What is the standard size of window trim?
The majority of exterior window trim is typically 3 1/2 inches. One rule of thumb is to cut trim narrower than individual pieces of siding. Trim pieces that are larger look out of place. Standard thickness for exterior trim is almost always 3/4 inch, but when using rough saw lumber, such as cedar, the width may vary.
Are door casing and window trim the same width?
Door casing and window trim are typically the same width and are interchangeable. But there's no reason that door casing and window casing have to be the same width.
How do you cut window casing to size?
Nail the window casing trim into place. Start the bottom piece. Cut an overly long piece of window casing trim and cut a miter on one end. Overlap the far end to check the fit. Mark and recut the miter as needed for a perfect fit.
What size nails do you use for window trim?
That way, you can reuse miscuts for the smaller windows and not run out of material. When nailing 3/4-in.-thick trim, use 15-gauge 2-1/2-in. nails for the framing and 18-gauge 2-in. brads for nailing to the jamb. To prevent splitting, avoid nailing closer than 2 in. from the ends.
How to pick trim for a room?
What is the best size for window casings?
What is a well trimmed room?
How tall should baseboards be?
What happens if the trim is too small?
Do you need a crown for kitchen cabinets?
Can you use casings that are the same size as baseboards?
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About this website
What size window trim should I use?
Generally, vertical trim elements such as door and window casings should be smaller and have less heft than baseboards. So I've found that a good rule of thumb for sizing window and door casings (or door trim sizes) is to keep them at about 50 percent of the height of the baseboard.
What size of trim should I use?
A general rule of thumb for your baseboards is the 7 percent rule — they should equal 7 percent of the overall height of your room. So, if you have 8-foot ceilings, your baseboards will look best at around 7 inches high.
How wide should exterior trim around windows be?
Windows and Doors Typical window and door trim is about half the size of exterior corner trim. If your window or door trim is between 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 inches, plan on making your exterior trim pieces about twice that width to balance everything out.
How wide should casing?
The standard 2-¼-inch width works well in most newer constructions where doors are located near the edges of the room and carpenters won't have enough room to install anything wider.
How thick should window trim be?
Generally speaking, the more modern your home is, the smaller the trim. Even in contemporary homes, I tend to use a 2 1/4" trim or 3" is good too. If your home is more traditional, then move to 4" or even 5". Also, I think you should consider painting at least the window sills white.
Do you need trim around windows?
Window trim is necessary to every exterior. Because trim helps cover the edge between siding and the window frame, it helps to keep out the elements and protect your home. Additionally, trim helps complete the look of your home, regardless of what it's style, or the material you're siding it with.
Should window and door casing match?
As a general rule, yes, window and door casing should match. Whether inside or outside, matching the window and door casing throughout your home generates a unity of style. If properly executed, the casing around your windows and doors will impart a sense of elegance without overpowering the rest of your home's decor.
What is the best wood for exterior trim?
Redwood. Redwood is a great wood trim. Its natural weather-resistant qualities make it perfect for any exterior trim work. It's strong, straight, and has an ambient quality that adds character and value to your home.
How thick is base molding?
Most baseboards are 1/2 to 1 inch thick and 3 to 8 inches tall. Gauge baseboard size by its relationship to crown and casing. Baseboard is typically taller than casing is wide, and about as tall as the crown. The taller the crown, the taller the baseboard should be to maintain visual balance.
What is the difference between casing and trim?
Casing and trim are two common terms you'll come across when remodeling a home. While some people use the terms to mean the same thing, that's not always the case. Trim is more all-encompassing, while casing is for door and window openings.
Whats the difference between moulding and casing?
Quite simply, it's a moulding profile which frames (or trims) a door or window. Casing is functional as well as decorative. The main purpose of casing is to surround all doors and windows, covering any space or gap left between the drywall and frame.
Should window trim match baseboards?
The baseboards do not have to match the trim. As long as the color of the baseboards and the color of the trim complement one another, your room will still look cohesive. If you want to match your baseboards and trim, that is always an option.
How wide should my baseboards be?
Most baseboards are 1/2 to 1 inch thick and 3 to 8 inches tall. Gauge baseboard size by its relationship to crown and casing. Baseboard is typically taller than casing is wide, and about as tall as the crown. The taller the crown, the taller the baseboard should be to maintain visual balance.
What is the most popular baseboard height?
Here is a great rule of thumb: A standard 8-foot wall typically has a baseboard 3 to 5 inches tall, while a 10-foot ceiling calls for 5 to 7 inches. As a designer, I love adding height for drama. And the taller baseboards create a modern yet elegant finished look.
