Pricing Custom Cabinets and Trim Even within one local market, prices can be all over the map. Balancing careful itemized estimating against local market conditions can help you turn a decent profit. August 23, 2006
Moisture and Swelling Issues for a Porch Ceiling Moisture-related expansion could cause beadboard porch ceilings to buckle. Why, and what can be done about it? This long discussion delves deep into the mysteries of moisture. February 8, 2008
Tile Setters vs. Trim carpenters On a woodworking site, it's not tough to guess the winner of this battle. But the war of words makes for good reading. February 25, 2005
Arched Crown Moulding You may never have to do it, but just in case you do, this thread with expert analysis, practical tips, and great pictures will help you wrap your head around the problem of fitting crown moulding to a barrel-vault wall-to-ceiling joint. November 2, 2010
Is a Woodworking Sub Responsible for ADA Compliance? If you catch potential Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violations in a set of plans, advise the architect, and help out with corrected working drawings, are you now on the hook for some kind of liability? Here's a long and thoughtful discussion. March 12, 2009
Scribing Skirt Boards (Step By Step Photo Essay) Carl Hagstrom's detailed step-by-step photo essay (starring Carl's younger and better-looking stunt double) showing how to scribe a skirt board for a staircase stimulates a well-informed expert discussion of site and factory stair-building methods. February 15, 2015
Hinge Placement Rules and Traditions Here's a long and thorough look at the reasons for the traditional placement of hinges on architectural doors. April 22, 2014
Joining a Rail to a Newel Cap The joint where a handrail meets a profiled newel cap is a real head-scratcher. Here, experienced stair rail carpenters explain the fine points. August 12, 2007
Crown Moulding Jigs and Techniques Another take on crown moulding, as pros and newbies compare jig systems with old-fashioned methods. November 19, 2008
Setting Commercial Doors Advice for experienced residential carpenters on working with steel door frames and hardware on commercial jobs. March 26, 2010
Custom Handrailing for an Awkward Winder How do you make a good-looking and practical handrail for a stair winder that looks awkward and doesn't meet code? Here, top craftsmen take their best shot at solving the problem. February 15, 2015
Moulding Quality Issues A batch of mouldings with quality problems sets off a discussion of proper dimensions, back-relief, and surface smoothness for base, casing, and jamb stock. December 15, 2005
Custom On-Site Stair Fabrication Puzzle Woodwork installers consider a special case where a craftsman has to complete designer stairs on site, when the rough framing is already in place. August 11, 2009
Designing a Raised-Panel Wall A design discussion of full-wall-height raised-panel wainscot delves into issues of ideal proportioning versus matching existing elements. March 20, 2007
Indoor Humidity and Wood Moisture Content A discussion with data, about typical indoor humidity levels and the corresponding effect on wood moisture content. October 13, 2010
Crown Transitions for Corner Cabinets Several ways to deal with a tricky crown molding detail at the top of corner cabinets flanked by manufactured upper cabs. October 25, 2006
Hidden-Pivot Bookcase Door Here are detailed drawings for a nifty swinging-bookcase hidden door. October 12, 2006
Replacing Paneling in an Elevator Rules and standards related to elevators are so complicated and strict that the jobs tend to be quite expensive and difficult. March 4, 2007
MDF as Interior Trim Does MDF make good trim, especially in a humid climate? Pros share their observations. December 20, 2005
Using Coping Jigs If you've got a lot of trim to run, coping jigs and accessories can save you some serious time. June 28, 2007
Mitering Curved to Straight Mouldings When an arc joins a straight line, some thinking and fussing are required to get a close match. Here, finish pros discuss the fine points. August 24, 2005
Complicated Trim Scribing Problem When complicated pieces butt together, sometimes there is no alternative but tedious hand scribing and fitting. Best to avoid those situations by prior planning, if possible. October 12, 2007
