DIY Network

Paint, Trim and Fireplaces: The Trim and Fireplaces From "Home IQ" episode DHIQ-117

During each phase of construction the homeowners (Brad and Lynn Oberg) meet with their site supervisor (Greg Allen), and this is no different when it comes to making decisions about the trim work in the house.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

• Each decision made is passed on to the trim carpenters, who in turn get started with the crown molding in the dining room. The crown molding is in two pieces:
  1. The first is a flat piece that is simply nailed to (figure A) the wall.

  2. The second is more detailed and has to be trimmed -- or coped -- so the detail aligns with the joining piece (figure B).

  Note: In the Oberg house a medium-density fiberboard (MDF) was used for the crown molding, and it typically comes from the lumberyard pre-primed. This is an engineered product that has some benefits compared to natural wood. For example, it's not prone to shrinkage, cracking, knots and anything else associated with real wood.

• At the floor the baseboard (figure C) is run around the entire house.

  Note: The builder will have the baseboard installed prior to the finished floor, and what the trim carpenter will do is identify what room is getting what flooring material (carpeting, ceramic tiles, etc.). This will help determine how far up the baseboard needs to go to accommodate the flooring, which means they'll have to use spacers, which can be trimmed off later.

• Some times the trim in the house is neither wood nor MDF -- but stone. The hearth and mantel surrounding the fireplace in the great room, for example, is made from a man-made cultured stone (figure D) that the homeowners found on the Internet.

• The mantle arrives in sections weighing hundreds of pounds a piece -- totaling a ton in total. It takes an entire crew to get them inside the house. Much time is spent on making sure the hearth is centered perfectly on the fireplace (figure E) because once it's installed it will be nearly impossible to move. Shims are used to keep the spacing even. Then the heaviest piece of all -- the mantel -- is put on. Finally, the joints are mortared and the hearth and mantel are complete.

In the next segment more trim is tackled and the columns are installed.

RESOURCES :

Painting Contractor
Quality Express Painting
1235 Doc Walker Rd.
Parker, PA 16049
Phone: 724-399-4452
Fax: 724-399-1141

Trim Carpenters
LemanKiewicz Construction
PO Box 1033
Mars, PA 16046
Phone/Fax: 724-776-5554

GUESTS :

Brad and Lynn Oberg
Homeowners
Company: IBACOS (Brad)
Title: Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer
Website: www.ibacos.com

Greg Allen
Site Supervisor
Hendolhurst Homes
955 Markman Park Rd.
Baden, PA 15005
Phone: 724-935-5658
Fax: 724-935-0884
E-mail: gcrbs@adelphia.net

Bruce Dickson
Project Manager
IBACOS
Website: www.ibacos.com

Dave Muhl
Owner
Quality Express Painting
1235 Doc Walker Rd.
Parker, PA 16049
Phone: 724-399-4452
Fax: 724-399-1141

Don Muhl
Painter
Quality Express Painting
See contact information, above

Mick Hopf
Trim Carpenter
LemanKiewicz Construction
PO Box 1033
Mars, PA 16046
Phone/Fax: 724-776-5554