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

Mold FAQ: Winning The War On Mold And Mildew

* Does bleach kill mold?

Yes, bleach kills mold. It is an effective chemical for killing all kinds of molds. Bleach is an acid, and acids are effective killers of microorganisms. However, take care in handling bleach, as acids are known to be as hard on your skin as on the molds.

Most bleach contains chlorine, a chemical that is used commercially to kill microorganisms in public water supplies and swimming pools. Chlorine is also known to be a good choice for killing molds and disinfecting your home.

Just be sure that the bleach you buy does contain chlorine, because there are several non-chlorine bleaches on the market. There are also levels of acidity for chlorine. Strong chlorine is best for killing molds.


* Can I clean and restore all the items in my home that have been affected by mold?

Yes. Things that have been affected by molds can be cleaned and restored in many ways. The easiest way is simply with detergent soaps, but detergent will only clean things that have been mildly affected by mold.

Another way to clean up mold is to use any of the chemical products available commercially. Most of these chemicals not only clean but it disinfect and kill molds or fungi. When the molds have been killed, restoring items becomes much easier.


* What should I do if I?ve cleaned the mold but it keeps coming back?

The best thing to do when molds keep coming back is to prevent its growth. This can be done by acting quickly on water leaks that will cause dampness and encourage mold growth.

Try to reduce humidity. Reducing humidity means reducing the growth of molds. Using air conditioners or dehumidifiers is one effective way of reducing humidity.

Prevention of condensation is another way of keeping molds from coming back. You can prevent condensation by reducing humidity. Increasing ventilation is another way.

Keeping your home dry will ensure your home is mold-free.

If you've significantly reduced the humidity and condensation in your home and the mold is still growing, you've most likely got a problem area in your home that you may not be aware of. Perhaps you have previous water damage that was not cleaned properly, or you may have a leaky pipe. When all is said and done, you may need to call in a mold remediation specialist.


* How do I know when the mold cleanup is complete?

The simple answer is that you'll know the mold cleanup is complete when there is no visible mold remaining. There should also be no dust or dirt remaining that could contain large amounts of mold and mold spores.

Once this has been accomplished, testing for mold is really not necessary. Leaving a few mold spores behind is not a problem if the moisture problem that caused the mold in the first place has been corrected. Keep in mind that mold spores are virtually everywhere. Even if every mold spore is removed during the cleanup, spores from outside will re-enter the house or building. However, the mold spores will not be able to grow unless moisture is present.

Maye Teasdale is editor of Mold Tip, the online guide to Mold. She also writes Mold FAQ's for PrettyGreatAnswers.com.

Mold and Colds - Does Black Mold Cause Common Colds

Colds and mold symptoms are very simalar hence the reason why mold and your average colds are commonly placed together.. It can also be said that mold and colds are alike because toxic black mold can hurt the immunity system. The bodies lack of antibodies from the mold symptoms will a breakdown in the system.

The common black mold symptoms and every day colds are created by having to many harmful toxins in the body. Since mold toxins are know to cause fungisitis, which is referred as black mold in the nose. Colds become a habitual symptom. The excess mucas which has spores will create fungus that can be harmful to the system, especiallywhen being a young child, elderly, or allergenic sufferer. Many popular molds such as aspergillus and stachybotrys are know to be related to molds and colds. These black molds are the most recognized in common house holds and basements and can become a problem if not taken care of correctly.

If one is looking to prevent mold correctly, be sure to take care of any water damage events that happen in the home or office. If a wet drywall is left untouched and not removed, it is very common to begin seeing black mold on the surfaces of those walls. Once these toxic spores attach and grow they will leave excrement in the air which you or your family can breathe in. This is a common occurence that causes problems with people associating mold symptoms and colds.

Stress, overwork, and a few other things are common causes of colds. When there is mold spores inside the body this causes more work for the body causing one to get sick. The mold spores will breakdown the body and more than usual you will find a cold to come around. Your nose will begin feel stuffy symptoms and have extra mucas. The best thing to do is talk to a doctor who understands mold and you could also look into an alternative method for black mold removal or hiring a certified mold inspector to look at the area, they will then write protocols for a qualified mold remediation and decontamination company.