Should baseboard and door trim be the same size?
A general rule followed by most installers is to keep the baseboard thickness about one-eighth inch thinner than door and window casings. This creates a slight relief at the base of the door frame and also allows for slight imperfections in the way the door is hung.
Should door casing be wider than baseboard?
Next, there are two general rules or essential practices to properly choosing these moldings. One— the casing must always be thicker than the baseboard. And two— the baseboard must always be wider than the casing. Keep these two points in mind and you'll never get yourself into a décor doo-doo.
How to pick trim for a room?
No rule should replace what you like and what you feel is right. Start out selecting your trim by first defining the story you and the room want to tell. From there, purchase some samples and have mock-ups built. This is all a small price to pay for getting your trim right.
What is the best size for window casings?
For casings, 50 percent is good. Generally, vertical trim elements such as door and window casings should be smaller and have less heft than baseboards. So I’ve found that a good rule of thumb for sizing window and door casings is to keep them at about 50 percent of the height of the baseboard.
What is a well trimmed room?
All together now. A well-trimmed room is something special. Its baseboard, casings and crown all relate to each other in their style, proportions, sizing and finish. In this example, the baseboard appears to follow the 7 percent guideline: The casings are about half the size of the baseboard, and the crown looks to be just slightly smaller than the baseboard. There's no doubt that the trim for this room was conceived as part of the overall design.
How tall should baseboards be?
So if your ceiling height is 8 feet high, try a baseboard that’s about 7 inches tall.
What happens if the trim is too small?
If the trim is too small or too large, it can be like a clown wearing a minuscule hat or supersize pair of shoes. While there are some guidelines, they are, in fact, just guidelines.
Do you need a crown for kitchen cabinets?
Another guideline for crown selection is to use the same crown throughout the kitchen if your design calls for using a crown at the top of your cabinets. In fact, you’ll probably want the crown to be finished and supplied by the cabinetmaker.
Can you use casings that are the same size as baseboards?
As always, this isn't a hard and fast rule. Casings that equal the dimensions of the baseboards certainly can work quite well.
How tall should baseboard be?
The overall proportion of baseboard to wall height will be comfortable and pleasing. So in a room with a 9 foot high ceiling, a baseboard that’s about 8 inches tall works.
Is it easy to size a crown?
Given these variables, sizing a crown isn't as straightforward as you might think. I like to purchase foot-long pieces of different sizes and profiles and construct mock-ups of the crown in the room. In fact, because most trim is readily available and inexpensive, this is a really good process to use for selecting all of your trim elements.
Tips for Choosing Interior Window Trim
Interior window trim hides the small gap between the window jam and the surrounding wall. Practically, it helps keep outdoor weather and insects from entering your home. When you’re inside your house, the trim around your windows is going to catch your eye every time you look outside. It can set the tone for the entire room.
Modern Exterior Window Trim Ideas
You might feel a little more stressed about your exterior window trim. Friends and neighbors will see it every time they visit or pass your house. Remember that everyone’s tastes are different, and all that matters is your personal satisfaction with the end result!
The Four Aspects of Window Trim
There are no hard and fast rules when choosing types of window trim for your house. In the end, it’s up to you. Choose trim that you’ll be happy with. Remember to go over the following four aspects of window trim to make sure you’ve considered the most important elements of your new trim:
Things to Consider When Choosing Window Trim
Your window trim is highly customizable. A lot of the decision-making process comes down to personal preference, but there are some things to consider that are true for everybody. Keep these four things in mind when choosing window trim:
Contact Wize Home Direct for All Your Window Needs
Whether you’re replacing your home’s windows or simply looking to upgrade your trim, Wize Home Direct is here for you every step of the way. We want to make the home-improvement process easier for you and turn your dreams for your home into a reality.
What sizes is James Hardie trim available in?
Choose the right James Hardie to trim to complement your home’s James Hardie fiber cement siding.
Why use 5/4 board over 4/4 board?
Most people don’t expect trim to be the most expensive part of the job so it’s worth doing right–that’s why we choose the 5/4 board over the 4/4 board for trim.”
How big is exterior window trim?
The majority of exterior window trim is typically 3 1/2 inches. One rule of thumb is to cut trim narrower than individual pieces of siding.
What is standard trim size?
If the sizing is out of scale, it draws the eye to the wrong area. Most trim pieces graduate in 1/4-inch increments. Standard door and window trim is typically 2 1/4 inches in width, baseboard is about 3 inches, ...
