What trim and Molding covers
Trim and molding cover the junctions between surfaces and give a room its finished character. In older buildings the real skill is scribing and fitting to walls, floors and openings that are not straight, square or level.
Trim and molding cover the junctions between surfaces and give a room its finished character. In older buildings the real skill is scribing and fitting to walls, floors and openings that are not straight, square or level.
Baseboards, casings and moldings fitted to walls that are rarely as straight as they look.
Waystar carries out this work on residential and commercial property in Brooklyn and across New York City. Every project starts with a look at the building, and the scope, the materials and the figures are written down before anything begins.
When might you need it?
These are the signs owners usually notice first.
- Gaps between trim and the wall or floor
- Mitres that have opened at the corners
- Damaged or missing sections of original molding
- A room that feels unfinished without trim
- Previous trim fitted to the wrong profile or scale
What the work involves
- Existing profiles recorded where matching is required
- Profile and scale selected to suit the room proportions
- Walls and floors checked for line before cutting
- Trim scribed to fit rather than forced into place
- Corners coped or mitred as appropriate to the profile
- Fixed, filled and sanded ready for decoration
How the process works
Record the existing profile
Matching original molding needs the profile taken off before anything is ordered.
Check the surfaces
Walls and floors are surveyed for line, because that decides how much scribing is needed.
Scribe and cut
Trim is scribed to the surface rather than forced and filled.
Fix and finish
Coped or mitred corners, fixed, filled and sanded ready for paint.
What you get
- Trim scribed to the actual wall instead of gapped and filled
- Corners that stay closed as the timber moves
- Profiles matched to the period and scale of the room
What affects the scope
- Total run length and number of corners
- How far out of line the walls and floors are
- Whether existing profiles need matching or replicating
- Timber species and finish specified
This is a preliminary planning range, not a quote. A property visit is required before any price is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Why do mitred corners open up?
Timber moves with humidity. Coped internal corners absorb that movement, which is why they are used in preference to mitres on baseboards.
Can original molding be matched?
Usually. The profile is taken off an existing section and reproduced, and short lengths can often be run to match.
Should trim be painted before fitting?
Priming beforehand helps, particularly on the back face. Final coats go on after fitting and filling.
Services often needed alongside this
This service is part of Carpentry and Interior Finishes.