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How to Install Door Facing

F.R.R. Mallory

Door facing is the trim that surrounds an interior door, facing into a room. Facing can run from very simple one-piece moldings to complex trim sets with carvings and many types of moldings. Most people have builder-grade, simple or plain facing around their doors. The standard style is a tapered molding that is 2 to 3 inches wide and mitered at the outer corners. There are many options and improvements for door facings. An easy option for homeowners uses a decorated square block at the corners; this design keeps all the carpentry cuts at 90 degrees.

Door trim covers the gap between the stud and the jamb.

Step 1

Line up your square decorative trim block so that the inside corner of the block is three-sixteenths inch from the outside corner of the door jamb. Hold a level on the block to keep it straight. Nail the block to the studs using at least three nails. Repeat for the second block at the other end of the top of the door jamb.

Step 2

Measure the distance between the blocks. Cut trim molding to this length. Line up the bottom of the molding with the bottom of the two blocks. Nail the molding to the underlying studs using finish nails. Nail every eight inches with a nail gun.

Step 3

Measure the distance from the bottom of the block to the floor. Cut trim molding to this length. Line up the molding with the inside edge of the block. Keep the molding three-sixteenths inch from the inside edge of the jamb. Nail every eight inches with a nail gun. Repeat for the last side.

Step 4

Fill the nail holes with wood fill. Press the fill into the hole with your finger and wipe off the excess. Caulk your seams and joints with a caulk gun. Apply a narrow bead. Wipe off the excess with a wet-tipped rag.