How to Replace Door Trim Moulding

Replace door trim moulding when it becomes weathered due to natural elements, such as wind and rain, or when you want to update the look of your home. Door trim adds a decorative touch to your home and can be customized with paint or stain. Remove old door trim moulding and replace it with new materials using a few household tools; there is no need to hire a costly handyman or carpenter to handle this task.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chisel
• Miter saw
• Tape measure
• Trim
• Nail set
• Hammer
• Finish nail gun
• Wood filler
• Sandpaper

1. Tap a chisel behind the old trim around the door and pry the trim off. Use a strip of plywood between the prying tool and the finished walls to prevent damage.

2. After all the trim is removed, take out existing nails using a nail remover or hammer claw.

3. Using a tape measure, measure the length of the old trim to get the specifications for the new trim. Mark the length on the new trim with a pencil.

4. Most trim angles will be 45 degrees, so set your miter to this degree and lock it into place. If you aren't sure of the angle degree, use a speed square to confirm it.

5. Place the new trim on your miter table, and cut it with the saw.

6. Place the new trim around the door to check the measurements and to ensure that the cut angles fit correctly. For large gaps between angle cuts, use a hand plainer or electric sander to plane the angle so that ends butt tightly before nailing.

7. Using a hammer, stagger a brad nail every 16 inches along the trim. To reduce splitting, begin placing nails 3 inches into the trim, and stop 3 inches away from the end.

8. Place a nail set on the head of each nail, and tap with your hammer until the nail is sunk slightly under the face of the wood.

9. Fill nail holes and cracks between butted joints with wood filler.

10. Sand the dried wood filler product smooth with sandpaper in preparation for painting or staining.

References

• Door Trim Replacement Tips