Contact Cement and Bubbles Under Veneer A report of veneer delaminating from architectural columns leads to a long string of cautions about using contact cement to apply veneer, along with advice about superior methods. March 4, 2007
Archway Casing Size Esthetics A discussion with photo examples of trim proportioning for arched windows and doors. March 26, 2010
Window Hinge Mortising Retrofit Techniques Detailed advice for cutting new Soss hinge mortises on custom replacement windows to match already-mortised existing window jambs. June 3, 2007
Applied wainscot Creating fake raised panels for the lower portion of walls. April 3, 2002
Shoes Off in the House? Woodworkers discuss the practicality of working in socks, and the alternatives for protecting floors in high-end residential work. October 14, 2009
Labor Charge to Hang Doors Millwork installers discuss the steps, labor time and cost for installing interior pass-through doors. October 4, 2005
Designing Large Built-Up Crown Molding Treatments Big trim build-ups at a high wall-ceiling joint call for large, well-defined profiles. Here's an example of the problem and some feedback from trimwork installers. May 21, 2007
Chatter Marks in Production Moulding It's hopeless to think of sanding milling defects out of cheap moulding. The lucky thing is, most customers won't necessarily consider this visual characteristic to be a defect. December 9, 2010
Stair to Base Transition Example Follow a trim carpenter from idea to execution as he figures out a tricky baseboard trim transition at the bottom of a staircase. April 21, 2011
Installing Flush-Mount Paneling Here's a great collection of methods for mounting veneered MDF panels flush against a wall. Advice on Z-clips, shimming, frames, and more. August 15, 2012
Wainscot with toe kick Notching and other ideas for integrating a toe kick with wainscot. January 3, 2003
Allowing for Wood Expansion in Solid Board Paneling A woodworker puzzles over the measures needed to let V-groove wood board paneling expand and contract with seasonal moisture changes in a seaside home. January 2, 2012
Reviving an Old Sharpening Stone Here's the story of an old, legacy grinding wheel and the difficulties a woodworker encountered while trying to make it work again. January 2, 2012
Comparing Oscillating Tools How do the original high-end oscillating cutter tools rate in comparison to the less expensive off brands? October 27, 2011
More Fun with Stud Finders No stud finder works perfectly. In this thread, pros discuss stud finding methods high tech and low. September 4, 2005
Crown Moulding and Cathedral Ceilings The joint between horizontal to rake treatments when applying crown in a cathedral-ceilinged room involves some complex geometry, and usually creates awkward visuals. Here's more discussion on this pesky problem. April 6, 2007
Coping Baseboard Trim carpenters agree coped joints are best. Here's advice on doing them well. June 16, 2010
Installing an Interlocking Door Threshold Using tail wags, ear movements, growls, and barks, an old dog describes in detail the installation process for a Pemko interlocking residential door threshold. October 19, 2014
Crown Moulding for Uneven Height Cabinets Alternating high and low upper cabinets create a puzzle when it's time to apply crown molding at the top. Here, installers share ideas and show finished examples. July 24, 2005
Exterior Priming and Back-Priming Woodworkers debate whether shellac should be used for exterior priming. Manufacturers don't recommend it, but anecdotal experience varies. June 17, 2012
Entry-Level Tooling for Moulding Manufacture A finish carpenter and cabinetmaker/installer gets advice on the gear he needs to make his own mouldings (and stock for sale). February 15, 2015
Removing Studs Without Damaging Back-Side Drywall Here are tips for surgically removing a short section of wall stud from a bathroom wall to create space for installing a medicine cabinet, without damaging the artistically painted drywall in the adjoining room behind the wall. August 15, 2011
Terminating Crown Moulding at a Vent A high-wall air-conditioning register interrupts a run of crown molding. What are the installer's choices? Pros supply ideas. July 5, 2005
