An Introduction to Decorative Molding in Your Home

Decorative molding includes all of the kinds of trim used in a home. It can serve a purely decorative function, or it can also be used to hide any unfinished edges of a wall. Moldings can be made of wood-most usually of pine or oak-or, as is used frequently today, polyurethane. Polyurethane is a lightweight, long-lasting, durable alternative to wood. Molding can also be painted or stained.

This article provides a brief description of the types of decorative trim available as well as information available to guide you in your use of decorative molding in your home.

5 types of molding There are five types of decorative molding commonly used. These include: baseboard, cornice, crown, wall moldings, and panel moldings. Let's take a look at each one separately.

Base. Base molding is the trim used to finish the wall along the floor. Also called a mopboard, the baseboard protects the wall. Ideally, your baseboard complements the casings around your doors and windows. A baseboard is commonly found throughout every room in most homes.

Cornice. The cornice is the decorative molding placed along the top of the wall. Cornice can be built up using many pieces of trim. Cornice is a more ornate version of crown molding. Ornamentation includes acanthus leaf, egg and dart, modillions, or dentil among many others.

Crown. Crown molding is also used along the top of the wall. Also called bed moldings, they are installed at an angle to adjunct surfaces. Crown molding is also used to finish cabinets, built-ins, and fireplaces. Cove molding, a rounded piece of trim at the juncture of the wall with the ceiling, provides yet another means of transition from the wall to the ceiling.

Both crown and cornice moldings have been around as long as the use of plastered ceilings has been. Cornice and crown moldings usually reflected the type or intended use of the room. For example, reception rooms were often decorated with more ornate cornice moldings, while plainer crown molding was often installed in the more functional areas of the home, such as the kitchen.

Wall moldings. This group includes the chair rails, and the less common picture rails and friezes. Chair rails are popular features and so can be found throughout many homes. It is the molding that sits approximately 30"-36" above the floor, right at about the height of a chairback. If you choose to panel the wall below, this trim is known as a dado cap.

Picture rails and friezes are often confused, while in actuality they are two separate entities, although the difference is slight. A picture rail has a rounded top edge protruding out from the wall, where hooks are often placed. Its main purpose is for hanging pictures. A frieze, on the other hand, is a flat molding, frequently decorated with relief carving or classical profile.

The picture rail or frieze and the chair rail form what is known in the Victorian architectural style as a tripartite. The wall is effectively broken up into three separate areas. This type of wall treatment extends your options for decorating considerably.

Panel molding. Panel molding is used to break large surfaces up into panels. Panel molding is normally found on doors, but can also be used to decorate walls and ceilings. Fairly easy to install for the average do-it-yourself homeowner, panel molding can be used to create a custom look. Panels can be used in creative ways utilizing such features as size, curves, and decorative corners. Little details may be slipped inside to create an even more elegant look.

Tips to Guide the Use of Decorative Moldings

Your use may be determined by a number of factors including the architectural style of your home, as well as your personal taste in design styles. Be sure that the size and scale of the trim is appropriate for the room to which you will be adding this type of ornamentation. If you choose to paint your moldings, keep in mind that contrasting colors can add a more "dynamic" element to your room. You may consider coordinating moldings with each other as well as with other design elements present in the room.

Synthetic polymer, or polyurethane, is a natural choice for molding today. As it is lightweight, it is easy to cut and install. Polymer is a more economically feasible choice if you opt for more elaborate decorative moldings. Moldings are also flexible, allowing the homeowner to trim curves and rounded areas of the home. When utilizing cornice and crown moldings, you can combine various types to create a more personal statement. However, this can be more challenging to install for the individual. Corner blocks are available as well in polymer. These can be useful in eliminating difficult corner cuts.

Now you are aware of many further options. Don't be intimidated. Installation instructions and informative articles like this one abound on the internet. Do your homework and investigate all of your available options. This is something that you will have to live with, so it should reflect your tastes. They will certainly set the decorative tone of any home. Good luck to you as you begin to use decorative moldings to create your wonderful space.

