Best options for mouldings on a budget - Under $40

Adding exterior mouldings to your home for extra curb appeal doesn't have to be expensive. Take a look at what our design experts recommend for choosing mouldings under $40. This post comes from our lovely and talented Angie who hand-picked this combination.

Exterior Window and Door Trim
MX104 - $39.60 CAD

Height:     4-1/2 "
Depth:      2 "
Bottom:    1"

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS MOULDING
At 4-1/2" in height, this is definitely the best value for window and door trim. It packs a lot of punch with detail on the top and bottom portions with a flat section to split the two. 

Exterior Window Sill
MX204 - $38.40 CAD

Height:     4"
Depth:      2-1/4"
Bottom:    1-1/4"

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS MOULDING
This profile was modeled from classic pre-cast so it's a timeless addition that will never go out of style. Combined with MX104 above, you'll get a nice sharp contrast that's destined to stand out.

Exterior Crown/Cornice Moulding
MX401 - $39.20 CAD

Height:     3-1/2"
Depth:      3"
Bottom:    9-16"

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS MOULDING
Had the great Michaelangelo ever worked here, this would have been the profile he would have designed. Another ageless profile that you'll be happy to come home to time and time again.


No matter what your budget, we can help you create the perfect style so you can be proud to call your house, "Your home". Talk to us today, 1 888 MOULDEX for these and other tips on adding wallet friendly curb appeal enhancements.

Mouldex Mouldings Spices Up Retail Storefront Designs

Think mouldings are just for homes and buildings? We have helped retail stores and their designers across the world think outside of the box by offering a range of profiles tailored to suit their brand and style.

EPS foam is a very versatile product and with our advanced coatings and technology, there is plenty we can accomplish.

Take a look at some of the examples below to see what's possible. Then contact us with your vision. We can help set your design apart from the rest. Call Davide Aternino at (905) 660-6338 or toll-free in North America, 1 (888) MOULDEX.

Mouldex vs. Competitors

You home isn't something you simply live in, but a place that defines you through the various architectural elements and styles. You want your home to have character and beauty. When you are choosing the company to handle your moulding details, whether you are renovating or building a new home, consider using our products. Though some contractors may say they can offer you mouldings for your home, many don't meet the rigorous standards we uphold. It is important to consider the quality of both the workmanship and product when choosing what you want to do with your home. Afterall, it is probably the biggest investment of your life.

No Limits
We ensure that every design possibility can be met such as offering 8' arches rather than limiting homeowners to 4' like many in the industry do. Businesses implement this restriction to save themselves money as it requires less production effort. However the result is a sub-par look and unhappy clients. Let us know the size you want, and we can build to suit.

Try Before You Buy
We strive to create beautiful spaces and does not believe in offering a lower standard of product to save a few dollars. To ensure you get what you want, we can provide a free 3D project rendering so you can see how your home is going to look and play around with the design so you know you are getting what you want the first time.

Install Ready
We take the time to make your job easier. All mouldings come with clean cut ends so do-it-yourselfers don't have to spend extra time trimming and sanding. This is also done with the back edges of all pieces so they arrive 'install ready'. Contractors love this about our mouldings. And so will you.

On Time
When you are ready to start your project, you don't want to have to wait days or even weeks for custom pieces to be created. We offer an unprecedented two day turn-around time on most orders with custom pieces ready to be shipped or delivered in less than five days. With more than 80 per cent of our customers being contractors, Mouldex Mouldings is used to delivering on time and on budget and treat our 'walk-in' clientele with the same high level of service.

To arrange a consultation or to learn more visit www.mouldexmouldings.com or call 1 (888) MOULDEX.

Authentic Mouldex Mouldings

Should you use cheaper generic mouldings? This article will tell you what you need to know about the importance of using Authentic Mouldex Mouldings. With the way the economy can turn sometimes, many people today believe in saving a buck wherever possible without considering the consequences. Generic may be okay for some items, but when it comes to exterior mouldings, it’s a horse of a different color.

There are many generic mouldings available at cheaper prices than some Mouldex Mouldings. However, if you don’t use genuine Mouldex, the performance and aesthetic value of your project could be at risk. We invest heavily in research, development and performance requirements. We implement stringent quality control standards which are by-passed by generic manufacturers to speed up production and ship material out the door quicker. With an Authentic Mouldex Mouldings, you always get material you can depend on. 

How will you know if your contractor is using Authentic Mouldings? Combining the points in the image above will confirm if they are genuine or generic.

1. DARK GRAY COATING
Every single moulding we produce has strong bold finish. Our moulding mix is made up of two raw materials which is supplied by a stucco manufacturer;

• Polymer modified cement
• Binder (often referred to as glue)

When mixed together, the result is a dark gray coating. We rely on and follow our suppliers mixing recommendations as we know they have strictly tested the performance based on their ratios. Deviating from their guidelines may decrease the lifespan of the products we produce.

Generic exterior mouldings often have a light gray colour, this could be due to adding water into the mix. This is a common practice among some manufacturers since it will further stretch their supply which enables them to produce more at a lower cost. But as any chemist will tell you, experimenting with a proven formula by adding additives will produce unexpected results. Adding water will weaken the coating, making it brittle and susceptible to cracking.

We are not chemists by any means which is why we rely on our suppliers. We depend on their knowledge of raw materials and their mixing ratios to produce only the best architectural details. While we are fully aware that we can lower production costs by adding additives but we only want to deliver high quality and long lasting mouldings for your project.

2. Notch (3/4" x 1/4")
This is another easy identifier of Authentic Mouldex Mouldings. The majority of our pieces (with the exception of smaller shapes which cannot accommodate a notch) have an indent. It measures approximately 3/4" wide by 1/4" high.

