When the crown moulding and installation work is done, your Contra Costa County trim contractor should provide you with a written invoice for services rendered. This is your chance to look over the invoice and verify that all work was provided and done in a manner that fits the original contract and the final invoice.

You are wise to walk through the rooms where the new moulding and trim was installed, preferably with your contractor, and to check over each piece to make sure it lives up to your expectations.

This is best done before the contractor leaves your home, as it may be easier to have any repairs made or explanations given while the company is still on the premises. It is especially true if you hired a crown moulding or trim contractor in Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Concord, Richmond, Brentwood, Danville, Antioch, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg and San Ramon, Discovery Bay, Cowell, Clyde, Tara Hills, Orinda, Maltby, Lafayette, Knightsen, Hilltop Mall, El Sobrante, Los Medanos or out of your local area.

You may also want to ask follow-up questions, including about the care and maintenance of your new crown moulding and decorative trim.

The invoice from your moulding and trim installers company should include the following:

• The moulding and trim installers contractor’s name, physical address and state license number.
• A complete list of all work performed, including repairs or preparation work, crown moulding installation, trim installation and finish work.
• An itemized list of all materials used.
• The total cost for the moulding and trim installation services, including an itemized amount charged for labor.
• A written explanation of any warranties or guarantees provided by the product manufacturers and the moulding and trim installers contractors.

Written warranties are your key to protecting yourself against mistakes and mishaps during and after the installation of your moulding and trim.

The following items should be included in any written guarantee document:

• The Contra Costa County moulding and trim installers contractor's name, physical address and state license number.
• A description of what exactly the warranty covers. This should include whether the contractor will repair or replace any faulty materials or workmanship.
• Any exclusions must be explicitly stated.
• Your responsibility in the case of a problem and what you need to do in order to redeem the warranty.
• How long the warranty is valid, and whether it expires on a specific day or is prorated (meaning, the warranty coverage and amount owed for repair or replacement diminishes over time).
• If the warranty coverage is transferable to the new owner if you sell the home or commercial building in which the work was done.
• Any actions on your part that may invalidate the warranty.

Each home and business has its own needs when it comes to moulding and trim installation. Existing homes may require new moulding that matches or complements materials already in the home, while new construction may call for a completely different installation method. Likewise, the materials used to create trim and moulding vary to provide a range of options to fit various customer and contractor needs.

Contra Costa County crown molding and trim installers, whether located in Concord, Richmond, Antioch, Walnut Creek and Pittsburg or other areas, will have recommendations on the best materials, installation techniques and other considerations for your job. To better prepare yourself for the work ahead, get to know some of the most popular options by reading through the information below.

Decorative Crown Moulding
Decorative crown moulding (also spelled molding) is often found surrounding the ceilings of Victorian and vintage homes. It may also be in newer homes to create detail and interest near the ceiling line. Decorative crown moulding may be scalloped, carved, thick or thin, and is frequently used to hide the line between the ceiling and walls. It may be used to cover flaws or cracks, and can add a richness and visual interest to rooms.

Decorative Trim Installation in Contra Costa County
Like decorative moulding, decorative trim is used to create visual interest and to cover flaws or joints between walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors. Trim can be painted in an accent color or to match walls, windows or doors. It may be used as art rails, installed in decorative patterns on walls, as a decorative chair rail or above wainscoting, or along the floor.

New Custom Crown Moulding & Trim
Whether you're living in an older home with existing moulding or trim you'd like to match or a new home that could benefit from custom touches, custom crown molding and trim may be the answer for you. Custom moulding and trim can add an upscale look to a home or business, including wide crown moulding or decorative trim.

Exterior Crown Moulding
Homes in Contra Costa County, especially those that are from the Victorian period, may require the installation of exterior crown moulding. This is moulding and trim applied to the outside of the home, usually for decorative purposes, but also to hide cracks or flaws in the exterior. Exterior molding and trim can be painted or stained to any color to coordinate with existing paint colors and to add a custom touch.

Interior Trim and Moulding
Most molding and trim is interior in nature, and applied to the inside of homes and buildings for visual appeal and to hide flaws and delineations between walls and other surfaces. Interior trim is usually found around windows and doors, and along the line between walls and ceilings and floors. Interior mouldings may also be found along cabinets (known as cabinet moulding or cabinet trim), along staircases, edging built-in cabinets and fireplaces, and other decorative areas.

Door Moulding
Door moulding is found around the openings of doorways. It usually surrounds the areas where the doors fit; however, some door molding encloses the entire doorway in spaces where there is no swinging door and only an opening. Door moulding often matches window moulding to give rooms a certain continuity.

