Showing posts with label home interior. Show all posts

How To Remove Trim or Molding without Breaking It

Removing trim or molding without breaking it can be a difficult job.  Unless you want to keep the trim or molding, it would be easier to just rip it out and throw it away. However, if you want to salvage the molding or trim, there are some simple steps that can save you time and headache.
When removing trim or molding you will start by running a utility knife along the seam between the molding and the wall.  Many layers of paint can make it difficult to remove molding and by running the knife between the seams you'll loosen that paint, making removal a much easier job.
When removing the trim or molding you do not want to use a screwdriver or anything of that nature - you'll be much more likely to gouge the wall if you do.  It is best to use something flat and sturdy.  You can find a flat pry bar at a local hardware store, but a good sturdy putty knife can do the job just as well.
Be sure to you lace something like newspaper or thin cardboard between your pry bar or putty knife and the wall.  This prevents denting or scraping the wall.  Place the protective material where you will apply the most leverage between the pry bar and wall.  Work very slowly and evenly down the length of molding or trim.
If nails pull through the wood, that is all right; you can fill those in later with wood putty.  The process will actually be much easier if you do not try to keep the nails in the wood.  This way you will not have to pry the nails out of the wood once you have removed the molding or trim.  After you have removed the molding you can either pull those finishing nails out with pliers or a light hammer, or nail them back into the wall.  If you choose to leave the finishing nails in the wall after you remove the molding, be sure that when you fill the nail holes in, you sand the wall before painting.  This will give the wall a nice smooth finish.
Removing molding or trim without breaking it can be a frustrating task; if you follow these few simple steps, removing your molding will be a breeze.  Just remember to take your time, especially with homes that have older trim or molding.
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How To Choose Wood Flooring: Choosing Wood Floors

What is in a floor? Well, a lot, actually. If you have decided to put new hardwood flooring into your home, there is much to consider. What type of look do you want to create? How much wear and tear do you expect on the floors? How much do you want to spend? What about color matching and quality of woods? Here are some guidelines and tips for how to choose a wood floor, geared toward homeowners exploring the hardwood option.


  • Window Shop. Before creating a budget, and before making a bulk purchase, do some window shopping for flooring. Head to lumber yards and stores that specialize in hardwood floor supply and installation for examples. See what your neighbors, friends and family have in their homes as well. Get samples and decide on a look that you want. Consider the shade, finish, and hardness of the wood.

  • Color. What shade do you want for your floors? Hardwood floors can be red-brown, mustard, cherry, chocolate, white-purple if you really want it. What goes best with your décor? If you have a dark home, consider lightening it up with some white oak or yellow pine. If you want to create a vintage look, consider the darker hues. Try to match the floors to your furniture and walls. If you are not "talented" with color matching, ask a professional or just get the opinion of several friends.

  • Width. Hardwood flooring comes in strip, plank, and long-strip varieties. The strips are the narrowest, while the long-strip is a collection of smaller planks fabricated together.

  • Hardness. If you have a household of five children who love to play ball and roughhouse indoors, soft pine is not the ideal choice for wood flooring in your living room. Certain woods dent more than others. The distressed look is desirable for some people, but for others, it is not practical. Ask about the hardness of the wood before making a decision. At FloorFacts is a chart you can use as a guideline.

  • Edges. There are three fundamental ways that individual hardwood floor planks and strips are married together-flush, beveled, and eased edge. In the flush installation, there is no visible gap between planks or strips. In the beveled edge model, there is a v-like shape that is formed in between each strip or plank. The eased edge option is a shallow version of the beveled edge, and tends to hide some of the unevenness that your flooring may naturally have. The flush installation gives a more modern look, while the beveled and eased look are considered, by some, to be more rustic.

  • Finish. There are pre-finished and unfinished hardwood floors. Go to a warehouse or showroom and see what option for wood floors suits you and your home. If you decide on unfinished flooring, you will need to apply a sealant and/or stain. The most popular options are a satin stain and a polyurethane oil stain. The first is a darker yet understated look, while the polyurethane gives the floors a "pop" or shine. There are many choices for wood floor finishes so be sure to choose one that will look best in your home with your other furniture.
  • Budget. Now that you've done some window shopping and comparisons, consider the price tags on some of these floors. In case you cannot afford installing three thousand square feet of Brazilian cherry wood, ask a professional what type of wood most closely mimics this type of wood. There are always more affordable options and compromises to be made. Hardwood flooring is priced per square foot and square foot installed, so make sure to get an exact quote from your supplier or flooring store before you commit.
  • Other options: Laminate flooring. One way people avoid the cost associated with new hardwood floors is to not put in hardwood floors. Laminate flooring is considered a nice substitute for hardwood floors because it looks like hardwood flooring but will not dent, stain or fade. They are more water-resistant and can handle scratches better. Make sure you are satisfied with the feel and look of the laminate compared to wooden floors, however, since laminate is an imitation, not an exact substitute for hardwood.
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