Radius Bead A craftsman asks for advice on cutting a bead profile into an arched bookcase front, and hears the details of several alternative methods. October 4, 2005
Deck Construction with Ipe Woodworkers talk about working and fastening Ipe decking, and discuss its machinability and toxicity. February 6, 2007
Who Does the Wood Trim Takeoffs? Should the wood moulding supplier do quantity takeoffs, or should the customer do it? January 19, 2011
Ripping a Glue Line on Site Have to glue boards edge to edge on the job site? Here are a couple of tips on preparing the edges for a satisfactory match.January 23, 2014
Ripping an Acute Angle For a tricky millwork installation, the woodworker needs to rip a 65-degree angle on a plywood edge. Colleagues offer solutions. November 10, 2006
Joining cabinets - at a 45 degree angle Cabinetmakers offer illustrated tips on joining a line of cabinetry which incorporates a 45-degree-angled unit. April 3, 2002
Flush-Cutting Fiber-Cement Siding Installers look for an easy way to cut fiber-cement siding in place for a window flashing retrofit. October 27, 2009
Drilling Into Radiant Floor Heating Tubes Oops! A woodworker installing a door learns his lesson when he drills into a hydronic heating tube in the concrete slab floor. May 15, 2014
Home Theater Acoustic Panels You can make your own sound-absorbing acoustic panels, but the tricky part is proper acoustic design for the whole room, including sound reflectors as well as absorbers. February 6, 2007
Job Site Toolbox Ideas Installers tell how they transport and organize their tools on the job. December 9, 2007
Cope-Cutting Jigs and Machines Carpenters swap experiences using various machines and tools to cut copes in a volume production situation. October 25, 2007
Trim Wraps for Old Beams Millwork installers discuss ways to trim out posts and beams. October 8, 2005
Crown Coping Tips Some advice on dealing with large, hard-to-cope crown moulding. January 26, 2008
Cheating Crown Moulding When a sagging ceiling threatens to squeeze your mouldings down too low, there are ways to tweak the "spring angle" to make everything fit kinda sorta just right. October 25, 2007
Coping MDF Mouldings Tips on MDF joinery. Some people don't cope it, and some do. September 5, 2006
A Jig for Drawing or Cutting Ellipses This clever but simple jig can be used with a pencil to draw an ellipse, or with a router to cut one. April 18, 2006
A Wood Mantle for an Existing Stone Fireplace A discussion of design values and installation issues for a new wood mantle to be installed onto an existing cobblestone fireplace chimney. October 3, 2011
MDF for Built-In Closet Shelving A discussion of MDF's structural suitability for closet shelves and upright shelf support frames. March 3, 2009
Trimming Plugs Cutting and sanding wood plugs can be tedious and laborious. Here, pros discuss efficient ways to make a clean job of it. September 3, 2005
Door Gap and Outdoor Humidity A woodworker gets expert advice on predicting the moisture-related dimensional changes in a wood door, for purposes of calibrating the door gap to allow for the movement. October 11, 2007
Template Material for Router Work Pros suggest aluminum, MDF, phenolic board, or particleboard. Also here, a discussion of techniques for making templates and some tips about using them. November 22, 2005
Mounting Architectural Panels Here's a detailed description of an accurate and reliable way to attach architectural panels to walls with no visible fasteners and very little possibility of installation error. November 14, 2011
Commercial Countertop Shrinkage A very long laminate countertop in an industrial loft buildout experiences movement problems because of humidity changes. January 12, 2012
Cutting Cardboard Tubing Laminate-faced cardboard tubes can be tricky to cut. Here are some tips. March 10, 2008
Flush-trimming a Hardwood Floor Pros weigh in on a remodeling problem: how to flush-cut around the perimeter of a hardwood floor (the baseboard can't come off). August 29, 2005
Truss Lifting and Crown Moulding Trim installers discuss the finish problems associated with seasonal truss movement — cracking at the corners where walls meet ceilings. June 4, 2009
