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Tips on Applying Chair Rail, Crown Moulding and Other Interior Trim

Ryley and the finish carpenter install interior trim: baseboard, chair rail, picture rail and built-up crown molding and they give us some tips and tricks.
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Tips on Applying Chair Rail, Crown Moulding and Other Interior Trim

  computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" -Dennis, I see you've got the windows done. They look terrific."

" -Thank you."

" -Can I give you a hand with the rest of the other trim? "

" -Sure."

" -Great."

" -We put the first piece of base on it against this wall."

" -Okay."

" -Which is a pretty wide piece of base, but that's because of the top of it, it's a one piece with detail on it."

" -That's correct. I usually start nailing about 3, 3 feet in from the wall to let this corner float so that when we cope, we can adjust the corners."

" -Well, that's a good idea."

" -Without taking a pry bar into it."

" -Okay."

" -Now, you should start at the bottom."

" -Yeah."

" -Line on up."

" -Okay, and the next stage we've got here is the chair rail and this is the pop of it that becomes so popular and that you can find it everywhere and now on the interior trim work, right in here."

" -We predetermined that the height of 3'6" would look best with this profile."

" -This molding is a duplicate of an old-fashioned picture molding and this detail up here is where the hanger would be. It's sited up there and then put the hanger over, or the picture off of it. So, we're ready to put this on and it's gonna go right in this spot here. I'm getting it a little bit tight."

" -We're placing it approximately 6 inches below the top of the head jamb casing."

" -Okay. Put it right there."

" -Ready?"

" -Yup."

" -Why don't you use a level on this, Dennis?"

" -Especially on renovations that you measure from the top of the head casing down, so that if there's any discrepancies it won't show out, out of the level."

" -Right. 'Cause a lot of the old houses, they never level anywhere."

" -That's correct."

" -Okay. So, looks like were ready for the crown now, aren't we?"

" -Yes we are."

" -Okay."

" -We've got a 3-piece crown system going up here now."

" -Yeah."

" -And this is the template that I made to get our dimensions and all we could do to see how it all fits to the wall."

" -Okay."

" -We're gonna put a square in cut right now."

" -Okay. Good."

" -Again, like the baseboard, I like the fins float about 3 feet, so when I cope my end, I can, I can adjust accordingly."

" -Okay, that's the second piece of crown which is 2 inches by 2 inches. It is pretty solid piece but that wood that's gonna do is really gonna build up off the wall."

" -Okay, so coming around the corner, we already made the cope but we've also back cut this section here so that we're sure that the path that hits the material is out in front."

" -How does that look Dennis?"

" -Little bit to me, please."

" -Okay."

" -At the bottom."

" -Okay. Here's your other piece."

" -Thank you."

" -And it's just a batts joined in there."

" -That's correct."

" -Okay. There"

" -Okay. Right there looks good."

" -And I'm ready to nail a few more."

" -Okay. Go for it."

" -Again, I always keep it about 3 feet away from the wall to adjust in the cope, to adjust the cope joints and I don't nail my top and until you feel the cope joints are done also. This will actually lock in place right now and not fall."

" -Okay."

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