I'm replacing the narrow, plain casings on a couple of bedroom doors
with wider, contoured ones. The replacements came primed, but it looks
like they need another coat because scuffing reveals some of the wood
underneath. I've got questions, if any of you can help!

1. I'm trying to decide the order in which to paint and hang the
moldings. If I paint first and then hang, I figure I'll have to fill in
over the nails with with wood filler, then spot prime, then spot paint.
Will all the follow-up spot painting stand out? Or I can hang them as is
and prime and paint them on the wall. I'm also thinking that if I paint
first, then when I get them on the wall, unless the edges of the molding
are absolutely flush there'll be a noticeable gap between the wall paint
and the molding paint (which are different colors).

2. I noticed that the old moldings were held in place by both finishing
nails (into the drywall) and staples (into the wood framing). Is that
necessary? Can I use nails in both? I don't know how to countersink
staples. I wasn't planning on the expense of renting either a nail gun
or a staple gun.

3. I found metal wafers inserted into slots in the corners to join
adjacent moldings. Is that necessary?

4. Am I likely to need to apply caulk either between the moldings or
along their edges? If so, then does that make "paint after" the answer
to question 1 above?

1. I'm trying to decide the order in which to paint and hang the
moldings. If I paint first and then hang, I figure I'll have to fill in
over the nails with with wood filler, then spot prime, then spot paint.
Will all the follow-up spot painting stand out? Or I can hang them as is
and prime and paint them on the wall. I'm also thinking that if I paint
first, then when I get them on the wall, unless the edges of the molding
are absolutely flush there'll be a noticeable gap between the wall paint
and the molding paint (which are different colors).

Damned if you do Damned if you don't, if you paint first you always put
flaws in the paint assembling, if you paint afterwards you always get
some on the adjacent paint, it even creeps under masking tape.

2. I noticed that the old moldings were held in place by both finishing
nails (into the drywall) and staples (into the wood framing). Is that
necessary? Can I use nails in both? I don't know how to countersink
staples. I wasn't planning on the expense of renting either a nail gun
or a staple gun.

You can do the corners with nails, but splitting is a risk, you
normally have to do something, as the miter can be perfect but there
will be misalignment on the line of the face.

3. I found metal wafers inserted into slots in the corners to join
adjacent moldings. Is that necessary?

See 2, you have to do something if you want the face of it to be even.


4. Am I likely to need to apply caulk either between the moldings or
along their edges? If so, then does that make "paint after" the answer
to question 1 above?

If the chalk is a paint able sort, then it still is either or, if it is
a color that is ok to show and it will stay that color, it will be done
last and again; see 1

"Harlan Messinger" wrote in message

1. I'm trying to decide the order in which to paint and hang the moldings.
If I paint first and then hang, I figure I'll have to fill in over the
nails with with wood filler, then spot prime, then spot paint. Will all
the follow-up spot painting stand out? Or I can hang them as is and prime
and paint them on the wall. I'm also thinking that if I paint first, then
when I get them on the wall, unless the edges of the molding are
absolutely flush there'll be a noticeable gap between the wall paint and
the molding paint (which are different colors).

Either can work, but painting first is usually the fastes adn least messy.
The touch up won't show and yes, they will have to be touched up. Still
better than cutting in 40' of molding though, IMO.


2. I noticed that the old moldings were held in place by both finishing
nails (into the drywall) and staples (into the wood framing). Is that
necessary? Can I use nails in both? I don't know how to countersink
staples. I wasn't planning on the expense of renting either a nail gun or
a staple gun.

Nails works. Staples are OK if you have a gun, but not necessary. You may
want to consider buying a smal pancake compressor and gun though. You'll be
amazed at how often you can use a small compressor around the house. Porter
Cable has some kits. While I despise cheap tools, I'm told the Harbor
Freight nail guns are quite good for the money.


3. I found metal wafers inserted into slots in the corners to join
adjacent moldings. Is that necessary?

No, but they do work. You don't want to nail too close to the edge or you
can split the wood.


4. Am I likely to need to apply caulk either between the moldings or along
their edges? If so, then does that make "paint after" the answer to
question 1 above?

IMO, caulk is a cover-up for a poor trim job. Take your time and do it
right. Assume that your corners are not perfect 90 degrees.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/

On Sun, 10 Dec 2006 08:14:11 -0500, Harlan Messinger
wrote:

I'm replacing the narrow, plain casings on a couple of bedroom doors
with wider, contoured ones. The replacements came primed, but it looks
like they need another coat because scuffing reveals some of the wood
underneath. I've got questions, if any of you can help!

1. I'm trying to decide the order in which to paint and hang the
moldings. If I paint first and then hang, I figure I'll have to fill in
over the nails with with wood filler, then spot prime, then spot paint.
Will all the follow-up spot painting stand out? Or I can hang them as is
and prime and paint them on the wall. I'm also thinking that if I paint
first, then when I get them on the wall, unless the edges of the molding
are absolutely flush there'll be a noticeable gap between the wall paint
and the molding paint (which are different colors).

2. I noticed that the old moldings were held in place by both finishing
nails (into the drywall) and staples (into the wood framing). Is that
necessary? Can I use nails in both? I don't know how to countersink
staples. I wasn't planning on the expense of renting either a nail gun
or a staple gun.

3. I found metal wafers inserted into slots in the corners to join
adjacent moldings. Is that necessary?

4. Am I likely to need to apply caulk either between the moldings or
along their edges? If so, then does that make "paint after" the answer
to question 1 above?


Here's what I did. Primed the bare wood moldings then painted them on
all sides. It's much easier/faster to paint them off the wall. Then
I installed the molding, filled the nail holes with glazing compound,
caulked, then painted the entire molding again. You will need to wait
2-6 hours for the caulk to cure before painting. It's very
time-consuming painting the molding adjacent to another color wall.
I've never used staples. Biscuits or plates are not necessary, but
they do help keep the corners in alignment. You can get the same
effect by cross nailing.