Generic mouldings may also have a notch but it could come in different forms. The notch could be slim or may be in a dovetail form where the the top horizontal line starts our long and narrows as it gets to the bottom.

3. Backwrapped Mesh
During our meshing process which happens after we cut our foam shapes, we always start at the back, wrap the face and end at the back. It usually extends at least a full inch but it varies depending on the size of the moulding. It could sometimes be as much as two inches.

While some generic mouldings do the same thing as it makes things easier to handle, others are not backwrapped at all.

Looking for these three points in combination with each other is a tell-tale sign that your project has Authentic Mouldex Mouldings. And if you're still not sure, simply call us to find out. We can be reached at 1 (888) MOULDEX or locally, (905) 660-6338.

The Smaller Details: Wall Frame Panels

We have posted before about the use of panels on bay windows beneath the window sill (Read: Bay Window Designs). Our post today is about applying paneling on otherwise empty voids on your project.

We are often asked about what can be done to areas like the space over garage doors. If you home is like most, there is a minimum of 4' that separates your doors to the soffit. The solution? Panels.

We had three renderings done by our 3D specialist to illustrate the different options available. And if you can imagine what it looks like without it, you'll know what a difference 4 pieces of inexpensive mouldings can make.

OPTION 1 - MX121
The MX121 ($30.00 per 8' length) is a symmetrical shape that measures 3-1/4". It's foundation is flat with a bullnose (or hump as we hear a lot) in the middle. A perfect choice for symmetrical style lovers who want extra detail.

OPTION 2 - MX122
The MX122 ($28.80 per 8' length) is a 4" profile with detailed edges. It only sticks out 1" from the wall and definitely won't interfere with other mouldings on your project acting more like a subtle accent.

OPTION 3 - MX604
The MX604 ($28.00 per 8' length) is also a 4" profile with a 1" projection. This one is our favourites (and also the most inexpensive of the three) since if resembles a classic panel profile. Bold flat detail with an inner edging make the possibilities for this moulding endless.

For under $30.00 an 8' length, panels really are an inexpensive way to spice up your curb appeal. The above 3D rendering would require only five pieces (2-1/2 lengths per door).

Each of these shapes can be bought from our online store at mouldexmouldings.com. We ship across the world.

For more design ideas, you can always email us here or call (9050 660-6338 or toll-free 1 (888) 668-5339.

Part 2: Windows Under Soffit: Moulding Design Options

This is related to our earlier post regarding windows placed directly under your soffit and the solutions for what do if you're in that situation.

After I wrote the blog, I started getting emails from homeowners who are in a similar stance. Except their window has a small gap above to the soffit and from our experience, it's usually under 4".

The simple solution solution would be to use a 4" trim (or whatever the gap height is) and surround the window, capped off with a sill.

For homeowners who would like to put a crown moulding to make their design more interesting but thought it was impossible, take a look at our rendering below.

The crown moulding is placed directly under the soffit but when a window intersects it, the crown is cutout until it meets the wall again. Sounds simple enough and looks great but there is actually a method to our madness.

The trick is to use a crown moulding that has a top detail and a flat bottom frieze, such as our MX419 ($66.00 per 8' length). The flat space will ensure that no detail is lost when it is cut out through the window.
Another good tip is to check that the top profiled portion is the exact height of your gap. This will make for a finer finish.

Again, if you're in this situation and would like to talk to us regarding the design of your home, please give us a call at (905) 660-6338 or toll-free 1 888 MOULDEX. Alternatviely, you can also email davide@mouldexmouldings.com

Bay Window Designs

A bay window is a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building and forming a bay in a room, either square or polygonal in plan. We have recently been seeing rounded designs which are equally as interesting. They first achieved widespread popularity in the 1870s, often associated with Victorian Architecture and were a part of the Gothic Revival Style.

The windows are commonly used to provide the illusion of a larger room. They also increase the flow of natural light into a home/building as well as provide views of the outside that would be unavailable with an ordinary window.

While most bay windows protrude from a home, some are level with the exterior and are built into the interior of a room. In terms of curb appeal, they definitely provide a focal point.

If you're planning on building a new home and have a bay window design or have an existing one that you would like to spruce up, here's a great starting point for researching your design.

We came up with three designs and modeled them in 3D with the help of our design team. When we were brainstorming, we focused primarily on paneling as we felt this is really what sets spectacular bay window designs apart from the ordinary.

Here are the main components in every design:

1. Top Header
2. Vertical Window Trim
3. Window Sill
4. Bottom Base

The difference is in the paneling set between the Window Sill and Bottom Base. Take a look at our photos below for some bay window design inspiration.

OPTION 1 - MX109 Flat Paneling
The MX109-6" ($25.60 per 8' length) option is for the homeowner who wants extra detail, but not too much, minimalist by nature but still attractive. Simply, a flat moulding is used to create the panel effect.



OPTION 2 - MX110 Flat Paneling with Bevel
For added detail, our MX110 ($35.20 per 8' length) will easily provide that. It's a flat moulding with a subtle bevel detail on the inside edge. Still minimalist in nature but larger impact.

OPTION 3 - MX125 Detailed Paneling
For the Cadillac of Bay Window Paneling, the MX125 ($32.80 per 8' length) will give your design the added punch, but without the high price tag.

These are just some of the designs we have done in the past. Every job and design is different and we can certainly work with you to achieve the look you want.

If you are looking to enhance your bay window, please get in touch with us at (905) 660-6338 or toll-free, 1 (888) MOULDEX.