Styrofoam baseboard trim???? A rant.

[Bob R]

I had to move my gun safe from where it has been for the last 2 years to its new home today. I wanted to get it in the room before I put the door casing up.

Well, it was quite the tight fit, and my helper wimped out so I used my wife to lay boards and place the dowels.

Well, we may have misjudged the corner to get it into the man cave and in doing so I hit the casing on the outside of the door. I figured it would need some wood putty to fix.........but nooooo, it was destroyed.

Why? Because it is this lightweight, crappy simuwood styrofoam. I never even knew this crap existed. I have already figured out the people who lived here before we bought the house were do it yourself hacks, and cheap ones to boot, but this is a new low, even for them.

So, I quess I will be getting that Craftsman compound miter saw because I am going to replace every bit of that crap.

At least with wood, if you ding it, you may be able to save it, with the styrowood trim crap if it gets broken and you can't fix it.

bob

 

[Mickey D]

I picture your reaction to the styromolding was the look in your avatar.

The forum just happens to advertise moulding, wood or urathane!

 

[sipowicz]

They started using that stuff in the late eighties in Tornado prone areas so if your house gets lifted up and falls on someone it will be lighter...

 

[Crazy K38]

the wicked witch's sister was thrilled

 

[em-man]

Did you know it was styrofoam before you dinged it? I've used that stuff before. Nobody can tell the difference. It's not Tudor oak, but then its not supposed to be.

 

[VM]

Bob R - In the construction field, "Fypon" has been used for a number of years and it's a good quality product. I'm sure that there is more of it used in interior and exterior trim than people know.
Many commercial buildings use it for elaborate trim prior to Drivat coatings.
I've used it and it's easy to work with. If it is damaged the repair is done easily with Bond & Fill™ epoxy.
I do understand your desire for wood................it's kinda like when the majority of the plumbing industry went to pvc.

 

[KyWstJoe]

I've used it and it's real easy to work with, cuts with a razor knife. Been 9 years since I trimmed with it and it's still like new.

 

[Landpimp]

never seen it that I know of, but will no be lookin in each home I go into

 

[ingmansinc]

Before you replace all the trim you may want to consider the cost. Your project would probably cost more than another gun or two. Touch up with bondo, paint, and head to gun store. You never new the difference before this happened.

 

[Bob R]

never seen it that I know of, but will no be lookin in each home I go into

It looks like wood, but is reasonably fragile. Unless a piece is broken you can't tell it is styrofoam. The people who put it up here used finishing nails and there is no way to cover the holes like you would with wood or fiberboard . (I told you they were DIY hacks) I looked into the stuff and it seems very popular for crown mouldings. There is a glue to put it up with from what I understand.

My biggest problem is with how fragile it is. If you hit it with a piece of furniture (or safe) it will break.

Thankfully the only piece broken is around a couple of doors, so all I have to do is recase the doors.

I can see where it would work very well for the crown moulding though.

bob

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I suppose it's welcome to the modren world! A buddy of mine is in the construction trade and when he heard me grousing about my old house (built around 1885) he told me this. You know, all you need to make an entry into the average new home is a box cutter, the sideing is vinel, the interior insulation is styrofoam and then all you have is drywall. Dont bitch about your old house, these new one's will not be standing by the time the mortgage is paid off!

 

[Landpimp]

I hear ya, mine in a 1950's and built like they use to build me

we dont do much vynal(sp) siding up here, most is Hardy Plank...conrete stuff

I suppose it's welcome to the modren world! A buddy of mine is in the construction trade and when he heard me grousing about my old house (built around 1885) he told me this. You know, all you need to make an entry into the average new home is a box cutter, the sideing is vinel, the interior insulation is styrofoam and then all you have is drywall. Dont bitch about your old house, these new one's will not be standing by the time the mortgage is paid off!

 

[Wayne02]

we dont do much vynal(sp) siding up here, most is Hardy Plank...conrete stuff

Yeah, no kidding. Wish I had purchased stock in that company when it first came out. Works well though.

 

[glypnir]

Yeah, we've got that concrete stuff on our bathroom remodel outside wall. It's not very sturdy either. I don't know about box cutters, but I think a good hit right between the studs would break it open.

How about the cardboard doors? Molded, coated with epoxy or something, but still cardboard. Of course, it's all so we can still afford new houses.

Having seen a cold, rainy springtime in Paris, I'm happy that our houses aren't built to last forever. That way we can rebuild them periodically to suit the newer conditions. Rather than being stuck in these old and now inefficient historical monuments.

 

[Spotteddog]

Please!