Exterior Window Trim Ideas
The exterior trim on your home's windows helps seal the openings from moisture and air. How you frame the window should be determined largely by the style of your home. Some house designs call for big, ornate window trim, while others might require something simpler. Whatever you choose, it's crucial to caulk it well and use flashing over the top span to protect against sitting water.
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Basic Mitered Brick Molding
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For a simple, uncluttered look, get a few spans of milled exterior brick molding, which comes in wood or composite, in dimensions of around 1 1/4 by 2 1/4 inches. (Though it's called brick molding, you can use it on any exterior.) For each span of the window, measure at the center of the window-casing exterior, then use a miter saw to cut each piece with two 45-degree angles going outward from that measurement. Nail all four sides up with their miters together, forming a picture-frame look around the window. Paint the molding before hanging it.
Shutters
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Unless you live in a hurricane-prone region, your shutters are probably purely decorative and don't actually close. Traditional-style shutters provide a familiar, old-fashioned look, breaking up the monotony of the siding and making the window stand out. Generally, you'll want to frame the window in a flat, wide trim with little or no fluting or other millwork that would compete for attention with the shutters.
Hang the shutters next to the outside of the frame on either side, leaving about 1/4 inch of space to give the illusion of hinges. Wood shutters look better than vinyl but have to be taken down and repainted every few years. A good compromise is to use vinyl shutters, but only on the upper stories, where they're far enough away from view that the material won't be obvious.
Cornices
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Cornices are trim elements that jut over and around the tops of window or doors, either in the form of boxes, crown molding or other designs. Exterior cornices on windows have to be designed with some thought, because rainwater will sit on a wide, flat cornice and rot it out. Design or purchase cornices that include an angle on the top, or which can be roofed, channeling the water off. One idea for ornate houses is large crown molding that boxes around the window top, with a small copper roof over it and fluted side-trim to suggest columns holding it all up.
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