Mold And Trim Installation

Common Problems With Molding & Trim Installations

Installing trim and molding has its challenges and experienced contractors should know how to address certain issues that can arise when installing trim. We have seen almost everything when it comes to trim and moldings. Here's some of the solutions we've found to some common problems:

• Gaps Between The Trim Molding & Wall: When you lay your trim against the wall and it's not perfectly flat, a gap shows and it is glaring. This can happen when there are misaligned studs in the walls and the bottom of the drywall bends inward, or there's a build-up of taping compound on the joints between drywall sheets which causes the drywall to not be perfectly flat and pushes outward in that spot - creating a gap between the wall and the trim molding.
  
  The Solution: If the drywall is thick and not as flexible, the only solution is to fill in the gaps with caulk. But if it's thinner (3/8 in.) then what you can do is first cut the trim to length and hold it against the wall to look for any gaps. Wherever you see gaps, take some scrap trim and cut out a few 4 to 6 inch pieces and cut 45 degree cuts on both ends, but make sure they are opposite cuts. You don't want parallel cuts.
  
  Then add construction adhesive behind the trim against the wall with a gap at the top and bottom, nail it to the studs, and wedge the little strip of trim against the large piece against the wall - one side flat on the floor and the other flat on the wall trim. It should fit like a little puzzle piece. Shove it against the wall trim so the gap is closed by force and then tack the bottom of the scrap trim to the floor and to the top of the wall trim to hold the wall trim in place against the wall. Let it sit overnight for the construction adhesive to dry and remove the tacks and scrap trim. The wall trim is now glued against the wall where the gaps were and you just have to use some wood filler/putty to fill in an cover the tack holes. Problem solved!
• Inside Corners Not Meeting Perfectly (Tilted Corners): Despite cutting perfect 45 degree angles on the trim molding, sometimes they don't meet perfectly. This is because the tape joints for the corners where the two drywall slabs meet are sanded or filled all the way to the bottom of the floor, causing an uneven and imperfect surface.
  
  The Solution: Put two test pieces of trim tightly against the wall If they're perfectly cut but there's a gap at the bottom, identify the trim piece that is bent inward and remove it so you can put a flat-head screw at the bottom of the drywall near the corner. Don't screw it in all the way and flush with the drywall, let it jut out a little bit. This screw will push out against the trim that is bent inward at the bottom and push it outward to meet the other 45 degree cut trim. Adjust the screw to the desired height so the trim pieces meet perfectly.

Hiring The Right Painting Contractor

These are just a couple of our trade secrets we have learned along the way through many years of trial and error. When you hire a contractor, make sure they have years of experience in the trades, check their references, and have been in business for a while. There will always be problems or hiccups on the job, and the seasoned professionals know how to deal with every one of them. So be weary when a relatively new contractor underbids experienced and established contractors. The experienced contractors know exactly how much a job SHOULD cost to do them at a certain standard of quality. Inexperienced ones will underbid significantly to get the job and when they start to go over budget they start to cut corners to not lose money.

If you have 4 bids all within the same range and one bid that is $5,000 cheaper than everyone - that contractor might be underestimating the job and will get overwhelmed when costs start adding up. With contracting - you get what you pay for. When you work with Color Concepts Painting you get honest, thought out, and reasonably priced estimates to do the job the right way. We've been around for over 25 years, we know EXACTLY how much a job should cost and will give you the best deal for the quality of work we perform.