Guidelines for Installation and Finishing of Mouldings
Our Architectural Mouldings are designed and manufactured to exacting standards to assure that you receive the consistent quality you
require. Manufactured from Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) which has been specially created for this application from long natural fibres,
these mouldings are available in both natural and primed finishes. By following these guidelines, you can be assured of a high quality finish
and fast, easy installation.
Storage
Mouldings should be stored in a dry area. When installing, we recommend that the mouldings be acclimated to the job site for 24-48 hours
prior to installation. This allows adjustment to the site climate conditions. We also recommend that the relative humidity in the area be close to
the long-term relative humidity expected. All wood products tend to absorb moisture from the air at higher levels of relative humidity. This can
cause some minor swelling of wood products, which will disappear when high relative humidity drops back to normal levels.
Handling
Because of their composition, our Architectural Mouldings have a flexibility not found in ordinary wood mouldings. This will allow you to easily
fit them to any minor variations in the wall surface. To avoid placing unnecessary stress on the mouldings, we recommend turning it on edge
while carrying it.
Cutting
Cut your Architectural Mouldings to size just as you would ordinary wood mouldings. The long fibre composition results in much less chip-out
and fibre tear than ordinary wood mouldings. We recommend the use of a mitre saw to achieve consistent angles. A carbide tipped blade will
produce a proper cut. However, very good results can also be achieved with a mitre box and hand saw. When cutting to length, we suggest
cutting the piece just slightly shorter to allow for expansion after installation.
Fastening
- Pneumatic Air Nailers - Pneumatic air nailers set at about 90 PSI will counter sink most fasteners. Some testing and adjustment may
be required to get the best results. In general, we recommend using a 16 gauge or thinner T-nail fasteners with chisel points. Hand
nailing is not a problem and we recommend use of finishing nails properly countersunk.
- Screws - In the event that screws are necessary, it is generally advisable to drill a pilot hole with a diameter of 85-90% of the rout
diameter and slightly greater depth than the screw's driven length. If using screws, we recommend using a coarse thread such as that
found on"grabber" type screws. Screws with a constant shank diameter are preferred to wood screws with a tapered shank.
- Glue Mitre Corners - Unlike ordinary mouldings, it is not necessary to nail mitre corners to hold them together. The MDF moulding is a
dimensionally stable product. Instead of nailing mitered corners, we recommend a bead of white glue on the joint to hold the casting in
place.
- Nail Spacing - With Nickel Mouldings, you can nail closer to the end or edge without the fear of splitting as you would with ordinary
mouldings. Fasteners should be placed about 16" apart, and baseboard should be nailed top and bottom, ensuring that the top nails
penetrate the studs.
