YOUR GUIDE TO MOULDINGS
When it comes to architecture, details count. They also define. The places where floors, doors, ceilings and windows meet the walls are usually accompanied by trim. The sizes, shapes and colors of that trim have refined and defined our homes throughout history. Trim adds character and gives your rooms more personality and a stronger identity.
Ceilings
Crown Moulding
Crown moulding is typically installed at the intersection of walls and ceiling, but may also be used above doors, windows, or cabinets. When applied correctly, crown molding helps lift the space, drawing the eyes up and making the ceiling feel higher.
Crown treatments may be a single piece of trim, or a build-up of multiple components to create a more elaborate look.
Combining multiple crown, base and filler pieces together to create a single large and eye-catching design can be a very impressive feature but can also add up in cost.
Using a smaller crown and a few sticks of panel moulding can offer a more cost efficient way to make a room stand out while also keeping the crown from overwhelming smaller rooms.
Coffered Ceilings
A coffered ceiling is a ceiling with a series of sunken panels. This is typically done by creating a grid of wood that drops down leaving recessed “coffers” of various shapes and sizes.
Generally inside of each coffer, crown moulding is applied to make an even more dynamic look.
Walls
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Baseboards
Baseboard molding is the trim that runs along the bottom of interior walls. This trim decoratively fills in the area where the wall and floor meet.
Baseboards are typically larger yet thinner than the casing, unless a backband or plinth block is being used.
Base Caps
Base caps are a small trim that sits on top of a piece of S4S, like a 1x6 or 1x8, to create the look of a single piece of baseboard.
This can provide flexibility allowing you to use smaller S4S sizes in less visible rooms while maintaining the same look throughout your home.
A base cap can also lap over the S4S to create a more dynamic and larger look at a much lower cost than if it were all made out of one thick board.
Shoe Moulding and Quarter Rounds
Shoe moulding, also known as “base shoe,” and quarter rounds are a thin strip of moulding that runs along the bottom of baseboards.
It is used both as a decorative element and to hide any unevenness or gaps in between the baseboard and floor.
Panel Moulding
A panel mould, or panel moulding can refer to a variety of moulding profiles most often used to create or embellish panels on either flat or recessed surfaces.
Panel moulds come in a huge array of shapes and sizes, and can be used in a variety of ways. They can be applied flat on a wall to create shapes and designs, or run horizontally around the room for an added detail that sets an area of your home apart.
Panel moulds can also be used along with other types of mouldings to create a whole new look. This will be discussed in more detail later.
Wainscoting
Wainscoting is wood paneling applied to the lower portion of a wall inside a home, especially in the dining room, living room, or entryway.
Some popular types of wainscot paneling are tongue and groove beadboard, picture frame-style, raised panel, and personalized or customized designs.
Doors and Windows
Casings
Casings are typically used around doors and windows. Because of this they are the most visible trim in your home.
We run our casings slower than all other mouldings to ensure that you get the smoothest finish possible.
Casings come in all shapes and sizes and truly seem to only be limited by space requirements and your design preferences.
Backbands
Backbands lap over and sit behind a casing to completely expand and change the look of the casing.
Backbands also provide thickness at the edge of a casing when a thick baseboard, chair rail, or wall panel detail is to be used.
Plinth Blocks
A plinth block is a decorative moulding that sits at the base of a door casing. It is usually thicker than the casing and baseboard.
While not as commonly used, a plinth block can enhance the appearance of the entire doorway.