Murphy Bed Hardware A few general observations on the challenge of assembling and installing a Murphy bed. August 22, 2007
Coping on a Shaper For large quantities of base shoe and cap, coping ends on a shaper could be worth the setup expense. Here's a discussion of the fine points. November 10, 2006
Mitering Radius Moulding to Straight Moulding Here's help visualizing and laying out the miter cuts where a curved piece of moulding meets a straight piece with the same profile. April 24, 2014
Laser Measuring for Trim Are laser measuring devices accurate enough for trim work? Most installers say yes. November 19, 2006
Cabinet Installation and Trim Carpentry Installers discuss how trim carpenters and cabinet installers should work out the kinks where their workflows intersect. July 3, 2006
Fireplace Trim Design Example Here's a problem and possible solution for trimming out around a fireplace flanked by built-in cabinets. December 7, 2008
Re-Facing a Stair Stringer A woodworker needs to apply a veneered face to an existing stair stringer. Here's the advice he receives on scribing and fitting. October 27, 2008
Stripping Old Windows How to get old paint off historic window sashes without damaging the wood. March 18, 2006
Fastening Trim to Metal Framing For commercial build-out in a coffee shop, a woodworker asks for tips on installing trim. November 19, 2008
Cutting Metal Closet Rod Suggestions for saws, blades, and cutters for cutting metal closet rod material. October 27, 2011
Drilling Deep Holes in End Grain Advice on how to drill three-foot wiring chases into the ends of wooden deck posts, in the field. November 26, 2008
Exterior MDF A closer look at exterior-grade MDF products. October 27, 2008
Ingenious Hidden Pantry Idea This technique for disguising the doors to a walk-in pantry as a large cabinet is as slick as a whistle. March 6, 2006
Crown moulding on a radius Upside down, backwards, and bent; lots of ideas for making crown flow sexily around an inside curve.
A Very Short Piece of Matching Moulding What are you going to do when some old door casing mouldings have been cut off just an inch short of the floor? Here are some great ideas for making the match. April 12, 2013
Troubleshooting Stain Wicking at End Grain Here's an interesting case example: a problem of stain wicking into end grain in a site-finished coffer ceiling trim job. April 18, 2010
Fastening Newel Posts to Floors Without tearing things apart, how do you attach a newel post to a floor framed with floor trusses and subflooring, with laminate flooring installed over that? July 3, 2006
Keeping Joints Tight with MDF Crown Moulding Gaps can appear at MDF moulding joints for various reasons. Here, installers give several suggestions for holding those joints tight. September 4, 2005
Leaving the Bark on Porch Posts There are several reasons why leaving the bark on an architectural feature is a bad idea, especially outdoors. September 25, 2014
Jobsite Tool Carts Installers share ideas for keeping tools and materials organized on site. March 18, 2006
Oddball Crown Moulding Miters Advice on joinery for spots where curved mouldings on an arch meet a horizontal return, and other odd intersections. December 6, 2008
Sharpening Vibrating-Head Saw Blades Did you know you can sharpen the blades for those vibrating-head detail-sander saws? You can also make your own replacement blades. December 6, 2006
Waste Allowance for Running Trim Suggestions for how to handle the "fudge factor" involved in estimating trim material quantities. August 13, 2007
Wainscot for Stairs and Landings A discussion of how to handle the tricky transitions brought on by stairway elevation changes. February 16, 2006
Taking Millwork Impressions for Reproduction Woodworkers discuss non-destructive ways to take profiles of existing mouldings in order to make exact reproductions. December 27, 2008
Making a Standard Refrigerator Look Built In Wood-look panels applied to a standard refrigerator fall short of providing the appearance or useability of a true built-in model. January 1, 2012
Working with Balau Wood A dense, durable tropical hardwood that is rough on blades, Balau is good for outdoor features such as decks. April 4, 2011
