Guides

Guides and Resources

Straight answers to the questions people ask before they buy, schedule or sign.

GuideBaseboard styles and sizes: how to chooseBaseboard is the most repeated trim in a house, so a wrong choice is repeated in every room. Here is how to pick a height and a profile that suit the ceiling, the style and the rest of the trim.Read more GuideCrown molding basicsCrown molding looks simple from the floor and is surprisingly technical up close. This guide explains the terms, how to size it and why the corners are cut the way they are.Read more GuideWainscoting vs board and batten vs shiplapThese three terms get used as if they were interchangeable, and they are not. Here is what each one is, how they differ and how to decide among them.Read more GuideMDF vs wood trim: how to chooseTrim comes in three common materials, and each has strengths and weak spots. Picking the right one for each room saves money and avoids callbacks.Read more GuideHow to choose stair treads: wood speciesStairs take more punishment than almost any floor in the house. Picking the right species means weighing hardness, grain, color and how much character you want the wood to gain over time.Read more GuideStair railing code basics: handrail height and baluster spacingThe International Residential Code sets common rules for handrails, guards and baluster openings. Most U.S. jurisdictions adopt some version of it, but with local changes, so treat this as orientation and verify before you build.Read more GuideHow to caulk and paint trimCaulk and paint are what make installed trim look finished. Here is a practical order of work, with notes on the tools and mistakes that decide the result.Read more GuideWood floor transitions and thresholds explainedWhere one floor ends and another begins, a transition piece covers the gap, bridges any height difference and lets the floor move. Choosing the right piece is a matter of matching the situation.Read more GuideFireplace mantel clearance to combustiblesA wood mantel is a combustible object near a heat source, so clearance is a safety issue. The right distances depend on the fireplace type and your local code, and this guide explains the basics and where the definitive answers come from.Read more GuideCoffered ceilings explainedA coffered ceiling is a grid of beams that creates recessed panels overhead. It is one of the most dramatic finish carpentry projects, and it works best when the layout, scale and height are planned carefully.Read more

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