Natural Wood Trim-Option (Pearland, Friendswood, River Oaks: wood floors, HOA, homes)

[southerngirl1913]

My husband and I are looking to build in the Pearland area and have been researching a few builders (Coventry and Perry thus far). We feel pretty strongly that we would like natural wood trim opposed to painted trim but Perry doesn't appear to accommodate the request. Coventry is looking into it for us. I realize this is not the trend but we have it in our current home and really love it.

Does anyone know of builders that offer natural wood trim as an option?


Thanks in advance for suggestions.

[houstonfan]

First check to see if there's some HOA rules against it before asking for a builder.

[Svensk08]

Originally Posted by southerngirl1913

My husband and I are looking to build in the Pearland area and have been researching a few builders (Coventry and Perry thus far). We feel pretty strongly that we would like natural wood trim opposed to painted trim but Perry doesn't appear to accommodate the request. Coventry is looking into it for us. I realize this is not the trend but we have it in our current home and really love it.

Does anyone know of builders that offer natural wood trim as an option?


Thanks in advance for suggestions.

Interior trim or exterior trim?

If it's interior, there will be greatly increased costs for quality wood that's suitable for a natural finish and the skilled trim carpenters to install it. Just about anyone can nail up builder grade pine molding and paint it so it looks okay.

Exterior natural wood trim isn't popular around here -- maybe because there are very few finishes to protect it from the ravages of the hot, humid SE Texas climate.

[southerngirl1913]

Sorry, I was referring to interior trim. Thanks Svensk08.

[ChocolateBabz]

Originally Posted by southerngirl1913

Sorry, I was referring to interior trim. Thanks Svensk08.

I wonder if it's not so popular because of humidity? One of my friends is building in Friendswood and I know her wood floors were not installed until the last minute, once the a/c was up and running. It would be awful if you paid a lot for the upgrade and then started getting nail pops or warping but then I don't know what is stopping the builders grade stuff doing the same (other than maybe the thick layer of gloss paint?)

[HookTheBrotherUp]

There are carpenters, master ones, who do nothing but install trim as you like. These are the guys who install wainscot, Arts and Crafts paneling, bead board, columns, etc. They will come in after the builder is done and redo everything. This may be your only option because most builders will not spend the amount of time it takes for clear wood work. Builders are into using cheap MDF board, or spliced wood only good for painting, and getting in and out as soon as they can, it is money to them, and understandable I think.

It is a lost art so to speak, so it won't be too cheap. I had some bids done for my home and the two guys charged $250/day each, and said it would take about 4-6 weeks (do the math), but their work is what you see in River Oaks, beautiful libraries, all wood spiral stair case like in the movie Titanic, etc. The cost per day is for whatever trim work you want, be it simple baseboard and crown, or paneling, that is how they work. If you are talking about just simple baseboards, and door trim, then it should be affordable.

I decided I would do it myself, but it is slow as I can only spend a few hours per week on it. It is more of a hobby, and I like doing it. Reading up on it exposed the lost art of the classical order of architecture. If you've ever been to Europe and have been in historic buildings, you get a sense of everything looking and feeling great, that is because the classical aspect ratios were followed. When it is done right, the room feels right, if feels homely and comfortable and all because the dimensions are all based on the size of the human body. Most people do not notice, but everything from the ceiling heights, height of panels, baseboards, trim, window height all have a formula.

I often see photos of people who otherwise did a good job of restoring their old homes, bungalows especially. Nice new everything, but then you look at the cheap 2.5 inch baseboards, and door trim.

Anyway, good luck... sorry for the rant.