Lumber and Sheet Goods

If you know how to handle a few tricky spots, this elegant detail can be a snap to install by Rick Arnold

The final result looks like custom trim, but it's painless and affordable to make by combining stock profiles by Rick Arnold

Stock molding and MDF panels transform a room by Gary Striegler

Alternative trim may not be cost-effective when you buy it, but it becomes cost-effective after you've saved money on maintenance or replacement by Gary M. Katz

Coping moldings by Tom O'Brien

It's a stable and less expensive alternative to solid wood by Michael Standish

A valance of MDF and crown molding hides an unsightly shade by Mike Guertin

For a clean, contemporary look, create a door jamb, stop and casing from one piece of wood by Kevin Luddy

Complicated profiles require custom knives, but installation is a cinch by Sebastian Eggert

A cabinetmaker re-creates period detail with redwood salvaged from wine vats by Miles Karpilow

by Daniel Mack

You can vary the look with simple combinations of flat boards and stock moldings by Joseph Beals III

Medium-density fiberboard mills and paints well whether you're creating straight runs or curves by Jay Goldman

A combination of built-up moldings and layers of plywood duplicates a traditional look by Jim Donnelly