Installation Tips and Hints

Installation Tips

Here are some handy tips to make installing your House of Fara solid wood mouldings as easy as enjoying their beauty:

• Start by making a list of the rooms in which you plan to install moulding, and the types of moulding you’ll need for each room.
• Measure the length of each wall in all rooms, rounding up to the nearest foot.
• When making picture frames, measure all sides of the picture for a total distance around the outer edge.
• Try to use shorter lengths of moulding instead of longer ones that you’ll have to cut. This will make transportation and installation much easier.
• Store mouldings in a clean, dry place before installation. Within 24 to 48 hours of installation, place mouldings in the room in which you plan to install them. This will give the wood a chance to adjust to the climate of the room and prevent the moulding from expanding or contracting after it’s installed.
• Before cutting your moulding, practice on scrap pieces. Use scrap pieces to see how stacked moulding will look before installation. Hold it in place to mark positioning.
• When cutting, use long, even strokes and keep the blade upright.
• Install the moulding piece by piece while working your way around the room.
• Install chair rail moulding approximately 26 to 30 inches from the floor.
• To prevent splitting the wood when nailing, blunt the ends of the finishing nails with a hammer or pre-drill holes in the moulding.
• When driving nails, leave the nail head exposed. Then use a nail set to drive the nail until the head is below the wood surface.
• When using stacked moulding, install it one piece at a time — install the first piece completely, then install the second piece completely, then the third, etc. Then touch up nail holes and end cuts.

Helpful Hints

• To determine how much moulding you will need, list all measurements, add together and round total up 10% for trimming.
• Pre-drill 3/32” holes in crown moulding to prevent splitting.
• Installation is fastest and easiest with a nail gun.
• Stain or paint moulding before installation to save time.
• Use an inexpensive piece of crown moulding to practice your cuts. A little experimentation can save you time and money.
• Trim carpenters’ secret: cut pieces slightly too long on your first attempt; then trim slightly until pieces fit snugly.
• Install long pieces of moulding first. Mistake cuts can be used where shorter pieces are needed.
• Nail moulding into wall studs whenever possible. Contractor’s adhesive can also be used to ensure moulding stays in place.

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