Millwork is manufactured from milled wood to produce an interior finish component that adds depth and beauty to a room. Millwork is used to add decoration to doors, window casing, baseboards, mantels, and crown molding. It can also be designed to add an artistic feel to a home, office, or business.
A number of lumber types can be used for millwork. Popular types of millwork lumber include redwood, cedar, fir, oak, pine, walnut, mahogany, and cherry woods. Any type of lumber that fits the décor of the room can be used as millwork, though, so in truth, nearly any wood can be used.
The many styles of millwork include crowns, opening trims, chair rails, panel moulds, casings, backbands, base shoe, and baseboards, all of which will be discussed below.
Crowns
Crowns are used to add decoration to a ceiling. They are placed at the top of a wall and follow the direction of the ceiling. They typically curve up or out to make the room appear higher and more spacious. They also remove the right angle from the corner of the room to simulate openness.
Opening Trims
Opening trims are used to cover joints. Usually, opening trims are round on one side and may have a lip at the bottom. They add depth and cover the unattractive break in wood.
Chair Rails
Chair rails are used to protect the wall. They start at the floor and rise two to four feet from the ground, and they are flat on the back with a flourished front. Chair rails stop scuffing on the wall and add a decorative touch to the room.
Panel Moulds
Panel moulds frame wood paneling. They usually run midway along the wall and divide the chair rail from the rest of the wall. Panel moulds fit right up against paneling and add a decorative look and a feeling of continuity to the room.
Castings
Castings are the most popular and visible form of millwork. They often define the overall feel and character of a room. Castings cover the gaps between doors or windows and the wall, and they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. They break up the wall where it meets any stops. Almost every room features castings of some sort.
Bankbands
Bankbands are dramatic additions to casting. They feature a large overhang, which gives the room a distinct character. Typically, bankbands are below a straight or rounded top.
Base shoes
Base shoes are used to meet the floor and the wall. They run along the base of the wall to conceal the break between the board and the floor. While not always decorative, base shoes serve a purpose and add detail to a room.
Baseboards
Baseboards also run the length of the floor to hide where the floor and wall meet. Usually, baseboards are not very thick, but they flourish at the top and are straight along the bottom.
With an expansive background and knowledge of lumber used for millwork, J. Gibson McIlvain has more than 200 years of experience providing the best quality lumber to all customers. The lumber experts at J. Gibson McIlvain, a lumber importer and wholesale lumber company, are fully equipped to help customers determine their millwork needs. For more information and to see all McIlvain has to offer, click here to visit their website, or check out the following selections from their lumber blog:
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