Just installed all new triple pane vinyl windows with 3/4 in. returns. Thinking about choices for trim wood species. I sure love clear cedar…anyone ever use that inside? Also looking at vertical grain fir…any other suggestions? House is rather plain and will be a simple configuration. Wife doesn’t care for oak…thanks for any comments
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In my neck of the woods (Western Canada), most of the old houses had fir as framing and trim.
I'm redoing a few rooms upstairs with straight grained fir trim. Cedar might be a little soft, but with enough work, could be made smooth & flat enough.
You DO have access to a jointer and power planer among the other regular tools, do you? Oh yes - a REALLY good dust collection system.
Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR Construction
Vancouver, Canada
In my early years, I used to frame all the house and most had Cedar exterior trim. I loved the smell and used it to trim out my family room. I put a clear finish on it. I loved it but after a few years, I started to dislike the color. It darkened and it lost that soft brown tone that I preferred. It also yellowed too.
I used a knotty grade. I loved the knotty look but I wouldn't do it again. I now prefer painted trim.
moral of the story, choose your finish carefully, poly's will yellow .. on western red I like sikiens, inside and out!
That reminds me. My local union built a new office, about twenty-five years ago, with clear cedar vertical T&G siding.
Sikkens was used but it took three coats to get the level of protection desired. I was told that it would require an additional coat every five years or less, in order to maintain the finish.
On the positive side, I've never seen such color from cedar. It really grabbed the eye, the way it glowed, deep red and golden in the sun.
I just don't believe that I'm enough of a homebody to do that job every few years. Not to mention that Sikkens is expensive.
Thats probably a good moral. I really didn't have any clue back then in the early 80's. Come to think of it, I still don't have a clue. I rely on my painter to know those things. I hope he does LOL.
I spent one winter as a trim carpenter in a Florida development (funny story/thread link). http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=87511.1
I was surprised to find that rough sawn clear cedar was being used for some of the interior trim. It was easy to work with and looked rather nice. Of course I have no idea how it held up.
I've also used clear cedar as exterior trim. Again, pleasant to work with and good looking.
Edited 7/29/2009 6:56 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Hi Pete:
Tight grained fir can give a beautiful look. We just installed a bunch of Sierra Pacific windows and doors, and all of the millwork was with fir (except the windows were aluminum clad on the outside). I like them so much I'm going to trim out the interiors with a nice tight grained fir to match.
Our exterior french doors are VG fir, and they sit in a porch area that is sided with clear T&G cedar siding. I trimmed them out with clear 5/4 cedar as well. A coat of Sikkens "Cedar" colored finish and it's hard to tell the species apart. Sorry I don't have a better picture, but you can get a hint of how they look together in this one. The door itself has only had a coat of Bentonite in this picture.
-t
For trim I'd go with the VG fir; WRC is too soft, especially for base outside corners which get beat up by foot traffic, vacuum hoses and extension cords (tho you did say this was for windows.... I assume you're thinking about base too).
As for Sikkens (from another poster), it's good stuff, but read the label...it's not recommended for interior use... all kinds of fungicides and biocides. It's for exterior use.
Scott.
Edited 7/30/2009 12:10 am by Scott
I believe they make both Interior and Exterior products.
>>>I believe they make both Interior and Exterior productsAhhh... right. I assumed he meant Cetol.Scott.
I owned a Lindel Cedar Home for a few years. Beautiful home both inside and out.
What can you get a deal on? My exterior trim is all Black walnut because I bought a lot of it for only .17 cents a bd.ft.
Use it in wine cellars. Routs pretty well, smells great BUT dust control is a must if you like your lungs.
Having worked in the south for my entire career, I find cedar is a terrible interior trim due to movement and shrinkage. Every time I have used it I waited until HVAC was on and working, I let the wood acclimate for 2 weeks, did the best I could on fitting joints etc., and a couple of months later was crushed to find large gaps and bad joints everywhere! I prefer fir, oak and poplar.