diff --git a/cursed.lua b/cursed.lua
index 33f3e7d..c5cf4d1 100644
--- a/cursed.lua
+++ b/cursed.lua
@@ -71,9 +71,12 @@ do
       for c = 1, #self.columns do
         local attr = self.colors[c](self, i)
         local chunk = self.columns[c][i]
-        chunk = chunk .. (" "):rep(self.column_widths[c] - #chunk)
         chstr:set_str(x, chunk, attr)
         x = x + #chunk
+        if #chunk < self.column_widths[c] then
+          chstr:set_str(x, " ", attr, self.column_widths[c] - #chunk)
+          x = x + (self.column_widths[c] - #chunk)
+        end
         if c < #self.columns then
           chstr:set_ch(x, C.ACS_VLINE, self.active and self.active_frame or self.inactive_frame)
           x = x + 1
@@ -151,27 +154,7 @@ do
       if not force and not self.dirty then
         return 
       end
-      self._frame:mvaddch(0, 0, C.ACS_ULCORNER)
-      for y = 1, self.height - 2 do
-        self._frame:mvaddch(y, 0, C.ACS_VLINE)
-      end
-      self._frame:mvaddch(self.height - 1, 0, C.ACS_LLCORNER)
-      for x = 1, self.width - 2 do
-        self._frame:mvaddch(self.height - 1, x, C.ACS_HLINE)
-      end
-      self._frame:mvaddch(self.height - 1, self.width - 1, C.ACS_LRCORNER)
-      for y = 1, self.height - 2 do
-        self._frame:mvaddch(y, self.width - 1, C.ACS_VLINE)
-      end
-      self._frame:mvaddch(0, self.width - 1, C.ACS_URCORNER)
-      for x = 1, self.width - 2 do
-        self._frame:mvaddch(0, x, C.ACS_HLINE)
-      end
-      local _ = [[        @_frame\border(C.ACS_VLINE, C.ACS_VLINE,
-            C.ACS_HLINE, C.ACS_HLINE,
-            C.ACS_ULCORNER, C.ACS_URCORNER,
-            C.ACS_LLCORNER, C.ACS_LRCORNER)
-            ]]
+      self._frame:border(C.ACS_VLINE, C.ACS_VLINE, C.ACS_HLINE, C.ACS_HLINE, C.ACS_ULCORNER, C.ACS_URCORNER, C.ACS_LLCORNER, C.ACS_LRCORNER)
       if self.label then
         self._frame:mvaddstr(0, math.floor((self.width - #self.label - 2) / 2), " " .. tostring(self.label) .. " ")
       end
diff --git a/cursed.moon b/cursed.moon
index 150ffea..632dfb5 100644
--- a/cursed.moon
+++ b/cursed.moon
@@ -87,9 +87,11 @@ class Pad
         for c=1,#@columns
             attr = @colors[c](@, i)
             chunk = @columns[c][i]
-            chunk ..= (" ")\rep(@column_widths[c]-#chunk)
             chstr\set_str(x, chunk, attr)
             x += #chunk
+            if #chunk < @column_widths[c]
+                chstr\set_str(x, " ", attr, @column_widths[c]-#chunk)
+                x += @column_widths[c]-#chunk
             if c < #@columns
                 chstr\set_ch(x, C.ACS_VLINE, @active and @active_frame or @inactive_frame)
                 x += 1
@@ -148,20 +150,10 @@ class Pad
     
     refresh: (force=false)=>
         return if not force and not @dirty
-        @_frame\mvaddch(0,0,C.ACS_ULCORNER)
-        for y=1,@height-2 do @_frame\mvaddch(y,0,C.ACS_VLINE)
-        @_frame\mvaddch(@height-1,0,C.ACS_LLCORNER)
-        for x=1,@width-2 do @_frame\mvaddch(@height-1,x,C.ACS_HLINE)
-        @_frame\mvaddch(@height-1,@width-1,C.ACS_LRCORNER)
-        for y=1,@height-2 do @_frame\mvaddch(y,@width-1,C.ACS_VLINE)
-        @_frame\mvaddch(0,@width-1,C.ACS_URCORNER)
-        for x=1,@width-2 do @_frame\mvaddch(0,x,C.ACS_HLINE)
-        [[
         @_frame\border(C.ACS_VLINE, C.ACS_VLINE,
             C.ACS_HLINE, C.ACS_HLINE,
             C.ACS_ULCORNER, C.ACS_URCORNER,
             C.ACS_LLCORNER, C.ACS_LRCORNER)
-            ]]
         if @label
             @_frame\mvaddstr(0, math.floor((@width-#@label-2)/2), " #{@label} ")
         @_frame\refresh!