"Crosette Corner" Period Door Casing An example with some discussion of a wide-shoulder door casing from the Georgian period in American architecture. January 19, 2011
Milling Ipe with a Router Ipe wood is hard, stubborn and toxic. Wear a respirator and use carbide tooling. June 23, 2006
Making a Fabric-Covered Tack Board Pros suggest backing materials, fabrics, and attachment methods for building a "tack-friendly" bulletin board. August 13, 2007
Rolling Jobsite Tool Carts Ideas for putting your tool chest on wheels to get in an out of install sites quickly. September 27, 2008
An Antique Look for Nails Advice on creating a look of staining and age in antique nails in a custom mantelpiece. February 12, 2009
Long Angle Cutting on a Miter Saw A nice illustration in this thread shows how you can cut a 140-degree angle (for instance) on a chopsaw. June 17, 2010
MDF Crown in a High-Rise Steel stud walls and a cement ceiling add a few wrinkles to what would otherwise be a routine crown-molding install. June 23, 2006
Unit Pricing for Production Trim Carpentry Pros discuss the ballpark price of trimming production homes, and throw a tip or two for making time on the job. November 19, 2005
Making Odd-Angle Templates For out-of-whack shapes (like shelves for irregular closets), assembling templates with hot-melt glue does the trick. September 22, 2005
Attaching Jambs To Steel Columns Whether you pre-drill the steel or use heavy self-tapping screws, you'll want to drill and plug the wood for the sake of appearance. October 17, 2011
Fastening Bamboo Plywood Panels When attaching architectural bamboo panels, splitting is a concern. Drilling, screwing and plugging is a practical solution. December 20, 2005
Mating Cove Moulding to Baseboard An installer gets advice on a tricky trim joint where vertical cove moulding meets the top of a baseboard. July 5, 2005
Crown Moulding Calculators Sources for charts and calculators that provide compound-cut angles for crown moulding installation. February 8, 2008
Fastening Wainscoting Pre-assemble the frames, and team up mechanical fasteners with a good adhesive. May 6, 2006
Coping Small Crown into Larger Crown A quick description of the field technique for making two different moldings blend at the joint. November 22, 2005
Curved and Tapered Column Capitals Woodworkers discuss ways to fabricate a custom curved column capital detail. Suggestions include vacuum-bagged veneer and sawn wood options. October 16, 2013
Is Bendable Plywood Durable Outdoors? Flexible plywood isn't marketed for outdoor use, but here's one anecdote of the material holding up in an exterior application. April 18, 2015
Crown Moulding Transitions When two slightly different crown-moulding profiles meet at an inside corner, there are several ways to handle the transition. November 11, 2005
Controlling Checking in a Walnut Mantel A carefully located plunge cut in the hidden side of a large sawn member may restrict checking to that location. April 18, 2010
Detaching Elevator Panels Be careful if you take on a job that involves removing existing steel elevator panels. They may be screwed on from the back side. June 28, 2007
Cutting Crown Molding the Simple Way If you've never done it before, cutting crown molding is confusing — it's hard to visualize the angles. This Wood Magazine video walks you through the simple process of cutting crown standing up on the chopsaw. July 12, 2007
Poplar for a Storm Door: Movement Issues An extended discussion of the behavior of Poplar in an exterior exposure. Science says Poplar is suitable for exterior woodwork, but experience may indicate the contrary. June 3, 2007
Baseboard for Bullnose Wall Corners A soft-corner baseboard treatment is easy to want, not so easy to do. Here's a spirited discussion of the trim installer's options for this pesky detail. July 9, 2007
Basics of Saw Blade Selection An introduction to the important characteristics of various saw blade types. November 24, 2008
Bending Pressure-Treated Wood Detailed, authoritative information on the ins and outs of bending pressure-treated wood for curved outdoor decks or garden structures. May 23, 2007
Baseboard-to-Stairs Trim Transition Here's a nice way to handle those trim transitions where baseboard moulding runs into the bottom of a staircase. October 25, 2006
