Interior Finish Remodeling
Trim Replacement done properly
Replacing trim in an older house usually means matching a profile that has not been sold in fifty years.
What this work involves
Older houses around Decatur and inside the perimeter have trim profiles you cannot buy off a rack. Matching means either finding a close stock profile and building it up, or having a knife ground and the run milled to match.
Milling is not as expensive as people assume and it is the difference between a repair that disappears and one you notice from the doorway forever.
Removal matters too. Old trim on plaster comes off badly if you rush it, and repairing the wall behind is more work than the trim itself.
The sequence on a job like this
- Existing profile documented and matched, milled where stock will not do
- Careful removal to limit damage to plaster or drywall behind
- Wall repair before the new trim goes on
- Installation, filling, caulking and paint preparation
What we look at before quoting trim replacement
Every trim replacement job starts the same way: we look at what the new work has to sit on. Removal matters too. Old trim on plaster comes off badly if you rush it, and repairing the wall behind is more work than the trim itself.
A problem found on the walkthrough is a line item. The same problem found after demolition is a delay and a change order. We prefer to find it the first way.
Worth knowing
The thing that usually goes wrong
Close-enough stock trim next to an original profile. The eye picks up the difference immediately even when people cannot say why.
Most of what separates good work from adequate work is buried by the time the job is done. The substrate under the floor, the studs behind the drywall, the decking under the roof. Those are the parts that decide how the finish holds up, and they are the parts a fast crew skips.
Catching this early is what the walkthrough is for, and it is free. Call (678) 665-7771 or contact us here, and Igor will come out and give you a straight read on what you are looking at.
Where we do this work
We stay close to home. The company is based in Roswell and takes work in six counties, Fulton, Cobb, Cherokee, Forsyth, Gwinnett and DeKalb. Marietta, GA, Woodstock, GA and Alpharetta, GA are three of the cities on our service areas page, next to thirty-nine others.
Have a look at the gallery for finished work, or call (678) 665-7771 and we will come out.
How scope drives cost
Two versions of the same project can differ enormously depending on choices that have nothing to do with what you can see at the end.
Changing where things are, how the house is framed or how big it is drives most of the price. Material selections matter, but on a typical job they are the smaller part of the total.
We will lay out where those decision points are for your project, including where spending more genuinely buys you something and where it does not.
Who you will be dealing with
You deal with the same people from the first walkthrough through the final punch list. There is no handoff from a salesperson to a project manager to a crew who have never seen the file.
Igor runs the jobs from the site. If something needs a decision, it gets made by someone standing in the room looking at the actual condition.
We keep the number of simultaneous projects deliberately low. It is the entire reason the company exists and it is not something we are planning to grow out of.
What gets inspected
Anything structural, most mechanical work, and every addition. We pull the permits, schedule the inspections and are on site for them.
Contractors who work around permitting are avoiding scrutiny, and the scrutiny is the point. The details inspectors look hardest at are the ones that cause real failures.
It also protects you later. Unpermitted work surfaces at the worst possible moment, which is usually when you are selling or making a claim.
Looking after the work
A finished remodel is not maintenance free, but the list is short and most of it is easy.
Check the caulk in showers and around tubs now and then, since that joint flexes more than anything else in the room. Outside, keep gutters and drains clear. Clean filters and vents on anything mechanical.
You get that list from us at handover, specific to your project. If you notice a problem down the road, tell us about it. Living with it is the last thing we want for you.
Questions people ask
Can you match our old trim?
Usually. Older profiles often have to be milled to match, which we flag at the walkthrough so it is in the schedule rather than a surprise.
Will the walls need repair?
Often, yes. Old trim on plaster comes off badly if it is rushed, and repairing the wall behind can be more work than the trim itself.
Why does trim work cost what it does?
Because it is the part where a fast job and a careful one look completely different. Coped inside corners, tight returns and joints that stay closed take time.
How long does a project like this take?
Ask us after the walkthrough and you will get a straight number of weeks. Before that, anyone quoting you a timeline is guessing. As a rough guide, a single bathroom is a few weeks of work and a full home remodel takes months, and we keep you posted if the dates move.
How do we get started?
A walkthrough at your house is the first step, and it is free. Book it by calling (678) 665-7771 or through the contact page. You owe us nothing after it.
What happens if you find something unexpected?
Surprises come with opening up a house. Our job is to make sure you see what we see, with photos and a plan, on the day it turns up, before anything is covered again.
Let us take a look at your trim replacement project
Call (678) 665-7771 or send a note through the contact page. Igor will come look at the space, talk through what you want, and give you a straight answer on scope. There is a ceiling on how many projects we take at once, and we hit it on purpose. Volume is what Igor left behind.