSELFER TO INSTALL.

MISCELLANEOUS TRIM: THIS GROUP OF MOULDINGS INCLUDES SPECIFIC USE PIECES SUCH AS SCREEN MOULDING AND OUTSIDE CORNERS, AS WELL AS MYRIAD USE MOULDINGS SUCH AS QUARTER ROUNDS AND BATTENS.

HOW MUCH MOULDING DO I BUY?

MOULDINGS ARE USUALLY PRICED BY THE LINEAL FOOT, RANGING FROM AROUND 30 CENTS FOR SMALL, SIMPLE PATTERNS, TO MORE THAN $15 FOR ORNATE ARCHITECTURAL STYLES. HOWEVER, SOME POLYURETHANE AND STYROFOAM MOULDINGS ARE ONLY SOLD BY THE PIECE.

THE FIRST STEP IN YOUR MOULDING PROJECT IS TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH MOULDING YOU WILL NEED. MAKE A LIST OF THE SPECIFIC LENGTHS YOU WILL NEED AND ROUND YOUR MEASUREMENTS UP TO THE NEAREST FOOT. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOUR MEASUREMENT IS 9�5", YOU SHOULD ROUND UP TO A 10� PIECE. WHEN MEASURING FOR PIECES THAT ARE GOING TO BE MITRE CUT (CUT ON A 45 DEGREE ANGLE) ALWAYS MEASURE FROM THE OUTSIDE OR LONGEST POINT.

ALTHOUGH MOULDINGS ARE SOLD BY THE LINEAL FOOT, SOME MOULDINGS ARE ONLY SOLD IN CERTAIN LENGTHS, WHILE OTHERS ARE AVAILABLE IN RANDOM LENGTHS RANGING FROM 8� TO 16� FOR MOST PROFILES. YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THIS WHEN CALCULATING THE TOTAL FOOTAGE YOU WILL NEED.

HELPFUL HINT: ALWAYS ALLOW UP TO AN ADDITIONAL 10% OF YOUR TOTAL FOOTAGE FOR WASTE, CUTS AND ERRORS.

WHETHER YOU NEED SEVERAL FEET OR SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET, SHELL LUMBER HAS YOUR MOULDING IN STOCK, AVAILABLE TO TAKE HOME TODAY OR FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY ANYWHERE IN DADE OR BROWARD COUNTIES.

WHAT TOOLS WILL I NEED?

TO INSTALL MOULDINGS, ONLY BASIC TOOLS ARE NEEDED. HOWEVER, THE BETTER THE QUALITY OF THE TOOLS, THE EASIER THE TASK, AND THE MORE PROFESSIONAL THE LOOK OF THE FINISHED PROJECT.

TO CUT AND INSTALL MOULDINGS, YOU WILL NEED A MITRE BOX WITH A BACK SAW, A COPING SAW, MEASURING TAPE, COMBINATION SQUARE, HAMMER OR POWER NAILER, FINISHING NAILS (1 ¼" OR 1 ½"), NAIL SET, A CAULK GUN, AND FINISHING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES, SUCH AS PAINTBRUSH OR SPONGE, TAPE, WOOD PUTTY, PUTTY KNIFE, LATEX CAULK, AND SANDPAPER.

REMEMBER TO USE CAUTION WHEN USING HAND OR POWER TOOLS. READ AND FOLLOW ALL MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS AND ALWAYS USE SAFETY GLASSES OR GOGGLES.

HELPFUL HINT: IF YOU ARE MAKING NUMEROUS CUTS OR CUTTING CROWN MOULDING, A POWER COMPOUND MITRE SAW ("CHOP SAW") WILL MAKE THE JOB EASIER. YOU CAN PURCHASE A COMPOUND MITRE SAW AT SHELL LUMBER & HARDWARE OR YOU CAN RENT THESE SAWS AT MANY LOCAL TOOL RENTAL CENTERS.

WHEN SHOULD I PAINT OR STAIN MY MOULDING?

GENERALLY, IT IS EASIER AND FASTER TO APPLY THE FINISH AFTER THE MOULDING HAS BEEN MEASURED AND CUT, BUT BEFORE IT IS INSTALLED. WHETHER YOU ARE STAINING OR PAINTING, YOU SHOULD FOLLOW BASIC PREPARATION TECHNIQUES TO ENSURE THE BEST RESULTS. ALL MOULDING SHOULD BE LIGHTLY SANDED PRIOR TO FINISHING. USE 150 TO 220 GRIT SANDPAPER, SANDING WITH THE GRAIN. REMOVE SAWDUST FROM THE MOULDING USING A DAMP RAG OR TACK CLOTH.

FOR STAINING, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU USE A PRE-CONDITIONER AS WELL AS A SANDING SEALER. FOLLOW ALL STEPS ON THE STAIN LABEL TO ACHIEVE THE FINEST FINISH.

IF THE MOULDING IS GOING TO BE PAINTED, APPLY A PRIMER COAT AND AT LEAST ONE COAT OF PAINT BEFORE THE MOULDING IS INSTALLED. AFTER THE MOULDING IS IN PLACE, USE THE NAIL SET TO SINK THE NAIL HEADS, PUTTY THE HOLES, LIGHTLY SAND WHEN THE PUTTY HAS DRIED AND APPLY A TOUCH UP COAT OF PAINT.

WHETHER YOU ARE PLANNING TO STAIN OR PAINT YOUR MOULDING, BE SURE TO VISIT THE PAINT ROOM AT SHELL LUMBER & HARDWARE. WE HAVE A COMPLETE LINE OF STAINS, INCLUDING GEL STAINS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO TRY. WE ALSO HAVE EVERY ACCESSORY NEEDED TO OBTAIN EXCELLENT, PROFESSIONAL LOOKING RESULTS. OUR PAINT MATCH SERVICE IS SECOND TO NONE, AND WE CAN MATCH ANY FORMULA, INCLUDING BENJAMIN MOORE, SHERWIN WILLIAMS, GLIDDEN AND BEHR.

