How to Cut Wood Door Trim

There are as many good things to say about the trim that goes around a door as any other product that go into building a house. It can be plain and flat, or it can be decorative and bold. However the homeowner chooses the trim to case in around a door, it all has to be cut to fit.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Door trim
• Electric miter saw
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Hammer
• 6d finish nails

1. Measure out from the edge of the door jamb ¼ inch. Lightly draw a line around the perimeter of the jamb to show where to place the trim, and so the trim will fit uniformly around the door.

2. Measure on that line from the floor to the top of the jamb and record it. Measure the door trim the same and cut a 45 degree angle with the measured line on the short side of the trim.

3. Measure across the top of the jamb from corner to corner and cut a piece of the trim accordingly. Remember that the short edge of the trim is the one that is secured to the jamb.

4. Measure the last leg of the jamb from the floor to the top of the jamb and record it. Measure the door trim the same and cut a 45 degree angle with the measured line on the short side of the trim.

5. Place the trim on the wall and jamb of the door to be certain that the miters make a smooth transition from vertical to horizontal. Once this is done, secure the trim with 6d finish nails.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear safety glasses.
• Set all nails with a nail set and fill the holes with wood putty.
• To keep from cutting miters, purchase rosettes to fit on the corners where the door trim meets.
• Never leave power tools unattended.

Resources

• How to Install Case Molding Around a Door