You can add a sense of grandeur and elevate the style of your favourite room by adding a few pieces of wood trim. Doorway casing is one of the best ways to enhance your living space, in an affordable and dramatic way. But how do you choose a door trim that is right for your room? Door casing is a great way to define space, and it’s the perfect addition to any home library, living room or bedroom. Door casings add warmth and architectural significance to your home. This is why so many homeowners make this one of the first design elements they consider when completing a home renovation or starting a new home build. Door casing can set the tone for the rest of your home design, making it a powerful and important feature. Let’s review some of the most popular modern door trim, and learn how door frame moulding can add value and beauty to your home.
What is doorway casing?
Most homes will have some form of door casing. Door casing refers to the trim that goes around the outside of the door, known as door framing. In the past, homes would have had thick, elaborate doorway casings as a sign of status and to give their homes a sense of richness. Today, modern and minimalist homes still have casings but with a more muted design.
There are many different door casing styles, including exterior door trim and interior door trim. The style you choose will depend greatly on the type of architecture that already exists in your home. You will also have to factor in what kind of look you are going for in your home’s interior. Do you want to make a bold statement with thick trim that really makes a room pop? Or do you prefer something a little more reserved that defines your door space without a lot of fuss? With our door trim ideas, we can help you pick the best look for your home.
Doorways With Detail
You might have noticed that older homes typically have more intricate door casings. Today, casings are less about fine details and more about defining the room. Casings are made of three pieces. Two long pieces that go at the side of the door and one shorter one that goes at the top of the door. Casings slope slightly, with a thicker edge and a thinner edge. The thinner edge is installed inside of the frame to reduce doorway bulkiness. The thicker outdoor edge matches the base of the trim to make a threshold.
Trims are designed to complement your home’s interior. While some are flat against the door frame, others are thicker and more elaborate with finer details and protrusions. Your builder can help you find the right design to suit your doorway size and room layout. Remember, a doorway casing that is too thick or large may make a room seem smaller. Always choose a door casing that reflects your room’s overall design scheme.
Doorway Design
Some builders will install your casing with mitred joints, which allow trim pieces to connect at equal angles in the corners.
Homes with high ceilings may be better suited for butted joints with wider head casings. This also allows you to create more intricate and custom designs for your doorway.
Doorway Size
The size of your trim will depend on the width of your door. Most trim is 2 ¼ inches wide, but can be as wide as 3 ½ inches. Sizes higher than this will have to be custom ordered with more detailed measurements taken to ensure you have the look and design you want.
Remember to keep in mind where your door is located. You need enough room at the sides to allow for a thicker trim.
Materials for Door Casing
The material options available for doorway casings create options for any budget. New doorway casings are an investment in your home and will help improve the value over time. So make sure to choose a door casing that is good quality so it will last many years into the future.
Paint-grade casing – This is the most popular style of casing and features bare wood that the homeowner can paint to suit their decor. The wood will usually come primed or can be primed quickly. This type of casing is an affordable option for homeowners on a budget. This style of casing is called “finger jointed.” This means smaller pieces of wood were put together to create the larger casing. Painting over these will hide the joints.
Hardwood casing – Hardwood casing is perfect for areas with high moisture levels. It’s more expensive than other door casings, but it’s a more fashionable and elegant choice for homeowners who want to elevate the design of their home.
Multi-density fibreboard (MDF) casing – Created from sawdust and resin, MDF casing is both durable and affordable. It isn’t recommended to put this type of casing in areas with high moisture, as MDF may swell if exposed to water.
How to Install Door Casing
Installing doorway casings is a great way to save money. Casings are pre-cut and can be installed in as little as an hour.
Amateur carpenters will love taking on this project, which has immediate and room changing results. But first, it is important to understand the tools and skills you will need to make sure the job is done right.
Tools Required
Before beginning any door casing installation project, make sure you have the following tools on hand:
- Power mitre saw
- 18 gauge finish nailer
- 1” and 2” finishing nails
- Carpenter’s wood glue
Homeowners who are installing casings around more than one door should consider renting the mitre saw and nail finisher from a hardware store or tool rental company. These are not tools that you will require on a regular basis, so renting may be a better investment.
- Once you have decided what casing and tools you will need to complete the job, draw a line of ¼ inch in the inner door frame. The line should be the same distance from the frame to the top of the door. This is the “reveal line” and will be a guide for installing the casing. It will also leave you enough room for the hinges.
- Mitre casing will be a little more simple to install. Just hold the casing in place and make a pencil mark on top to be your guide. Use a saw to cut a 45-degree angle at the site.
- The head casing will install into the wall with the finish nailer. One-inch nails are recommended for thinner sections, and 2 inches for thicker. Just make sure to keep the longer edge at the top.
- Now it’s time to measure the side casings against the head casing. They should be equal to ensure they are centred and flush with one another. Use your miter saw to cut a 45 degree angle that is flush with the head casing. Attach the edges with carpenters glue and finish with a nail to keep them together. Remember to wipe any excess glue to avoid dripping once the casing is installed.
- Butted casing does not require any cut angles. You can simply place the head casing using a level and secure it with nails. It should fit snugly with the head casing.
- Finally, it’s time to install decorative corner blocks. These are sometimes referred to as rosettes and give your home added character. They can be attached with a nail gun then cut to match the head casing and side casing so all pieces are evenly fit together. Make sure to secure it to the wall with nails.
Your casing installation expert can help you create more elaborate designs and trims to give your home an even more luxurious feel. Chair rails, bed moulding, and concave cove moulding can be used to create a customized look. In many homes, a carpenter will use crown moulding at the top of a head casing to add more character.
Contact Us
VIP Classic Moulding has helped homeowners improve the look of their homes with decorative trim and casing trim for many years. Our team of experts has years of experience and knowledge to create a look that is truly customized. We specialize in installing doorway casings, moulding, ceiling designs, MDF trim work, wainscoting, painting, pot lights, basement finishing, and remodeling.
Contact us today for a consultation on your door casing and home design goals. We work closely with our clients, from helping them develop a design that suits their home’s architecture to finishing touches that make your wood casing unlike any other.
