We bought our Whitby home in 2019 with original builder-grade 2.5-inch MDF baseboard and hollow-core doors throughout. Finally tackled the trim upgrade this past winter and the difference is dramatic.
Scope:
- Main floor and staircase: replaced all baseboard with 5.25-inch craftsman profile (primed MDF)
- Second floor: 4.5-inch craftsman profile
- Replaced all 8 interior hollow-core doors with 1-3/8-inch solid-core (Colonial profile, pre-primed MDF)
- New door casings (3.5-inch colonial) throughout
- Added craftsman-style window aprons in main living rooms (previously no apron)
Cost breakdown:
- Baseboard supply (420 linear feet at 5.25-inch): $1,380
- Baseboard supply (280 linear feet at 4.5-inch): $720
- Door supply (8 x 32-inch solid-core pre-hung): $2,640
- Casing supply: $840
- Window aprons (12 windows): $480
- Labour (trim carpenter, 4 days): $3,600
- Painter to prime, caulk, and paint all trim: $2,100
- Total: $11,760
What surprised me:
The solid-core doors were the single biggest quality-of-life improvement. The hollow-core doors sounded like cardboard boxes. Every time you closed a hollow-core door, there was a thin, tinny thud. The solid-core doors close with a real, substantial sound. Acoustic privacy between rooms improved noticeably.
Net assessment:
For $11,760, our builder-grade home now has a finish level that matches houses listing $150,000 higher in our neighbourhood.