Re: Refinishing molding

[Leon]

I would go with new moldings. You will have a big messy job ahead of you otherwise. I just replace all the base board moldings in my house last month and broke half removing them.

Hey all. Our home has this REALLY ugly woodwork trim along the > baseboards. Actually, it might be attractive, I can't tell because the > people who lived in our house before us were *REALLY* obsessed with > white and yellow and painted (poorly) the woodwork white. I'd like to > replace it with a regular wood finish, but I was wondering if that's > necessary or if I could somehow refinish the existing trim. Is that > feasible? If so, how would I strip the paint off? Or would it just be > cheaper to buy new molding? TIA! >

[Steve]

Is it oak, walnut, cherry, poplar or pine? If it's not a nice hardwood or not very ornate, it would probably be cheaper to replace it than it would be to remove it, strip it, refinish it and replace it.

[Ben Siders]

I have no idea, but if the rest of the house's trim is any indication, it's probably whatever was the cheapest to acquire in 1973 :)

[JackD]

It is quite possibly ugly underneath. To do a good job of stripping the paint off, you will have to remove the trim. Unless the trim is old and beautiful underneath I'd replace it.

If you are talented you could grain the trim (put a fake wood finish on it). I've seen this done when existing woodwork is of a nice design, but the budget is too low to strip and refinish, or the wood has been damaged and patched. Note that doing this will leave you open to ridicule from the next set of owners.

-Jack

[JackD]

Say no more. Being on the prybar. Don't forget to buy new trim that is just a bit taller then the old stuff.

-Jack

[George]

I certainly second that! Stripping olds moldings would be a hellish job. I think if I couldn't afford new ones I'd rather take an axe and a pocket knife and cut down some trees and whittle some new moldings...I believe THAT would be less work and look better.