Charleston Trim Installation

There's a huge variety of styles, sizes, shapes, patterns, and textures available for a Charleston trim installation, but most interior installations are made of one of the four following materials, all of which have their own set of pros and cons:

• Solid Wood: This is the most popular material for most types of trim installation, and it usually comes in either hardwood such as ash, walnut, or oak, or paint-grade pine wood. It's an easy material to repair or refinish, and with proper care and maintenance, it may last for generations, which tends to cut down on the cost of replacement.
• Engineered Wood: This is actually very similar to hardwood and is preferable under some circumstances. The appearance is the same because engineered wood has a thin veneer of hardwood on its surface, bonded to a backing made of MDF or premium plywood. It can't be refinished more than a couple of times, but it is resistant to warping from moisture exposure and is less likely to suffer insect infestations.
• MDF: Medium density fiberboard (MDF) is manufactured from wood particles bonded together under high pressure with wax and resin. It's a good budget alternative as it's less costly than wood, but it is absorbent and doesn't hold up very well in moisture-prone areas like a kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom.
• Polystyrene: While this is not a very durable or long-lasting material, it is the most cost-effective choice by far and some types of no-contact trim like crown molding don't need to be super durable. It usually has a noticeable styrofoam texture, but that can be concealed easily enough with a few layers of paint. It is a great choice for older homes with wavy walls that aren't level and even because polystyrene is much more flexible than other materials and can be molded to fit exactly into the space available.