Problem: The front door to your house looks a little plain, but you don't want the headaches involved with installing architectural molding made of wood, which is vulnerable to the elements and often expensive to have installed.
Solution: Dress up your front door the easy way using architectural moldings made of durable, lightweight urethane.
Materials:
pilasters (column-like boards on either side of the door)
plinth blocks (simple blocks placed over the bottoms of pilasters)
pediment (the large decorative piece that spans across the top of the door)
additional decorative accessories as desired
level
pencil
handsaw
measuring tape
drill with masonry bit, Phillips bit and countersink bit
combination square
putty knife
caulking gun
caulk
construction adhesive
paint
paint brushes
finishing nails or masonry screws
safety glasses
Steps:
- Place a level across the top of your doorframe at the height you want your pediment, and mark along the base of it on either side of the door. Measure down from those marks to the base of the door to determine how long to cut your pilasters.
- Transfer those measurements onto your pilasters and cut them using a handsaw. Don't forget to wear your safety glasses.
- Hold each pilaster in place and mark two holes at the top and two in the middle of each pilaster.
* If your home is brick: Mark the holes so that you'll drill into mortar joints and not into the bricks (figure A). Drill through the pilasters into the mortar, making sure the drill bit you use is the same size as your masonry screws. Then use a countersink bit on the pilasters to ensure that the screw heads are flush with the surface. Don't forget to wear safety glasses while drilling. Run a bead of construction adhesive on the back of each pilaster and set it in place; then secure the pilasters with masonry screws.
* If the surface around your doorframe is wood: Simply run a bead of construction adhesive on the backs of the pilasters and secure them in place with finishing nails.
- Use the same techniques to install the pediment (figure B).
- When installing the plinth blocks and other accessories that attach only to the molding and not directly to the exterior wall, you won't need nails or screws. Construction adhesive will work fine to secure the urethane pieces to one another.
- Caulk along the seams of each piece to ensure a waterproof seal and a more finished look.
- Cover screws or nails with caulk or plastic filler and sand the surface lightly.
- Paint the molding and accessory pieces to match your doorframe.
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