Baseboard Trim & Moulding Installation
Baseboard and moulding that runs along the wall near the floor helps protect the walls from abuse and hides any gaps or flaws on the floor and wall where the two surfaces come together. Baseboard may be a thin line of quarter-round or other small piece of trim, or it may be a tall, custom panel of moulding that gives a custom look to the wall and rooms where it is featured.

Simple Moulding & Trim
Simple trim and moulding can be one thin strip of trim, sometimes known as quarter round, that adds a nice, simple finish to an area. It may be paired in a room with wider moulding and trim to give a custom look, or may be the only finish in a modern space.

Wood Moulding & Trim
Most interior trim and molding installed in Contra Costa County, including San Ramon, Danville, Brentwood, Martinez and Pleasant Hill and beyond, is made of wood. This is usually the best option, as it can be stained, painted or simply varnished to match a variety of finishes, furnishings and styles. Other types of trim and molding include MDF (medium density fiberboard), plastic, polyurethane/urethane, and Styrofoam. Ask your Contra Costa County trim and moulding contractor which material they'd recommend for your job.

Styrofoam Crown Moulding / Polyurethane Crown Moulding
New crown moulding and trim made of Styrofoam, polyurethane, urethane or plastic can make installation easier in old homes or buildings where walls, ceilings and floors are uneven. Flexible mouldings and trims bend slightly, making installation look perfect even though the surface they're installed on may be damaged or slightly altered from age. The appeal of polyurethane, urethane and styrofoam moulding and trim is the fact that it's flexible crown moulding that can be painted, stained or treated to look just like wood moulding and trim.

Decorative Moulding & Trim Brands Requested by Contra Costa County Homeowners
Moulding contractors have different preferences for the type of trim and moulding they use, and they can recommend the best brand and type for your home. Some of the most popular brands used in the Bay Area and beyond, including Contra Costa County and Pleasant Hill, Concord, Martinez, Richmond and Brentwood, include the following:

• Moulding & Millwork by Sauder Industries
• Elias Woodwork Moulding & Trim
• Architectural Millwork
• Beaux-Artes Mouldings & Accents
• MCMC Trim Crown Moulding
• Kleer Trimboards
• Chemcrest Architectural Trim Moulding
• Custom Decorative Mouldings & Trim
• Fypon Crown Moulding & Trim
• HB&G Trim & Molding
• Style Solutions Trim
• Flextrim Flexible Trim Molding

Knowing the basics of crown moulding and trim before you hire an installation contractor can help you make a wise decision when choosing a contractor and upgrading your home's moulding and trim.

apron
The apron is a horizontal piece of window trim, sash or casing that is installed on a wall immediately underneath the window. The apron hides the joint between the window frame and wall.

Also known as: apron moulding, window apron, window trim

astragal
Astragals are interior pieces of moulding attached to doors or door sashes to prevent the doors from swinging through and keeps the doors tightly together where they meet.

Also known as: door astragal, t-astragal, flat astragals

band moulding
A flat strip of moulding that is raised or flush against a surface and is meant to be protective or decorative. Band moulding is usually used to trim mantels or cabinets.

Also known as: band molding, band wall molding, decorative band molding, fireplace mantel molding, cabinet molding, cabinet trim

base board
Base board is moulding that is fitted at the base of the wall around the perimeter of a room between the wall and a finished floor. Baseboard is sometimes used in conjunction with base shoe to finish off the floor.

Also known as: mop board, baseboard, base skirt, wall base

base shoe
Base shoe is a narrow piece of moulding that transitions between the floor and walls or cabinets. Base shoe protects the base of the wall from damage and can cover gaps or uneven spaces where the base meets the floor.

Also known as: shoe mould, floor mould, shoe moulding, floor moulding

bead moulding
Bead moulding is a moulding strip that's attached where two surfaces come together, such as where the walls and ceiling meet.

cased doorway
A cased doorway is a doorway opening without a door, but finished with a casing and jambs.

Also known as: cased opening

chair rail
Chair rails are pieces of moulding or trim affixed to walls about 1/3 of the way up the wall. They are usually parallel to the base board and crown moulding, and they encircle the room. Originally, chair rails protected walls from damage incurred when chairs were pushed back and into the wall. Now, they are usually installed for decorative purposes.

Also known as: chair moulding, decorative wall moulding

crown moulding
Crown moulding is a piece of trim that is installed to cover the space where the walls and ceiling meet. Crown moulding can provide a decorative effect in rooms with tall ceilings or modern homes.

Also known as: cornice moulding, crown molding

jamb
Jambs are the perimeter around the frame of a door or window. Jambs can be decorative and installed with matching moulding and trim.

Also known as: door jambs, window jambs

moulding
Moulding is narrow strips of wood that are installed to accent, emphasize or decorate a home or business. Moulding also serves a functional purpose of concealing joints, angles and seams between walls, ceilings and floors.