Visit GoCeilingMedallion for 100's of options to assist you in building the decorative home of your dreams

Remedies For Taking Out The Smell For Mold And Mildew

Do you have a mildew problem, basement mold that is creating a funky musty odor? The odor is very common in your basement, mildew mold is from a warm moist climate. Hence most basements are moist and dark they are great breeding grounds for black mold. It is even familiar when there is a heavy amount of mildew present, that a susceptible individual could acquire allergies and common mold symptoms from the mold settling on the surface. By just having a small amount of basement mildew mold in the house, one could become quite sick just by walking into the small area. This happens because there is no circulation of fresh air and when inhaling the airborne mold spores in a warm musty basement the toxic mold spores will enter into the system and attach into the bodies lungs and nasal cavities.

These will cause some common and very harmful mold symptoms, such as headaches, water eyes, and others. Some common symptoms of mold are coughing, headaches, scratchy throat, and blood in the lungs. Mold symptoms become common in individuals who have lower immunity such as the elderly and infants. We call this immuno comprimised. Having mold in your breathinh space may cause many Mold Symptoms. Scratchy throats are common. An individual may feel their throat to be scratchy almost as if they have to cough. A scratchy throat is a common black mold identifier.

There are a couple of ways to fix a mildew problem in a basement. Since the first problem in the basement is air circulation you want to purify the air and use heppa filters, better air circulation is highly recommendedt. By having new air to circulate keeping the humidity down, the basement and confined area will become a complex place for the spores to thrive and amplify.

A well-known issue that arises in killing mold mildew in a basement is searching through the carpeting. You should always be aware if there ever been a leak inside the basement or some type of water intrusion event, if so black mold may be on the carpet and rather than hiring a carpet cleaning company you may want to replace the entire carpeting. Since the carpeting became extremely damp it will be unfeasible to remove the spores from the old carpet. Even the tack strips below the carpeting would need to be removed. This is very common with basement mildew mold, just be sure to maintain the carpeting and if one is going to rip out the carpets make sure to remove the tack steps below. The wooden tack strips can carry quite a bit of mildew and mold. If you have some amount of mold in the basement and on carpeting and are tired of cleaning it continuously spray it down with a organic mold cleaning product. In order for the removal of use an all natural organic product that is used for killing mold and mildew. If you are planning on killing mold and mildew in the basement it may be a everlasting task unless you try a mold blocking solution that offers mold prevention and mold removal. Most solutions will kill the mold, but not stop it or take away the musty odor. If a mold problem becomes a bigger issue it may be to late to spray it down with an allnatural cleaning product, you need to look into hiring a certified mold inspector. They will create protocols for a mold remediation company and get the ball rolling for your mold problem.

So if you are finding a musty odor in the house, you may have mold or a previous water event that was not taken care of correctly. If ever needing more information on black mold visit a free Mold Removal Website that offers information from a certified microbial consultant.

Markus Skupeika Mold Removal

The Toyota FJ Cruiser: Breaking the Styling Mold

Toyota's FJ Cruiser has been plucked from the auto history books to provide consumers with a car that is retro in design but thoroughly modern in its off road capabilities.

Toyota's growing popularity hasn't been without controversy. No, the automaker doesn't have much of a quality issue to contend with and, no Toyota isn't likely to begin losing market share anytime soon. Yet, there is one area where the Japanese automaker has a bit of a perception problem and that has to do with styling. Of course Toyota vehicles aren't ugly but there are few models being built today that are truly exciting. All that is now beginning to change as Toyota releases several head turning models including the latest rendition of its popular Camry sedan and one of its newest models, the FJ Cruiser. Keep reading and we'll take a glance at just how Toyota is breaking one mold by breaking new ground.

Maybe it was the success of the Nissan Xterra or perhaps it was the desire to recapture past glory [or something in between] but Toyota's decision to build the FJ Cruiser may not have been an easy one. With a line up filled with various trucks and SUVs, the proposed FJ Cruiser would not only be competing against the Jeeps and Land Rovers of the world, but with some of its own models including the car based Highlander and the versatile, truck based 4Runner. Still, the model was thought to stand a chance for two reasons: the FJ Cruiser is a retro-styled vehicle taking its design cues from the FJ40 of the 1960s/1970s and for its 5 passenger seating capacity: just the right sized vehicle that consumers would want to take off roading.

Yes indeed the FJ Cruiser is one beast with an attitude and an effective competitor in a sea of SUVs. For the money, this is what you get with the standard model:

Land Cruiser style and versatility. As the original Land Cruisers were noted for their off road prowess, the FJ Cruiser matches its heralded relative by climbing over rocks, surging up hills, and navigating sandy terrain with relative ease.