Potential Pitfalls of Commercial Trim Jobs If you're new to commercial work, be careful. Payment schedules can slip, and you can get roped into extra work you hadn't counted on. July 27, 2008
Hanging Laminate Chair Rail Advice on ways to efficiently install chair rail in volume on commercial jobs, plus a side discussion about contracts and quality specifications. October 20, 2013
Pricing Crown Moulding Installs Estimating and pricing crown moulding work: by the foot, by the number of corners, by gut feeling? February 17, 2011
Board and Batten Wainscot "Board and batten" conjures up images of barn siding, but the term could also refer to a well-made and distinctive wainscot. Here's a well-informed conversation about wainscoting. January 2, 2012
Pencil Preferences Craftsmen discuss the pencils they like and where they carry them. November 11, 2005
Building Up New Stair Treads Woodworkers discuss techniques for applying new stair treads over the top of existing stairs. November 26, 2007
Profiling Door Trim for Accurate Installs Is it worth detailing pre-finished jamb and casing stock with routs to accept splines for registering the pieces during installation? June 12, 2013
Baseboard Transition at the Top of a Stair Wise advice from a pro helps a trim carpenter detail the juncture where hallway baseboard moulding turns and goes down a staircase. November 14, 2014
Beadboard on Back Wall Between Cabinets Here are some tips on installing a wood beadboard backsplash when there's a scarcity of framing to nail to. December 27, 2007
Press-On Wall Panel Fasteners A woodwork installer needs zero-clearance fasteners for a tricky panel attachment problem. Suggestions include velcro, magnets, and inverted Z-clips. November 10, 2005
Handling and Installing High-End Appliances What's the best way to get a heavy, expensive Sub-Zero or Wolf fridge or range off the truck and into the house? Short answer: pay somebody else to do it. January 23, 2014
Pulling Casing Tight to the Wall Stiff hardwood casing is hard to get tight. Here are a handful of tips and tricks. November 11, 2005
Butt Seaming Veneer Panels Advice on joining three 4x10 veneered wall panels together with a seamless and stable joint. January 12, 2012
Hanging Panels with Z Clips on a Crooked Wall Nice step-by-step game plan for hanging wall panels with Z clips onto a furred-out metal stud wall (some straightening required). January 2, 2012
Hidden Door Hardware Advice on how to hinge a heavy door disguised as a hanging mirror on a wall. May 11, 2011
Boring Long Holes in Doors Here's how a pro lines up a bore hole the whole length of a man-door's strike rail. January 18, 2007
Hanging on a Floating Shelf Here's a fun addition to the Knowledge Base collection on floating shelf attachment: a woodworker demonstrating how a small shelf will support his own weight. May 15, 2011
Hanging Ceiling Panels Quick, useful tip on hanging architectural panels on ceilings with a modified French cleat. April 5, 2011
Paneling around Fire Sprinklers Be aware of fire codes and industry standards when installing trim or painting around sprinkler heads. March 12, 2009
Taking Measurements on Site — Tape Measure or Laser Device? The new generation of laser measuring tools can improve accuracy and save time. Here, cabinetmakers describe why they made the switch and how they use the new tools. November 22, 2005
Efficient Trim Installation Extensive advice on organizing and planning for efficient production on site when installing baseboard, crown moulding, and window and door casing. October 25, 2006
Decorative Trim with Stucco Alternatives for wall detail trimwork on a stucco house, including coating options, wood choices, and plastic alternatives like cellular PVC. June 23, 2006
Dark Putty Ideas for blending a dark wood putty to match dark woods like cherry. July 3, 2006
Working with MDF Mouldings Tips on using MDF mouldings, with comments on coping, gluing, and fastening. April 8, 2008
Keeping Your Cell Phone Handy on Site Installers share ideas for keeping your cell phone handy on site, but safe from being dropped or lost. May 28, 2010
Pricing Trim Installation GC's may ask for a square-foot price, but pricing by the piece or by the cut makes more sense. September 3, 2005
