Door Trim and Molding
The purpose behind door and window trim and molding (also called casing) is to conceal the gap between the drywall and the door/window frame. The large selection of classic and decorative trim and molding now available makes it easy and affordable to improve and define the character of any door. It's also an inexpensive and effective way to express yourself and upgrade your home's curb appeal.
The cost of your trim is partly determined by the material you select. Trim is generally purchased by the board foot. Here are some of the most popular, listed from lowest cost to highest.
- Finger-jointed trim: Short, high-grade lengths of wood are extracted from otherwise low-grade lumber and reconstituted into long, straight, clear pieces of trim
- Hardboard trim: Manufactured trim from wood chips soaked in water, then, pressed together into shapes
- Laminated veneer trim: Another manufactured trim that's easy to work with and cut, takes paint well, and is durable
- Solid wood trim: Cost depends on wood variety, with heartwood the most costly and most durable
- Fiber cement trim: Very durable, rot proof, and fire resistant but expensive to install
Choose from many trim moldings styles, including:
- Arts and crafts
- Country
- Modern
- Traditional
- Victorian
Each style includes options to embellish and customize your doors and entry ways.
Door trim moldings choices include profiles, which are the shapes of the trim when viewed from the end. Most popular are crown, casing, chair rail, and baseboard or base. You can get more elaborate by combining two or more moulding pieces. These complex designs, called build-ups, enable you to create more ornate and personalized designs. They're often associated with crown, base, and chair moulding, but work well in a variety of places including doors and entry ways.
Door trim accessories include:
- Rosettes: Used for changing the direction of moldings that are the same size, such as the top of a door or window
- Plinth blocks: Used to join wider baseboard molding to narrower door casing
Try a decorative fan insert trim over the doors and windows or dramatically enhance the look of your home with a door trim rosette, which creates a lovely focal point for a door overhead. Professional installation is always an option, or you can save by doing it yourself.