Retro styling. Much like Chrysler, Ford and GM which have each successfully introduced and sold retro styled vehicles, the FJ Cruiser's two tone body, restrained roofline, and painted black bumpers effectively combine the old model with the new.

Safety features everywhere. Available as a 4x2 or 4x4, the FJ Cruiser comes with vehicle stability control and vehicle traction control along with ABS, brake assist, and electronic brake force distribution for added stopping capabilities. Add in optional driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags for front and rear passengers and the FJ Cruiser has riders thoroughly protected.

Dependable engine/transmission. Not to take too much of a risk with this model, Toyota snagged the same 4.0L engine powering the 4Runner and other Toyota trucks of its size and stuck it under the FJ Cruiser's hood. A five speed automatic or six speed manual transmission helps the off roader triumph as it scales rocks or takes steep hills.

The interior of the FJ Cruiser is anything but austere, but it certainly doesn't rise to the level of the overdone Land Cruiser, not a bad thing though. Power windows and door locks, keyless remote entry, and a six speed CD radio are some of the features found in this model. On the outside, 17 inch steel wheels do their part in helping the vehicle tow as much as 5,000 pounds. Whatever you choose not to tow can be stuck inside or carried on top; with the second seat folded down the FJ Cruiser's ample storage area is tops in its class.

Best of all, the base FJ Cruiser retails for just over $21,000 with 4x4 versions selling for about $2,000 more. One drawback reported by consumers is dealer price gouging: some buyers are claiming that dealers are adding four to five thousand dollars to the sticker price of every FJ Cruiser sold.

Finally, if it is fuel efficiency you are seeking the FJ Cruiser just isn't there. Average fuel economy of 20 mpg is not terrible, but it is not great either. Chances are if you are interested in a vehicle like the FJ Cruiser, then fuel economy will be one of your least concerns at least Toyota hopes so.

Truly it appears that Toyota has gotten the styling side of their house in order with this capable retro 4x4 vehicle as evidenced by strong sales in a vehicle segment that has been hit hard by high gasoline prices. Tornado Fuel Saver to quality, wholesale priced Toyota

Mold - What Causes It And How To Get Rid Of It

Mold. And no, we're not talking about the kind found on 40 year old bread. We're talking about the kind of mold found in your bathroom on the tub tiles and a number of other places you'd never even suspect. In this article we're going to go over the causes of mold and how to get rid of it.

Mold is actually always present in the air and all it needs to trigger it off is a little moisture and a food source. Most surfaces contain all the nutrients that mold will need for it to grow and any dirt on that surface only provides additional fuel for the fire.

Mold is pretty easy to spot even if you can't see it, which is usually white or can even be black. Mold can always be smelled and the odor is rather musty and not at all pleasant. It grows on paper, drywall, wood, paint and wallpaper and many other surfaces that contain sufficient amounts of moisture.

Okay, so if mold is so prevalent just how do we get rid of it or if possible keep it from forming?

The first step in reducing mold (you'll never completely kill it) is to keep things clean. A 1 part to 4 part solution of chlorine bleach and water will kill mold. If you add a detergent to that solution you will also remove dust and dirt. You have to be very careful when disturbing mold spores because they can cause respiratory problems, especially if you are allergic to mold, have asthma or other breathing problems.

The next thing to do is to reduce humidity. In a climate where you have to heat the air in the winter time, this can be a real challenge. Warm air holds much more moisture than cold air. Air conditioning systems can remove the moisture and circulate cool dry air back into the room. Of course if you live in a hot dry climate like Arizona, this isn't that much of a problem. Air movement, through the use of a fan, is another great way of reducing the moisture in the air. Just from cooking and bathing alone you can add as much as 3 gallons of water a day to your home unless you have adequate circulation.

Corners are a common place for mold to grow. Usually because of improper insulation the interior wall can become colder than the air that is inside the room and this causes moisture to form on the surface. The underside of windows is another common location. Humid air will condense on cold windows which will form frost and then go through a cycle by which the moisture will freeze and defrost. This will cause water to drip down underneath the window which is what causes the mold to form and grow and your wall to start rotting.

By following the above procedures, keeping your home cool and dry and cleaning often especially after a bath or shower, you can help prevent mold from taking over your house.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Mold