Fast Glue for Miter Joints New fast-setting adhesives are a great tool for trim carpentry, and these photos demonstrate how strong they are. May 20, 2006
Drilling into Hard Concrete Tips for making drill bits last when drilling for fasteners in concrete. May 6, 2007
Scribing three edges Templates, tic sticking and more for efficient scribing in difficult situations. September 20, 2003
Accurate Cuts on Crown Molding Trim carpentry pros discuss saw stops, cutting methods, and measuring techniques for getting perfect miter cuts and joint bevels. March 18, 2006
Crown Moulding Tips and Tricks Trim carpenters discuss jigs, chopsaws, stands, and techniques for cutting and installing crown moulding. April 20, 2007
Job-Site Miter Saw Stands Pros supply ideas with photos of versatile chopsaw stands for the job site. November 19, 2006
Safe Control of Small Miter-Saw Off-Cuts When you have to cut a tiny mitered return piece on the chop saw, bits tend to fly out at dangerous speed. Here, carpenters suggest a half-dozen solutions. August 6, 2008
Driving Nails into Hard Timbers A woodworker who's repairing old barn timbers gets advice on choosing a heavy-duty pneumatic nailgun. February 16, 2014
Troubleshooting Curved Miter Cuts Big chopsaw cutting a little concave? Blade quality and technique might both play a role. August 8, 2008
Crown Molding Cutting Techniques Fine points of cutting crown molding on a sliding compound miter saw as compared to using a straight chopsaw. August 7, 2006
Trim Gun Compressor Choices A good small compressor can pack plenty of power for trim work, light framing, and cabinet installs. April 10, 2009
Scribe-Cutting a Ceiling Edge Here's a challenge: cut 1/4 inch off the edge of a ceiling panel that's mounted flush to the wall. The pros can think of several ways. December 14, 2005
Troubleshooting Miter Saw Inaccuracy When a sliding compound miter saw starts cutting miters a half a degree out of whack, a trim installer starts tearing his hair out. Here's some advice on what could be wrong with the tool. May 22, 2007
Saw Blades for Laminate Flooring Laminate flooring will eat up any saw blade. Most installers use cheap blades and expect to wear them out. August 13, 2007
Rebuilding Cordless-Tool Batteries The cells in a cordless tool battery pack can be replaced with aftermarket versions. But is it worth doing? May 22, 2007
Cutting Crown Moulding Laying down, or standing up? It all depends — but here are a couple of quick tips for success with the laying-down way. October 3, 2011
Pricing Trim Work Stay away from square foot pricing for finish carpentry. Here are details on how to price by the piece and the joint (and factor in aggravation). June 23, 2006
Stating Dimensions for Crown Moulding Crown molding sizes can be looked at two ways: The thickness and width of the board, or the vertical and horizontal distances it will span when installed. Depending on the situation, either could be important. December 2, 2006
Materials Options for Exterior Gingerbread Trim Here's an extended discussion of various natural wood, synthetic, and composite materials and how they hold up in outdoor exposures. November 24, 2007
Who Fills the Nail Holes? Tradesmen debate whose job it should be to fill nail holes — the trim installer or the painter. May 27, 2008
Figuring Helical Trim Twist Here's a long and detailed thread with pictures and photos about a real head-scratcher of a problem: calculating, modeling, or mocking up and then fabricating a piece of molding that follows the underside of a helical staircase. January 20, 2011
Crown Moulding Corner Fastening Techniques Advice on using adhesive to fasten outside corner joints in large crown moulding, along with other practical tips for installing crown. October 12, 2007
Accurate Miters Tips on achieving good miter joints when working to fine tolerances. October 25, 2006
Closet "Fit and Finish" What kind of precision is expected in closet shelving? Should shelves be scribed to fit? May 6, 2009
Working with MDF Trim Thoughtful advice, handy tips, and whines about installing medium density fiberboard architectural trim material. May 6, 2007
Fastening Retrofit Stair Treads Installers discuss how to fasten replacement oak stair treads to an existing old stringer so as to minimize squeaking. September 5, 2006