Also known as: crown moulding, floor moulding, molding, trim, coving

picture rail
A narrow railing installed on walls near the ceiling line that holds hooks with which to hang pictures is known as picture rail. Picture rail can also be used to create decorative shapes on walls.

Also known as: picture noulding, frame moulding, frame rail

quarter round moulding
Quarter round is a piece of moulding that's a quarter of a full rod. Quarter round is often used as base shoe or inside-corner moulding to protect surfaces and cover flaws.

Also known as: ¼ round, quarter-round molding

rosette
Rosettes are decorative wood squares that are affixed to walls, stair rails, and window and door frames to provide decoration. Rosettes are usually made of wood and affixed in or alongside crown moulding and trim.

Also known as: rosette detailing

wainscoting
Wainscoting is an interior wall surface that is usually attached to a wall to a height of three to four feet. Wainscoting is often finished at the top with a chair rail.

Also known as: wainscot, decorative wainscoting

You probably have many questions about the crown moulding and decorative trim installation process, starting with how to choose an installer and the best product for your home. While every contractor has his or her own methods, some answers are universal or more common than others.

The following frequently asked questions and answers will give you some idea of what to expect when choosing a moulding and trim company and having new decorative trim and crown moulding installed in your home or business.

Consult the contractors you're considering hiring for specific questions pertaining to your job.

Q: Why choose Diamond Certified moulding and trim installers?
A: Diamond Certified helps you choose local moulding and trim installers with confidence by offering a list of top-rated local companies who have passed the country’s most in-depth rating process. Only moulding and trim installers rated Highest in Quality earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Most companies can’t pass the ratings. American Ratings Corporation also monitors every Diamond Certified company with ongoing research and ratings. And your new crown moulding and trim purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. So you’ll feel confident choosing among Diamond Certified moulding and trim installers.

Q: Can I install new moulding or trim in my house myself?
A: That depends on your skill and the type of work you're needing. Some homeowners with good carpentry or building skills may be able to perform simple moulding and trim installation.

Q: How much will new moulding and trim cost me?
A: Trim and moulding range in price depending on the material (hardwood, MDF or plastic), size (traditional or custom width), where it is to be installed and the finish (plain wood, stained or painted). You can plan to spend about six to eight dollars per linear foot for installed and finished crown moulding. That will vary depending on your job and contractor, however, so call your local trim and moulding contractor for specifics on your job. Remember, though, that adding new trim and moulding to your home is one of the most cost-effective ways to update the appearance and create value in your home, so the cost may be well worth the investment.

Q: Can I stack mouldings together for a custom moulding look?
A: Yes. You can create a custom moulding look for less by stacking standard moulding and trim together to create the effect of a single piece of custom moulding. Some customers even stack pieces of moulding and trim to create custom baseboards for less. These may be to match original moulding, trim or baseboards, or to create a custom look throughout a new or remodeled home.

Q: How do I choose crown moulding and trim?
A: American hardwood moulding and trim, including oak and maple, is some of the hardiest and most beautiful moulding and trim available. Customers choose it for window and door trim, baseboards and chair rails, and other areas that receive a lot of traffic. Customers that have a lower budget but who still want the look of an expensive hardwood may choose a less expensive wood and stain it using a cherry stain or other expensive hardwood stain. Talk with your moulding and trim contractor to find the best trim and moulding for your needs and budget.

Q: How tall should by wainscoting be?
A: Wainscoting, usually made of hardwood boards and beadboard, is traditionally the height of a chair rail—the rail that runs along the bottom third of the wall—or a plate rail—the rail that runs along the bottom two-thirds of the wall. To find the best place for your wainscoting, divide the height of your room by three and draw a line there. Adjust it according to where you find it most appealing.

Q: Can a trim and moulding contractor recreate a look I've seen in a magazine or online?
A: Absolutely. Good trim and moulding contractors can almost always recreate custom crown moulding or trim looks you find in print or online. Save the original and talk with a contractor about your specific project.

Q: Will my new crown mouldings shrink or separate?
A: Trim and crown mouldings that are made of MDF (medium density fiberboard) or wood will shrink a little over time. To prevent shrinking, ask your moulding and trim contractor to acclimate your trim in your home for at least 24 hours before installing them.

Q: Can I use trim or moulding to improve the look of my existing fireplace?
A: Yes. Homeowners often choose to update the appearance of a fireplace by adding hardwood moulding and trim around it and the mantel to create a new look. Moulding strips can create the illusion of raised paneling, while decorative medallions and ornamental pieces can upgrade a plain mantel or fire place face. Some homeowners choose to extend a fireplace mantel or surround by tying in built-in bookcases, seating or curio cabinets using new moulding or trim pieces.