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Calgary New-Build Millwork Upgrades
Updated 3 min read
The short answer
The best time to upgrade millwork in a new-build home is before you move in, because the house is empty, the trades are still on-site and the walls are not yet furnished. The upgrades that make the most difference are trim (taller baseboards and proper casing), interior doors (solid core where it matters), and closet systems (builder closets are the single biggest waste of space). Everything else can wait.
What to upgrade before move-in
- Baseboards and casingBuilder-grade trim is almost always undersized for the ceiling height. Upgrading from a 90mm baseboard to 140mm–180mm in an 8ft room, or proportionally taller in a 9–10ft room, changes how the entire house reads. Do this before painting because it requires filling, sanding and repainting.
- Interior doorsBuilder doors are typically hollow-core with lightweight casing. Swapping to solid-core doors in bedrooms, bathrooms and the office improves sound isolation dramatically. This is much easier before flooring and furniture are in place.
- Closet systemsBuilder closets are a single rod and a single shelf — the minimum viable closet. A proper system with double-hang, adjustable shelves and drawers roughly doubles usable capacity. Install before the clothes arrive.
- Under-cabinet lightingIf the kitchen was not wired for under-cabinet lighting, adding it before the backsplash is installed avoids chasing wires through finished tile. Electricians can rough-in during construction far more easily than after.
- Window trimIf the builder used drywall returns (no casing) and you want proper trim, this needs to happen before the walls are finished or very carefully after. An alternative is to add casing to the existing returns.
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What to leave for later
- Kitchen cabinetry
- Unless the builder's kitchen is truly inadequate, living in the space for six months reveals what you actually need versus what you think you need. A kitchen renovation after you know the house is a better investment.
- Feature walls
- Decide which wall actually deserves treatment after living in the rooms. What looked like the focal point on the builder's plan may not be where your furniture actually goes.
- Built-in entertainment walls
- Wait until you know your TV size, your seating arrangement and your equipment. Building a media wall before you live in the room is guessing.
- Basement development
- If the basement is unfinished, it is the lowest priority. Develop it when you know how you use the house — home gym, media room, guest suite — rather than guessing at a spec.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
- How much do new-build millwork upgrades cost?
- Trim upgrade for a typical 2,000 sqft home: $4,000–8,000 depending on profile and material. Solid-core door replacement: $300–500 per door installed. Closet systems: $1,500–4,000 per closet. Under-cabinet lighting: $500–1,500. Total for a comprehensive upgrade package: $8,000–15,000.
- Can I upgrade trim without repainting the whole house?
- You can upgrade the trim and repaint just the trim, but it is much more efficient to do it while the walls are being painted or before you move in. After furniture is in place, protecting surfaces and achieving a clean line is harder and more expensive.
- Are builder upgrades worth the price?
- Some are. Builder trim upgrades are often reasonable because the trade is already on-site. Builder cabinet upgrades are usually not — the markup is high and the specification is still limited to the builder's supplier. It is usually better value to replace the kitchen yourself after closing.
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