Is this acceptable trim carpentry for stain grade clear pine trim?

9 years ago

We are working with a contractor in Tahoe / Truckee to install new windows, trim them out (interior and exterior), as well as some other work. Here are some photos of their work so far. It has not been sanded/puttied/etc yet, but I wanted to get people's opinion of the work to see if this is common and acceptable. Thank you for your input and time in advance!

Featured Answer

User

9 years ago

I am speaking of the face trim boards. The window framing seems to be pretty good.

The grains on too many of the boards are way too different, the colors are way too different, and the gouges/splinters/etc. are terrible, and the joints are not tight.

Way too many nail holes and the many are not set deeply enough.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

bobismyuncle
9 years ago
Maybe for Jr. High Shop Class. Oh wait, they would not be allowed to go wild with a pneumatic nail gun.

Miters are sloppy, nail blowouts, open butt joints, etc.

Thumbs down from me.
User
9 years ago
That, in my opinion, is not even stain grade wood, much less acceptable installation.

Now, filling nail/screw holes in stained wood is better done after the stain is applied, since most 'stainable' fillers/putties will not stain the same color as the wood.

Which means the fillers must be selected for color match after the stain is applied to whatever wood is used.
Related Professionals
Rolla Cabinets & Cabinetry · Ottumwa Cabinets & Cabinetry · Gloucester Cabinets & Cabinetry · Minneapolis Cabinets & Cabinetry · Lima Cabinets & Cabinetry · Sheboygan Cabinets & Cabinetry · Modesto Cabinets & Cabinetry · Tampa Carpenters · Atlanta Carpenters · Macon Carpenters · Vincennes Carpenters · Starkville Carpenters · Emporia Flooring Contractors · Dayton Flooring Contractors · Harrisburg Flooring Contractors
Oren B
Original Author
9 years ago
Hi, Thank you very much for your replies. When you say it is not even stain grade wood, I think you mean because it has gouges, rough surfaces, etc. Do you also mean because of the grain of the wood?
salex
9 years ago
Everything HandyMac said, plus the straggling fibers on the butt-end of one of the photos looks like they didn't even run sandpaper across the end after cutting it to length.

As far as the lumber itself, some of the boards look like flat-sawn lumber, which I don't use for stain-grade work. It's not a great look, IMO.

But the jamb extensions (the insides of the windows) do look like they were done well, so re-doing the facing trim shouldn't be a big deal.
PRO
Dream Home Finishers
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
This looks like a newbie or a framer was trimming. Not acceptable by my expectations. Since you hold the $ it is up to you to communicate your expectations. Especially before they get to far.

unfortunately in this day and age people have come to this. Suppliers send out materials that are worse than before and that's their norm. Installers care and do less than before and that is their norm. While on the other end we find that many home owners are expecting more for less as well, while the cost of doing and being in business has gone up up up.

so was this the lowest bidder? Did you get him off of Craigslist? If so than you are getting what you paid for. Otherwise if you have done your due diligence and gotten 2 other competing bids and this was the middle of the road guy, than hold him to the higher standards.that you expect.