Replies

1. 
   JDRHI | Nov 19, 2006 08:39am | #1

   Doors and windows first, as many of the horizontal applications intersect.

   Then I work from the top down....crowns or picture mouldings.....chair rails.....basboard.

   FREE SPONGE BOB,SANCHO PANTS!

2. 
   IdahoDon | Nov 19, 2006 08:45am | #2

   I like to go room to room after the doors and windows are in.  That way the saw is moved less and once I'm out of the room it's ready for the painter.

    

   Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.

1. 
   RRooster | Nov 19, 2006 08:49am | #3

   Start with the hardest first and finish up on the easy. 

   http://grungefm.com

    

1. 
   Piffin | Nov 19, 2006 06:24pm | #5

   ;)
   by what standard?As I age, it gets mighty hard to get down and do baseboard. but that is a good place to have the helper start learning his tricksI do doors first, but I ccnsider crown and windows harderPlate rail and wainscot are time consuming and sometimes hard, but the door trimm normally must be on first bfore them. 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   RRooster | Nov 19, 2006 06:36pm | #8

   As I age, it gets mighty hard to get down and do baseboard. but

   Amen!!!  And I have base to do Monday!!  Damn! 

   http://grungefm.com

    

3. 
   Tomrocks21212 | Nov 19, 2006 04:56pm | #4

   I usually set all my doors first, then do a room at a time so I can close the door and never have to be in there again. Then door and window trim, followed by built-ins, if any, then work from the top down. Hardware, handrails and balustrades last. I love it when I'm doing the main stair rail and have to move 37 times a day for other trades to get by, lol.
   Like Rooster said, it's often better to get the tricky rooms done first. But if I have painters hot on my heels, sometimes I'll leave the tough part til the end so they can at least get started.
   And I start at the room furthest from my truck and work my way towards it.

1. 
   maxp | Nov 19, 2006 06:29pm | #7

   Thank you for all of your input- I find it interesting to see or hear how a professionals routine evolves to improve efficiency and ultimately profitability- All others thoughts would be interesting as well--thanks

2. 
   IdahoDon | Nov 19, 2006 10:20pm | #10

   Another factor when working T&M directly for clients or for contractors is visual impact.  People get nervous when they don't see big things happening, even when the person should know better.

   When working on a particularly hard or time consuming activity it's sometimes helpful to mix in some of the more visual types of trim that go up quickly, such as base or door trim.  This is probably another reason I've grown to like doing one room at a time since it automatically accomplishes the same. 

   One room at a time also allows a guy to do as Piffin said and get back in the swing of it in places that aren't as visable as the main rooms.

   It sounds crazy but managing visual impact really does help relations with whoever is signing the checks.

4. 
   hammer1 | Nov 19, 2006 06:26pm | #6

   Many of us have our preferences. If something like stone countertops have to be made by others, you may want the kitchen or other cabinetry in place first. Anything that can help the other trades make progress and stay out of each others way. After that I start with the doors. Closets first if I have a helper so they can start on the base and shelves. You need the door casings on before the baseboards. I do the windows after the baseboard so I can pass the long pieces in the window, when needed, and not worry about banging a new sill or casing. Working alone, I'll do the closets, hardware, door stops, etc. next. Special items like mantles, wainscoting, etc. get done pretty much as individual items, base or other trim left off until it can be integrated. I like to leave the stairs for last, just to minimize traffic.

   Many of the different installations require different tools, nail sizes and so on. When I have all the tools out for windows, I'll do them all. I also like to start on the left when I walk into a room with baseboard, chair rail or crown, This way I'm always making the same cope, the one I like. The last piece of crown may need a cope on the other end but the rest is cope, straight, cope, straight. I think production moves in a good sequence when the walls and ceilings have been primed and painted and the trim has been either stained and coated once or also primed and a first coat of paint on before installation, When I leave, the electricians and plumber do their finish, painters do their last work, followed by flooring installers.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

1. 
   Piffin | Nov 19, 2006 08:55pm | #9

   I always do longest runs first. That way, shorts and/or splicces can go in closets and bathrooms.another arguement in favor of doing the easier stuff first apppies to we romo guys and not full time trimmers - that if I was doing concrete yesterday, it will take me half a day or so to get my mindset into trim work today. I would not want to be doing expensive crown while I warm up to trim... 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   Gene_Davis | Nov 20, 2006 03:17am | #18

   It is the warm up factor that make me always start in the least-used or least-seen area of the house, such as the guest bedroom.

   Same with exterior details.  We always start around in back.

5. 
   andy_engel | Nov 20, 2006 12:05am | #11

   Hang all doors on 1st floor.

   Trim all doors 1st floor.

   Trim all windows on 1st floor.

   Repeat for 2nd floor.

   Run all base. For base, I measure and write down every piece, making a huge cutlist. Cut all base, longest pieces to shortest, stacking in piles for each room. Distribute and nail.

   Measure and cut all closet materials. Install.

   Special stuff - crown, chairrail, shoe.

   Kitchen cabinets.

   Stair rail.

   Sweep.

   Have lunch.

   Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

   "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Book of Merlin

1. 
   Shep | Nov 20, 2006 12:25am | #12

   watta ya do-

   eat lunch once a week?

1. 
   andy_engel | Nov 20, 2006 12:33am | #13

   No, that's just a typical morning.

   Wait - does it take you longer?

   Truth is, working alone, installing the kitchen and railings, a 4 bedroom house is about 2 weeks, maybe 3. Depends on the amount of frou frou.Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

   "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Book of Merlin

1. 
   Piffin | Nov 20, 2006 02:54am | #14

   You must have a lot of fou-fou. When I started learning trim, two of us weere doing a six unit condo building with two bdrm units evry ten working daysNow that I havea lot of fou-fou, it's more likely a month or more per house, with three guys. Gotta love fou-fou 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   andy_engel | Nov 20, 2006 03:15am | #17

   Hey - I'm talking houses that somebody might care about, not Colorado condos.

   I haven't trimmed a full house in ten years now. Thinking back on it, I usually ended up installing the underlayment in the kitchen and baths, building the steps to the garage, installing the attic stair, and finishing most everything that all the other hammer swingers left undone. Trimming the stairs, installing the basement handrail, bathroom vanities, countertops, yada, yada, yada.

   Those were the days. Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

   "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Book of Merlin

2. 
   Piffin | Nov 20, 2006 03:53am | #20

   People care about glorified tract houses?LOL 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

3. 
   andy_engel | Nov 20, 2006 04:05am | #21

   For 6.8 years, until they sell and move to Atlanta.Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

   "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Book of Merlin

4. 
   Piffin | Nov 20, 2006 04:21am | #22

   or a Colorado Condo, LOL 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   Shep | Nov 20, 2006 02:59am | #15

   I'm on a job now. Two bedrooms and a hallway.

   I trimmed out the windows a couple of weeks ago.

   I set and trimmed 5 doors last week.

   tomorrow I'll set and trim the other 3 doors.

   The big problem is that the doors are custom ordered Simpson fir, and they're only coming in a few at a time, for some reason.

   So I'm jumping from one job site to another right now.

   But since I, too, work alone, it's not that big a deal.

1. 
   andy_engel | Nov 20, 2006 03:10am | #16

   Must be a pain. Nearly every house I've ever trimmed was your basic glorified tract house, and all the trim was there before me.Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

   "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Book of Merlin

2. 
   maxp | Nov 20, 2006 03:24am | #19

   Andy, I would love to hire you by the hour- lol