| Trimming Wallpaper |
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Trim is multi-functional. It not only offers a decorative accent, it covers the rough edges of construction. For example, you made a rectangular hole in the wall then inserted a prehung door in the rough opening. There’s a gap between the wall and door frames. That’s where trim can help. Because finishing your basement is more like new construction than remodeling you can do what builders do: paint then trim. That saves you the task of masking off door, window, and floor trim as you paint walls. Modern trim is relatively easy to install. That’s because trim pieces come in standard designs and lengths to make construction easier. In many cases, all that’s needed is to cut the trim to length and fasten it in place. Trim is cut either perpendicular (90 degrees) or diagonal (45 degrees) to the long edge. The favorite tool for this is the miter box, a fine-toothed saw and a three-sided box with slits that align the saw for 45-, 90-, and other popular degree cuts. Fasten trim with finish nails (the ones with a small head), use a nail set to indent them below the wood surface, then fill in the hole with wood filler and paint. Remodeling Tips When nailing finish nails into wood, stop before the head is near the surface (so you don’t strike the wood) and use a nail set or punch to drive the nail head below the wood surface. Finally, fill the hole in with wood putty of the same color as the trim.
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