Interior trim system and method for home construction

Abstract

Interior trim items for use in home construction, such as window and door trim assemblies, stairway and landing railing assemblies, fireplace surrounds, base cap boxes, panel assemblies, knee wall trim assemblies, and chair rail sections, are pre-assembled off-site from standard millwork materials based upon specifications provided by the builder, and delivered to the site where a home is under construction to fill orders placed by the builder. A complete service can be provided for builders by pre-assembling, delivering and installing the interior trim items.

1 . A method for providing interior trim items in home construction, comprising the steps of: 
 cutting a plurality of pieces from standard millwork materials, each piece corresponding to a portion of an interior trim item;    pre-assembling the cut pieces into the interior trim item; and    delivering the pre-assembled interior trim item to a construction site where a home is under construction.    
   
   
       2 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the interior trim item is selected from the group consisting of: a window trim assembly, a door trim assembly, a railing assembly, a fireplace surround, a base cap box, a panel assembly, a knee wall assembly, and a chair rail section.  
   
   
       3 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the trim item is a window assembly; and    the pre-assembling step comprises assembling the cut pieces into a window jamb integrally attached to a window casing.    
   
   
       4 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the trim item is a railing assembly; and    the pre-assembling step comprises assembling the cut pieces into upper and lower railings with a plurality of balusters parallel to one another and extending between the upper and lower railings, with ends of the balusters secured within bores in the upper and lower railings.    
   
   
       5 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the trim item is a panel assembly; and    the pre-assembling step comprises assembling the cut pieces into at least one base cap box integrally attached to a panel.    
   
   
       6 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the trim item is a knee wall trim assembly; and    the pre-assembling step comprises assembling the cut pieces into two sides attached to a cap in a U-shaped configuration.    
   
   
       7 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of: 
 identifying each room of the home for which trim items are to be delivered;    preparing a bundle containing all pre-assembled interior trim items associated with each identified room;    delivering the bundle to the site; and    placing a bundle in each identified room in preparation for installing the trim items of the bundle associated with the identified room.    
   
   
       8 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step of preparing a bundle comprises including installation instructions in the bundle.  
   
   
       9 . A method for providing interior trim items in home construction, comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining interior trim specifications from a builder for each of a plurality of home plans, each interior trim specification identifying interior trim items for one of the home plans;    pre-assembling interior trim items in accordance with predetermined assembly plans for interior trim items identified in the interior trim specifications;    receiving an order from a builder for interior trim items for a home plan identified in the order;    gathering pre-assembled interior trim items listed in the interior trim specification for the home plan identified in the order; and    delivering pre-assembled interior trim items for the identified home plan to a construction site where a home is under construction.    
   
   
       10 . The method claimed in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the step of obtaining interior trim specifications comprises providing the trim specifications to a computer system; and    the step of pre-assembling interior trim items in accordance with predetermined assembly plans comprises the step of cutting, under computer control in response to the assembly plans, a plurality of pieces from standard millwork materials, each piece corresponding to a portion of an interior trim item for one of the home plans.    
   
   
       11 . The method claimed in  claim 9 , wherein interior trim items for the home plan identified in the order include interior trims items selected from the group consisting of: a window trim assembly, a door trim assembly, a railing assembly, a fireplace surround, a base cap box, a panel assembly, a knee wall assembly, and a chair rail section.  
   
   
       12 . The method claimed in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 at least one of the interior trim items for the home plan identified in the order is a window assembly; and    the pre-assembling step comprises assembling the cut pieces into a window jamb integrally attached to a window casing.    
   
   
       13 . The method claimed in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 at least one of the interior trim items for the home plan identified in the order is a a railing assembly; and    the pre-assembling step comprises assembling the cut pieces into upper and lower railings with a plurality of balusters parallel to one another and extending between the upper and lower railings, with ends of the balusters secured within bores in the upper and lower railings.    
   
   
       14 . The method claimed in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 at least one of the interior trim items for the home plan identified in the order is a is a panel assembly; and    the pre-assembling step comprises assembling the cut pieces into at least one base cap box integrally attached to a panel.    
   
   
       15 . The method claimed in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 at least one of the interior trim items for the home plan identified in the order is a knee wall trim assembly; and    the pre-assembling step comprises assembling the cut pieces into two sides attached to a cap in a U-shaped configuration.    
   
   
       16 . The method claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of: 
 identifying each room of the home plan for which trim items are to be delivered;    preparing a bundle containing all pre-assembled interior trim items associated with each identified room;    delivering the bundle to the site; and    placing a bundle in each identified room in preparation for installing the trim items of the bundle associated with the identified room.    
   
   
       17 . The method claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the step of preparing a bundle comprises including installation instructions in the bundle.  
   
   
       18 . A method for providing interior trim for a window installed in an exterior wall of a home, comprising the steps of: 
 placing a pre-assembled window trim assembly comprising a window casing and integrally attached window jamb in an interior wall of the home, wherein the jamb extends toward the exterior of the home and frames the window, and the casing frames the jamb against the interior wall; and    securing the window trim assembly in place.    
   
   
       19 . A window trim assembly for trimming an interior area of a window installed in an exterior wall of a home, comprising: 
 a window jamb;    a window casing attached to and framing the window jamb; and    a window stool attached to the window casing and window jamb.    
   
   
       20 . A railing assembly for trimming the edge of an elevated walking area of a home, comprising: 
 an upper railing formed of railing millwork material;    a lower railing formed of railing millwork material; and    a plurality of balusters parallel to one another and extending between the upper and lower railings and having ends secured within bores in the upper and lower railings.    
   
   
       21 . A panel assembly for trimming an interior wall of a home, comprising: 
 a rectangular panel; and    at least one base cap box comprising a rectangular sub-panel framed with molding attached to a face of the rectangular panel.