Finishing the interior trim on windows and doors can be a costly part of your new home or remodeling project because it's somewhat time-consuming, but the actual work is relatively easy. After a contractor has installed your windows and doors, you can save money by installing the trim yourself! If you know how to use a miter box and saw, it's simply a matter of measuring, cutting and nailing.
Materials stain- or paint-grade wood casement trim
paintbrush and paint or stain
miter saw or a miter box and a hand saw
speed square
straightedge
hammer
finishing nails and shorter nails
nail set
tape measure
pencil
putty or spackling compound
sandpaper
safety glasses
- Pre-paint or stain your molding before you begin. This will save you a lot of time and mess in the long run.
- Measure and mark several spots about 1/4" from the inside of the jamb around the edge of the doorjamb that's flush with the wall (figure A). Be sure to allow extra space for hinges or other hardware if necessary. Use a straightedge to join these marks, creating a "reveal" line along both sides and the top of the door. The reveal will give your doorjamb a cleaner, more finished look.
- Hold a piece of side trim in place along the reveal line. Mark the trim where it meets the top reveal line (figure B). Repeat the process for the other piece of side trim.
- Use a speed square to mark a 45-degree angle along the face of the side trim (figure C). Mark the angle so that the outside edge of the trim will be tallest. Do this for both side pieces, and cut along these lines with a miter saw. Remember to wear safety glasses while sawing.
- Secure the outer edge of each trim piece to the wall with 10d or 8d finishing nails, using one nail about every foot.
- Use 6d finishing nails to secure the inside edge of the trim pieces to the doorjamb.
- With both side pieces in place, measure the distance between the outside corners and between the inside corners (figure D).
- Transfer these measurements onto a piece of trim, and mark a line between the two points to create the correct corner angle. This is similar to marking the 45-degree angle on the side pieces, but this time you have both a beginning and an end point for your marks, eliminating the need to measure an angle. Note that this creates a custom measurement, and this angle may not be exactly 45 degrees.
- Wear safety glasses when you cut along these lines, and nail the top piece in place.
- Set all the nails and cover the nail holes with putty or spackling compound. When the putty is dry, lightly sand the area and touch up with paint.
* Use these basic steps to install trim around windows, too. Keep in mind, though, that windows have a bottom piece to fit in with the rest, so you shouldn't hammer all of your nails in completely at first. Wait until you have all four pieces roughly in place, as minor adjustments might be needed to get a perfect fit; then drive the nails in the rest of the way.
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