Enhancing an Entryway
By: Amanda Campbell
PREPARATION
When ordering entrance trim, first measure the door and/or window unit to be trimmed. To determine the required height of the fluted trim, measure the distance from the landing to the top of the door. Be sure to include the height of any transom or over-the-door window.
TOOLS
* Power or Hand Saw
* Utility Knife
* Framing Tool
* Hammer
* Drill
MATERIALS
* Plinth blocks
* Fluted trim
* Rosettes
* Mantle
* Keystone
* Window sill
* Face nails
* Urethane base premium adhesive
* Caulk
* Paint
* Pencil
* Nail set
* Wood glue
INSTALLING INTERIOR DOOR TRIM
* Remove any existing molding around the door frame by using a utility knife to cut along the edges where the molding is adhered to the wall. It should pop off once cut.
* Fit Plinth Blocks in place flush with the interior edge of the door frame. Secure with one nail.
* Line up rosette with the bottom edge of the door frame. Holding rosette in place, measure for length of fluted trim, measuring between bottom of rosette and top of plinth block.
* Cut fluted trim to size.
TIP: You don’t want to cut the fluted trim along the finished edge because it will serve as part of the door’s décor. Cut along the unfinished edge.
TIP: Because the urethane millwork has no grain structure, you’ll find you get an easy, clean cut using a hand saw.
* Apply urethane base premium adhesive to fluted trim, fit snug to top of plinth block and secure to wall.
TIP: Be sure to leave 1/8” to 1/4” reveal along the inside edge of the door. This not only adds character but allows the door room to swell in humid climates.
* Secure molding further by drilling face nails approximately every 16".
TIP: Drill nails into the raised edges of the fluted molding, not the indented crevices, so they will be easy to caulk over and unnoticeable.
TIP: Again, the urethane millwork is easy to work with and doesn’t require pre-drilling. You can also drill nails close to the edge without worry that the millwork with split.
* Line up the rosettes with the top edge of the fluted trim and set in place with adhesive and face nails.
* Measure the width between the two rosettes to obtain length of top trim.
* Cut trim to size and secure in place using a small amount of urethane base premium adhesive and several face nails.
INSTALLING INTERIOR WINDOW TRIM
* It’s recommended you measure the bottom edge of the fluted molding against the windowsill because it may be necessary to add length to the windowsill before installing trim.
* Position trim against edge of window frame and hold in place while measuring desired length.
* Measure and mark additional length on prefab windowsill and cut to size using a handsaw or power saw.
* Drill nail hole in the center of each block.
* Fasten to the edge of existing windowsill using wood glue. Secure in place by drilling a nail through the nail hole.
* Line up fluted trim lengthwise against the window. The molding can be adjusted for height by trimming at the base.
* Apply urethane base premium adhesive to fluted molding and secure to wall.
* Secure molding further by using face nails.
* Line up the rosettes with the top edge of the fluted molding and set in place with adhesive and face nails.
* Measure the width between the two rosettes to obtain length of top trim.
* Cut trim to size and secure in place using a small amount of urethane base premium adhesive and several face nails.
INSTALLING THE MANTLE
* Line up the rosettes with the bottom corner of top window set in place with adhesive and face nails.
* Measure the width between the two rosettes to obtain length of bottom fluted trim.
* Cut trim to size and secure in place using a small amount of urethane base premium adhesive and several face nails.
* Measure length between top of rosettes and top frame of window. Cut fluted side trim to size and secure in place using urethane base premium adhesive and face nails.
* If you’re working with an oversized mantle, it will be necessary to customize the width. You’ll want to make sure the mantle is long enough to cover the width of your door and window plus the width of your molding.
* Take the desired width of the mantle and divide the dimension in half. This measurement represents the width of each side of the mantle.
* Next, measure from the right of the mantle to the “half” dimension. Mark the measurement using a pencil and framing square.
* Do the same for the left side.
* Cut the mantle at the pencil marks. The center portion you cut out will be scrap material.
* Place the right and left mantle pieces on the top of the entrance opening, aligning the outer edge of the mantle’s breast-board with the outer edge of the rosettes.
* Securely fasten each mantle through the breast-board using urethane base premium adhesive and face nails.
* Place the right and left mantle pieces on the top of the entrance opening, aligning the outer edge of the mantle’s breast-board with the outer edge of the rosettes.
* Securely fasten each mantle through the breast-board using urethane base premium adhesive and face nails.
* To cover the seam at the center, overlay the keystone on to the mantle and center it over the opening. Fasten the keystone to the mantle using urethane base premium adhesive and face nails.
* Set all nails using a nail set and caulk over indentations.
TIP: Because the millwork is pre-primed, it isn’t necessary to prime it before painting.
* One coat of latex- or oil-based paints is all that’s recommended by the experts.
