Wooden Trim Done Simple
When you want to create the best trim of a door or window you should always be sure to have the right tools and purchase only products that are of good quality. With the vast array of wood choices this can be overwhelming to some but the secret to a great job completion is precision and patience.
When cutting the trim, it is easier to use a compound miter saw for the cuts. There are miter boxes that use a manual saw, and these can be fine if you only have a couple of cuts to make, but for larger projects, or if you just want to make your life easier, an electric compound miter saw is the best choice. When making the cuts, be sure to use the golden rule of any carpentry work; which states, measure twice, cut once. Following this rule will help you avoid a lot of bad cuts and mistakes. Remember, a piece of wood can always be cut shorter, but you cannot make it longer if it is cut too short.
Once you have decided on the type of trim you are going to purchase, you will than need to measure the length of the pieces that you will need. If you are purchasing from a home improvement store they sell it by the linear foot so you will have no problem getting the length that you need. When you are trimming a door or window the casing will look the same and should be cut into three or four sides at a 45 degree angle.
After you have all your pieces cut you should lay them out on the ground and place the edges together. Secure each edge with a nail or a staple so that when the frame is lifted into place the edges will stay intact. After you have the frame up you should use a paintable latex caulking to fill in any gaps.
Nailing the frame into placed should be completed with a nail gun instead of a hand hammer. This is a neater and much simpler process. Once your joints are all caulked it is now time to paint the trim. You can purchase the trim in either a primed or bare wood, although the primed wood is easier to paint once the frame is installed. On the other side of the spectrum, although you will have to prime bare wood before you paint it, it is usually made of a higher grade wood, therefore it is best in quailty.