Pin Nailers Versus 18-Gauge or 23-Gauge Nailers Installers discuss the relative usefulness of various fastener sizes and types for attaching prefinished crown moulding to cabinets. February 21, 2006
Securing Crown Moulding Installers discuss methods for attaching crown moulding to a substrate of steel studs and painted drywall. October 8, 2005
Retrofitting Corbels to a Brick Chimney Woodwork installers contemplate how to attach new corbels and a mantel to an existing brick chimney, when the existing corbels are a little dubious. March 26, 2010
Suitable Wood for Exterior Trimwork Woodworkers list their top choices for wood species (and composite or synthetic materials) for architectural exterior trim details. June 29, 2008
Raised-Panel Wainscoting for a Spiral Stairwell true frame-and-panel wainscoting with concave panels rising up a spiral staircase. Woodweb's top trimwork minds chime in on this one for a top-flight discussion of a very tricky topic. July 9, 2007
Installation Tips for Stair Treads, Risers, and Banisters A skilled, experienced finish, cabinet and furniture man is looking at his first-ever staircase — and it's already framed. His questions set off a long discussion on stair construction techniques. November 19, 2005
Correcting Stair Riser Height in Place An old stair stringer with incorrect riser dimensions needs fixing, on site. Here's a long discussion about how to do it. July 30, 2009
Weather Detailing for Replacement Exterior Door Panels Exterior doors exposed to weather take a beating. Here's an interesting discussion of how to detail wood door panels in a replacement and repair situation. October 19, 2013
Attaching Plywood Panels to Drywall Fastening decorative plywood panels to existing drywall is tricky, but doable. In this thread, experienced hands explain several techniques. July 24, 2005
Working with Iron Balusters Installers share tips on laying out, cutting, and fitting metal balusters to a wood staircase and banister. August 2, 2005
Cutting Giant-Size Crown Moulding Cutting really huge crown moulding — like 24 inches wide — poses a unique set of problems. Here are stories, examples, and suggestions. April 24, 2009
Troubleshooting a Mold Problem on Redwood Siding An unusual insulated wall assembly with redwood siding over asphalt paper and studs has a mold problem — but just between the studs. April 24, 2009
All-Purpose Router Table Tips on constructing a router table for shop and site duty. December 31, 2005
Exterior Kitchens Tips on materials and methods for building outdoor kitchen cabinets. April 8, 2008
Crown Moulding and Ceiling Movement Here are some tips on installing crown so that it will keep looking good despite seasonal moisture-related movement of the house structure. December 26, 2007
Finding Compound Angles for Crown Moulding This discussion of cutting crown molding includes a set of tables for determining angle and bevel cuts when cutting flat on the saw table. April 20, 2007
Fireplace Mantel Clearances A discussion of national codes and local variations concerning the clearance from a fireplace opening to nearby combustible surfaces. January 12, 2009
Repairing Warped Interior Doors The fix for some closet doors that developed a bow along a long stile could include some innovative hardware — or not. March 22, 2013
Drilling Long Holes in MDF An MDF shelf made of two panels glued together poses a special edge-drilling challenge. October 2, 2007
Floating Shelf Installation Methods Ideas and an example for successfully installing heavy "floating" shelves using rods driven into the wall studs. October 27, 2009
Attaching Veneered Plywood to Steel Stud Walls Here are descriptions of several approaches for fastening large sheets of plywood paneling to a steel stud and drywall wall assembly. March 25, 2009
Cantilevered Shelf Supports Practical idea for wall attachment and support for shelves that project straight out from the wall with no visible means of support. July 29, 2007
Cabinet Scribes Cabinet installers swap opinions on store-bought and field-rigged scribing devices. November 19, 2006
Gluing MDF Miter Joints MDF soaks up ordinary wood glues, compromising the bond. Here's advice on priming the joint before gluing, or using a specialized adhesive. February 25, 2009