 You
can find it running along the wall, on the ceiling,
around the floor, and even surrounding windows and
doors.
It’s architectural molding,
a feature popular among buyers that adds style and
stature to any room. Often made of wood or plaster,
molding defines a space, hides unsightly wall seams, and
adds visual interest to otherwise plain walls.
When you’re marketing a
property that has distinctive molding, you may want to
mention it in the home description to catch buyers’ eye.
And when working with buyers who want a traditional look
— or, conversely, who want a sleek modern look — help
them understand how they could change the feel of a room
by adding or removing molding after the purchase.
But to explain the feature
properly, whether you’re working with sellers or buyers,
you first must understand the various types of molding
that you typically find in modern-day homes.
Know the Vocab
These are the most common
types of molding that you will see in today’s homes:
- Crown Molding.
Also called a cornice, this type of molding is found
where the wall meets the ceiling. It can have the
effect of making a ceiling appear higher. It’s not
common in modern homes.
- Dentil Molding.
A horizontal
series of square blocks runs under a crown molding.
It is used break up the shadow under crown molding
and to add additional detail. It is typically seen
in formal, traditional homes.
- Baseboard
Molding.
This runs along the bottom of a wall, where the wall
meets the floor. In a modern setting, the baseboard
might be just 4-inches high with no details. In a
traditional setting it is more likely to be 6-inches
high with a curved profile.
- Shoe Molding.
This type of molding is a quarter-round strip that
is installed to cover the gap between the floor and
the baseboard if the floor is uneven. When
wall-to-wall carpeting is installed, it’s a neater
look to have no shoe molding.
- Door and Window
Casings.
These run around doorways and windows, helping to
define the space. Like other moldings, if they have
a contoured surface they will have a more
traditional look than if they are flat. Modern door
and window casings are often made of metal, while in
a traditional setting they will typically be made of
wood.
- Chair Rails.
These are
traditional moldings that run horizontally around a
room at approximately 32 inches to 36 inches above
the floor. In Europe, during the 17th and 18th
centuries, chairs were placed around the perimeter
of a room instead of scattered throughout the room.
Chair rails were originally used to protect the wall
from being damaged by the backs of chairs. The wall
above and below a chair rail can be treated
differently, with wallpaper above and paint below,
for example.
- Classic Shapes.
From
Cavetto, a concave semi-circle molding, to Scotia,
in which the bottom of the molding juts out, there
are many different shapes from which to choose. View
illustrations and descriptions in the Architecture
Guide's
Classic Molding Types
section.
Molding Over Time
Unlike home features such
as columns and the roof pitch, it is not possible to
decipher the style of a home simply by looking at the
molding. That’s because moldings are used in many
housing styles and throughout many periods, from the
Classical architecture of the ancient Greeks and Romans
to the more modern Federal period. Also, home owners
often add or remove molding according to their own
styles.
However, molding does
provide a clue to the general style of the home. The
more detailed and elaborate the moldings are; the more
traditional the home is. On the other hand, sleek
molding with few details and clean lines is more common
in contemporary homes.
New Molding Adds a New
Look
Molding can be added or
removed to change the look of a room. Adding it creates
warmth and a traditional feel, while taking it down or
replacing elaborate molding with a more streamlined
style can give a room a modern touch.
When working with buyers,
help them envision what a room would look like with or
without molding.
Adding
molding is
more complicated than painting a wall, but it’s still a
relatively simple job that many people choose to tackle
on their own, without the help of a carpenter. .
While the finest moldings
are custom-milled by a cabinetmaker, there are plenty of
home furnishing outlets and millwork catalogues that
sell standard moldings. The moldings must be affixed to
the wall and will require priming and painting. The wall
and ceiling around the molding may possibly need some
touch ups after the work and the best scenario would be
to repaint the entire wall and ceiling including the
moldings with a fresh coat of paint.
Removing
molding and trim
can be a more involved process, requiring you to repair
the wall and repaint or re-wallpaper. But it’s something
to consider if a previous owner has used molding
excessively, or if the molding seems too big or too
small for the space.
It’s in the Details
Fine details such as
molding are often what makes a buyer fall in love with a
home. For that reason, it’s smart to draw buyers’
attention to the architectural moldings of your listings
and to point out the feature to clients who are looking
for their dream home. |