Home Improvement

Thoughts & Stuff I Like When We Redid Our House

Base Molding

DIY Woodworking Lessons-Cut Molding-Make Closet Organizer

 

Two of the easiest diy woodworking projects that will increase the value of your home immediately, storage space and beautiful moldings in your rooms.

Crown molding and large base molding add an elegance to any room.  They are one of the main attractions for older homes. If you have an archway cover it in molding.  Add molding around your windows.

Every one of those projects will increase you homes value.  If you  are trying to sell your home they will definitely give you an advantage.  In this real estate market that is a real benefit.　

 

 

With basic woodworking skills and a few tools, you can make a closet organizer.

Would you believe with a single sheet of plywood, a clothes pole and a few feet of 1x3 lumber you can double your 5-foot closet storage space.

To buy a custom-made closet organizer can cost hundreds of dollars. However, with these materials you can make you own and save over 70% of the cost.

Listed below is everything you need for your closet organizer

Hammer

Finish nails (6d and 8d)

1x3 lumber

One 4x8 foot sheet of ¾-inch thick plywood

Tape measure

Framing square

Circular saw

Clothes pole

Six clothes pole brackets

screwdriver

Paint or wood stain

One single sheet of plywood yields two 11 7/8 inch-wide sides (A), two long 11 7/8 inch wide shelves (B), and six 11 7/8 inch square shelves.

You can see what just a few tools and very little material you are able to make an organizer for a closet that will give you 2 long shelves across the top of the closet and 6 small shelves down the middle with room for hanging clothes on both sides. You can use one closet pool for long clothes and 2 on the other side for shorter clothes.

This is a great woodworking DIY weekend project.

If you ever wanted to dress up a room in your house for a small investment and a huge wow factor is to add molding.

You can add crown molding to your ceiling, which makes any room look like a million dollars.

Another nice touch is to enlarge you baseboard molding. Many people have hardwood floors or tile floors and a larger baseboard gives your room an elegant look.

I think that is why so many of us a drawn to older homes. They always have beautiful moldings around windows and doorways, even archways.

At first, it can sound daunting to even try to do a molding project. However, with the right tools and a little practice you will be able to put molding up in your home.

Listed below are the tools you need

sharp pencil
measuring tape
router with edging bits
miter box
coping saw
wood molding
finish nails
nail set

If you have a sharp pencil and sharp saw in a quality miter box, you are ahead of the game. Those are the most important tools because molding is all about tight fitting joints.

If at this time, you cannot buy a quality miter box or power miter saw, try renting first.

Here are some basic instructions for installing trim and moldings. With a little practice, you can start and combine different molding to your taste.

Miter Box and backsaw is used to cut precise angles on finish lumber, like mitered moldings for window and door casings.

Cut casings at 45-degree angle with the flat edge tight against the horizontal bottom base of the miter box. Baseboard miters are cut with the molding tight against the vertical rear base of the miter box.

Cut cove molding by positioning ceiling side of the molding tight against the horizontal bottom base of the miter box. Wall side of molding should be tight against vertical rear base of your miter box.

I know that all may sound so complicated, but believe me it really is not. Just rent what you may need and try it. You will be amazed how after a few tries you get the hang of it.

These are just two examples of what you can accomplish with woodworking DIY. You can build a basic closet organizer or beautiful finishing carpentry. Your options are endless.

There is always another woodworking project around the corner that will interest you. Everyone one is different so you will never be bored.

 

 

With these tips and a little practice you will be able to tackle any finish carpentry woodworking diy project.

About the Author

Want more.   I have been in construction for years. Find out how any skill level can complete their woodworking diy project. With step-by-step instructions for  thousands of plans and projects available.  Get started here  http://www.woodworkingdiy.info

Should I paint the wall frame molding the same color as the wall color?

Should I paint the wall frame molding the same color as the wall or the color of the crown molding and base molding? There are six squares of molding in my bedroom. I believe they are called wall frame molding. Some say picture frame molding but, these are large squares except where the walls meet the closet and room doors. I going for a modern and comfortable look to the room. The ceiling is white. The crown and base moldings and doors are a cinnabark color and the walls are sage. The vinyl floor is a very light beige off white color. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

ALL of your trim, which includes door frames, base molding, window molding, & crown molding should be the same color. If you're going for a modern look, then all of your trim should be white or cream. Also for a modern look I'd like to see your ceiling a shade or 2 lighter than your walls. It will make yur ceilings look taller.

How to Install Baseboard Molding - Seg. 1