HELPFUL HINT: BEFORE THE MOULDING IS FINISHED AND INSTALLED, IT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ACCLIMATE IN THE ROOM IN WHICH IT IS GOING TO BE INSTALLED FOR 24 TO 48 HOURS. THIS ACCLIMATION TO TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY WILL HELP PREVENT EXPANSION OR CONTRACTION OF THE MOULDING AFTER IT HAS BEEN INSTALLED.

HOW DO I CUT AND INSTALL MY MOULDING?

WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU PRACTICE CUTTING ON SCRAP MATERIAL UNTIL YOU DEVELOP A FEEL FOR THE PROCEDURES AND ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THEM. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE BASIC CUTS REQUIRED FOR MOULDING PROJECTS:

MITRES: MITRES ARE USUALLY CUT AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE USING A MITRE BOX AND BACK SAW. MITRES ARE USED WHEN TWO PIECES OF MOULDING MEET AT AN OUTSIDE CORNER, INSIDE CORNER, OR AROUND DOORS AND WINDOWS.

COPES: THE COPING TECHNIQUE IS USED WHEN BUTTING CEILING MOULDINGS AT AN INSIDE CORNER. ONE PIECE IS CUT TO FIT FLAT TO THE WALL AT A RIGHT ANGLE, AND THE OTHER PIECE IS CUT TO FIT THE FACE PROFILE OF THE FIRST PIECE.

SPLICING: SPLICING IS USED TO JOIN TWO PIECES TOGETHER, END TO END, WHEN A SINGLE CONTINUOUS PIECE IS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO COVER THE SPACE. CUT 45 DEGREE ANGLES ON THE JOINING ENDS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.

WHEN USING THE MITRE BOX, PLACE THE MOULDING IN THE SAME POSITION IT WILL BE INSTALLED IN. BE SURE THE MOULDING IS SECURE IN THE MITRE BOX; YOU MAY WANT TO USE A C-CLAMP WITH PADS. WHEN SAWING, USE LONG EVEN STROKES, KEEPING THE BLADE UPRIGHT AND STRAIGHT.

WHEN INSTALLING MOULDINGS USE FINISH NAILS, A CONSTRUCTION ADHESIVE (LIQUID NAIL), OR A COMBINATION OF THE TWO. DO NOT PRE CUT YOUR JOINING PIECES. AS YOU WORK YOUR WAY AROUND THE ROOM, MEASURE AND CUT THE JOINTS. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR ANY VARIANCE IN THE MEASUREMENTS OF YOUR WALLS.

FOR CROWN MOULDING INSTALLATIONS, YOU MAY WANT TO FIRST INSTALL A CHAMFER STRIP. THE CHAMFER STRIP IS A TRIANGULAR SHAPED PIECE OF WOOD THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE WALL SO THAT THE BACK OF THE CROWN WILL BE FLAT AGAINST THE ANGLE OF THE CHAMFER STRIP. ALTHOUGH CROWN MOULDING IS OFTEN INSTALLED WITHOUT THEM, THE CHAMFER STRIP PROVIDES A MORE SOLID PLACE TO NAIL THE CROWN MOULDING.

HELPFUL HINT: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF "MITRE-LESS" CORNERS AVAILABLE FOR CROWN MOULDING, BASEBOARDS AND CHAIR RAIL. THESE CORNERS ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR DIFFICULT CUTS AND PROVIDE ADDED ELEGANCE TO YOUR ROOM. SHELL LUMBER HAS THESE CORNERS IN STOCK, FOR ALL CROWNS 5 ½" WIDE AND SMALLER.

IT IS A FACT THAT NOT ALL WALLS ARE FLAT AND SQUARE, AND THAT NOT ALL FLOORS ARE PERFECTLY LEVEL. DON�T BE DISCOURAGED IF YOU HAVE SMALL GAPS AT THE BOTTOM OR BEHIND YOUR MOULDING. THESE GAPS CAN BE FILLED WITH WOOD PUTTY, LIGHTLY SANDED WHEN DRY AND TOUCHED UP WITH PAINT. ONCE YOUR MOULDING IS INSALLED, YOU SHOULD RUN A BEAD OF CAULK ALONG THE TOP EDGE AND AT ALL JOINTS TO HIDE ANY LITTLE IMPERFECTIONS. (BE SURE TO USE A PAINTABLE LATEX CAULK.)

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE STARTING MY PROJECT?

BECAUSE MOST MOULDINGS ARE MADE FROM SOFTWOODS SUCH AS PINE, THEY SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH CARE TO PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING DIRTY OR DAMAGED. IF YOUR PROJECT REQUIRES LONGER LENGTHS IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU HAVE YOUR MOULDING DELIVERED. REMEMBER, SHELL LUMBER OFFERS NEXT DAY DELIVERY OF YOUR MOULDING ANYWHERE IN DADE OR BROWARD, AND WE OFFER LIMITED DELIVERY TO PALM BEACH AND THE KEYS.

MOULDING IS DECORATIVE AND WILL ADD BEAUTY AND VALUE TO YOUR PROPERTY. MOULDING PROJECTS ARE AMONG THE EASIEST AND SAFEST "DO IT YOURSELF" PROJECTS. AS ALWAYS, FOLLOW GOOD CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES AND MOST OF ALL, USE YOUR IMAGINATION AND HAVE FUN.

FOR PRICING, SERVICE AND SELECTION, SHELL LUMBER IS YOUR FIRST CHOICE AND LAST CALL FOR ALL YOUR MOULDING NEEDS.