How to Install Exterior Door Trim
Exterior door trim serves two essential purposes: It helps seal off the edges of the doorway from the elements and it provides visual continuity between the doorway and the rest of the exterior. The process of measuring, cutting and installing the door trim is similar to that of window trim, with 45 degree miter cuts at the ends coming together to form the corners. Make sure you're using treated exterior trim so it won't rot the first time it's rained on. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Prefinished exterior door trim
- Miter saw
- Trim nailer
- Caulk
Instructions
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1
Measure the top width of the doorway from corner to corner. Mark out the measurement on a piece of prefinished door trim, putting two marks on the bottom edge of the trim with the measured distance between them.
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2
Set the trim on a miter saw, with the bottom edge along the back guard of the saw and the face facing up. Turn the blade so it points 45 degrees outward, toward the close end of the trim. Cut it.
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3
Move the trim to put the second mark in front of the blade. Turn the blade 45 degrees in the opposite direction, so it's pointing toward the other end of the trim (which is now the close end). Make the cut.
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4
Set the trim along the top of the opening, with the measured bottom edge lined up with the edge of the casing. The two mitered cuts should angle up and out off the upper corners.
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5
Nail the piece in place with a trim nailer, putting the nails every foot along the upper and lower edges of the trim.
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6
Measure one vertical side of the opening, along the casing. Cut the up-facing end with the miter saw at a 45 degree miter as you did with the first cut. Cut the other end straight across (at 90 degrees) to sit flat on the floor.
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7
Nail the piece in place with the mitered end tight against one mitered end of the top piece so it forms the corner.
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8
Repeat the process to cut the other vertical piece. Caulk all around the joints where the trim meets the walls.
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