How thick is window casing?
Many trim designs begin with door casing. The most widely used door casing is 2 1/4 inches in width, but can range up to 3 inches. The thickness is typically 1/2 inch but can range up to 3/4 inch thick for a more substantial casing or more detailed profile. Door casing and window trim are typically the same width and are interchangeable. But there's no reason that door casing and window casing have to be the same width. Standard-width door casing is used throughout the home for doors and window trim alike because it's cost-efficient. Change it up by using different widths or profiles for a custom appearance. If you deviate from standard widths, however, an increase in the width of casing requires a similar increase in standard baseboard, crown and window trim width to balance everything out.
How thick is baseboard?
Baseboard is more substantial than door or window casing. It's rarely no less than 3/4-inch in thickness, and can range from 3 to 5 inches in width. It usually displays a simple profile that's easy to clean. Baseboard is often accentuated with a 1/2-by-1/2-inch piece of half-round molding along the bottom edge.
What is picture rail molding?
Picture and chair-rail molding is used to enhance or break up open spaces. Sometimes referred to as architectural molding, it's typically used on a flat surface. Standard chair-rail and picture-rail molding is almost always 2 1/4 inches wide -- just like door casing. Both types of trim are usually 3/4 inch thick. Chair rail molding was developed to protect chairs from bumping into the wall. Picture rail was developed to hang pictures from. Contemporary trim carpenters use chair and picture rail for other architectural applications such as creating simple grid patterns.
What is the standard thickness of exterior trim?
Standard thickness for exterior trim is almost always 3/4 inch, but when using rough saw lumber, such as cedar, the width may vary. Fascia board -- the board that runs horizontally around the perimeter of the roof -- has no standard rule for sizing.
How to measure for crown molding?
The easiest way to measure crown molding is to measure across the end from tip to tip. Crown or cornice molding has widths ranging from about 1 1/2 inches to 8 inches or more, with the most common width about 4 1/2 inches.
How to make a window casing?
Start the bottom piece. Cut an overly long piece of window casing trim and cut a miter on one end. Overlap the far end to check the fit. Mark and recut the miter as needed for a perfect fit.
How to cut a 45 degree miter?
Adjust the miter as needed for a perfect fit. Then scribe the cut length 3/16 in. past the bottom of the jamb. Nail the trim onto the jamb first and then to the window casing framing, as you did with the top piece.
How to sneak up on cuts?
Sneak up on cuts by starting long and dipping the saw blade into the wood while you work your way to the cutoff mark.
Can you cut a tapered edge with a miter saw?
Whenever you can, cut with the thick side of the trim against the miter saw fence. You’ll be less likely to tear out the narrow tapered edge that way.
Do carpenters use tape to trim windows?
Most trim carpenters don't even use a tape to trim windows. It's all done by eye, with a sharp pencil, a miter saw and an 18-gauge nailer. Here's how they do it.
How to pick trim for a room?
No rule should replace what you like and what you feel is right. Start out selecting your trim by first defining the story you and the room want to tell. From there, purchase some samples and have mock-ups built. This is all a small price to pay for getting your trim right.
What is the best size for window casings?
For casings, 50 percent is good. Generally, vertical trim elements such as door and window casings should be smaller and have less heft than baseboards. So I’ve found that a good rule of thumb for sizing window and door casings is to keep them at about 50 percent of the height of the baseboard.
What is a well trimmed room?
All together now. A well-trimmed room is something special. Its baseboard, casings and crown all relate to each other in their style, proportions, sizing and finish. In this example, the baseboard appears to follow the 7 percent guideline: The casings are about half the size of the baseboard, and the crown looks to be just slightly smaller than the baseboard. There's no doubt that the trim for this room was conceived as part of the overall design.
How tall should baseboards be?
So if your ceiling height is 8 feet high, try a baseboard that’s about 7 inches tall.
What happens if the trim is too small?
If the trim is too small or too large, it can be like a clown wearing a minuscule hat or supersize pair of shoes. While there are some guidelines, they are, in fact, just guidelines.
Do you need a crown for kitchen cabinets?
Another guideline for crown selection is to use the same crown throughout the kitchen if your design calls for using a crown at the top of your cabinets. In fact, you’ll probably want the crown to be finished and supplied by the cabinetmaker.
Can you use casings that are the same size as baseboards?
As always, this isn't a hard and fast rule. Casings that equal the dimensions of the baseboards certainly can work quite well.