Markus Skupeika Effective Mold Removal

Mold Remediation: Saving your House from Mold Menace

How severe is Mold

Mold is a type of fungi that covers a surface in the form of downy or furry coating. Neither plant nor animal, it is part of a group of living organisms that are very common and serve many beneficial purposes. Mold remediation and its importance are more felt than said. Household molds are sign of decay or dampness. They can grow on the walls, floors and ceilings of your home, on furniture and carpets as well as on your personal possessions. Sometimes household molds are referred to as mildew, although the term can also apply to molds found outdoors. Household molds are destructive in character. They originate from a damp place and soon spread to the other areas. The most common item on which molds grow very easily are foods. Foods left open or those not used for some time are sources for molds. Mold spreads by creating reproductive cells called spores which propagate through the air. It can enter your house by attaching to your skin, clothing, shoes, shopping bags and belongings, pets, through open doors, windows and through the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of your house. Molds grow best in areas of your house that are not properly sunlit or ventilated.

Mold remediation - Your Solution to Mold Problem

Mold remediation involves moisture control program and a variety of mold cleanup methods to protect building materials and furnishings from mold growth. The purpose of mold remediation is to remove the mold to prevent damages of building materials and furnishings as well as human exposure. Clean up mold contamination is as important as killing of molds, because even dead mold is still allergenic, and some dead molds are potentially toxic. If there is too much of moisture in your house coming from a dirt basement or a leaking roof, then your house can be infested with moisture all the year. It requires serious mold remediation to avoid long term and permanent mold problem. If growth of mold is confined to specific part of your house then that part of the house require more sunlight and ventilation. For such problems you need a mold remediation program emphasizing on ventilation. If your home is too air-tight, it will be affected by molds in the warmer months as humidity reaches high levels inside the house and moisture is trapped. In drafty homes mold problems occur more frequently during cold, when warm air escapes from the living area into unconditioned space, and gets condensed. If the house is artificially humidified during the winter it will create favorable conditions for mold. In such cases your house will need yearly mold remediation. If neglected, the temporary mold problem will give rise to serious long term problems.

Selecting the Right Mold Remediation

A wide variety of mold remediation methods are available for mold cleanup and remediation of damages to building materials and furnishings. However, the specific method(s) used will depend on the type of material affected. If disinfectants or biocides are used for killing molds you must ventilate the area to allow fresh air to enter. Biocides are toxic to mold as well as to humans. The use of a biocide, such as chlorine bleach, is not recommended as a routine practice during mold remediation. Fungicides such as hexachlorobenzene, organomercurials, pentachlorophenol, phthalimides, and dithiocarbamates are used for outdoor purposes. Mold remediation using these materials is not recommended for indoor mold killing. You can use many chemicals and other manual mold remediation methods yourself. If you hire a professional agency for mold remediation, and they apply biocides, make sure they are properly licensed. Mold remediation is applied for protecting homes and humans from harmful effects of molds. However, if not handled properly, it may create other problems from the chemicals. Find local, qualified Mold Remediation Job. http://www.water-damage-mold.comFind the best Listing Of Mold Remediation Companies in your Area.
Find local, qualified Mold Remediation Job.

Kanban Selected by KOYO and Wiremold

KOYO and Wiremold select e-kanban over Fax Kanban. Fax-kanban is NOT Efficient and NOT Lean

1000% growth in e-kanban services in the past twelve months has North Carolina-based Datacraft Solutions (www.datacraftsolutions.com) poised to capture significant percentage of lean manufacturing organizations business.

According to Sam Bayer, President of Datacraft Solutions, We have seen explosive growth from major manufacturing enterprises with Lean initiatives. From Wiremold to dj Orthopedics to KOYO to Outokumpu, our e-kanban system, Signum, is being used throughout North America.

FAX KANBAN is NOT Efficient and NOT Lean
At ten minutes per fax, someone is spending 3.5 hours per day in administration time. That inefficiency results in less time to utilize more suppliers or improve the relationships with existing suppliers.

Furthermore, even if 99% of those faxes are trouble free procurement signals, four faxes per month are going to be problematic and dilute the entire rationale for a lean manufacturing operation. Suppliers claim they did not receive the fax kanban; suppliers cannot make the shipment date requested and expedited shipping fees are incurred, or worse, there will be a stockout which will negatively impact customer service levels.

Bayer noted, Signum, our electronic kanban system gives manufacturers a heads up to which of those four faxes might be the problem and then frees you up to deal with them because our system has dealt with the other 396 kanban signals with zero effort. Bayer also noted that process improvement with existing suppliers will further reduce lead times and inventory levels and bring more suppliers onto the system.

The leader in e-kanban is Datacraft Solutions. With more than 1000% growth in the past twelve months, Datacraft Solutions anticipates a continued rate of growth throughout 2008.

Datacraft Solutions
www.datacraftsolutions.com
Sam Bayer
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919-667-9804

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