What Kind Of Material Works Best For Outside Door Trimming?

This article provides a comprehensive guide on selecting the best exterior trim materials for your home, including wood, PVC, fiber cement, and composites. Alder is a popular choice for exterior doors due to its unique texture and personality. Pre-primed wood trim is ideal for painting and installation, and it doesn’t require special tools. Wood trim can be added around an entryway to give your house a facelift.

PVC is a popular choice for exterior door trim due to its durability and resistance to rot and insect activity. However, it doesn’t need to be painted, and it can be painted to protect cut ends and prevent staining. Acrylic urethane is bulletproof, but a clear coat marketed for “Marine” purposes like Marine/Marine/Marine is recommended. Cedar is a popular choice for trim due to its resistance to rot and insect activity but has limited durability compared to cedar of the past.

For painted doors, plastic molding or wrapping the existing door with aluminum is recommended. PVC is durable, paintable, and easy to work with. Trim head screws should be used evenly to counter sink the door jamb. Solid wood casing is a popular door trim material as it is not susceptible to warping from moisture and won’t streak.

It’s important to avoid pressure treated wood or pine, as they don’t hold up well to weather. Synthetic trim boards, such as cedar or redwood, can be used instead. Cedar or redwood will hold up better than most woods, and white aluminum can be used to cap the wood (pine) with.

In conclusion, choosing the right exterior trim materials for your home is crucial for ensuring durability and style.

Can you trim an exterior door?

Urethane foam frame molding is a lightweight, paintable, and easy-to-cut exterior door trim that is suitable for exteriors. It is available at local hardware stores or online. To install trim, measure the door and order the header at a specific length. Cut the casing to size. Protect the area with a drop cloth and remove existing exterior door trim using a flat pry bar, avoiding denting the siding or jambs. Use a scrap of wood as a fulcrum to ensure a secure fit.

What kind of trim do you use for doors?

Doorway casing is a decorative piece of furniture that surrounds a door with three strips of wood boards, typically between 2¼ inches and 3½ inches wide. These boards can be made of paint-grade wood, stain-grade wood, or medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Hardwood door trim is also available, suitable for bathrooms and other moisture-prone spaces. Prices for door trim can start as low as $1 per linear foot, with hardwood being more expensive.

There are two general forms of door casing: mitered and butted. Mitered casings connect above the door along 45-degree angled joints, making them suitable for modern settings and rooms with lower ceilings. However, cutting and connecting mitered angles can be challenging, making it a more challenging DIY project.

On the other hand, butted trim allows for more customization, such as wider, longer, or more detailed head casing, making it suitable for higher ceilings. Although it can be visually more complex, installing butted trim is easier due to the absence of angles to cut and join.

What is the best finish for exterior trim?

Semi-gloss and glossy finishes offer durability and are easy to clean, making them ideal for high-touch areas like trim and doors. High gloss is resilient and dirt-repellent, adding richness and depth to colors but magnifying surface imperfections. It requires skillful application and is best used sparingly on surfaces you touch or come in close proximity to. The average cost of painting the exterior of a home is between $500 and $1, 000, depending on factors like size and paint type. The longevity of the exterior paint job depends on the quality of paint, surface preparation, and environmental conditions.

What is the best material for exterior trim?

Wood trim is a popular choice for homeowners due to its natural beauty and versatility. However, it is susceptible to environmental damage, such as rot, warping, and insect infestation, which requires regular maintenance. PVC trim is a low-maintenance alternative, as it is impervious to rot, moisture, and insect damage. Its easy-to-clean surface and absence of painting or staining reduce upkeep efforts. However, some may find its appearance less appealing than natural wood, and its reaction to extreme temperature changes can pose challenges in fit and finish over time.

Fiber cement trim combines the benefits of durability and aesthetics, withstanding rot, termites, and fire, offering an impressive lifespan. It can mimic the look of wood, providing a low-maintenance option without sacrificing style. However, its weight and brittleness require professional installation and may require periodic painting to maintain its appearance. Overall, wood and fiber cement offer different options for homeowners looking to enhance their home’s exteriors.

Should exterior trim be flat or satin?

A satin finish is versatile and suitable for exterior surfaces like siding, doors, and trim, offering a balance of aesthetic appeal with durability and easy maintenance. Flat finish, often less discussed than glossier finishes, offers unique appeal and practical advantages. It provides a non-reflective, matte finish, giving the exterior a classic, sophisticated look, especially suitable for historical or traditional-style homes. Flat paint maintains a consistent color tone under different lighting conditions, ensuring a uniform appearance across the exterior.

Is MDF good for exterior trim?

Moisture-resistant (MR) MDF is a type of MDF that can withstand high humidity areas and is suitable for interior applications where moisture is a concern. It is easy to sand and mill, and can withstand most adhesives, veneers, and paints. It is ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, boilers, and laundry rooms. MR MDF is more expensive than standard MDF but is worth the investment due to its moisture-resistant feature.

To make MDF moisture-resistant, you can add a high-quality wood sealant, varnish, stain, or moisture-resistant paint to your project. However, avoid using waterborne polyurethane, as it may not bind readily to the MDF’s surface. Both methods are essential for ensuring the longevity and durability of your project.

What wood for exterior door trim?

Solid wood trim, a traditional material, is becoming increasingly popular due to rising costs and availability. Common woods like cedar and redwood are preferred due to their resistance to moisture and insect activity, making them longer-lasting. However, other woods may not have the same rot resistance, resulting in lower longevity. Preparing cedar and redwood for painting is crucial to prevent extractive bleeding and compromised surface appearance, which can be time-consuming and lead to higher labor and material costs.

Engineered wood, a blend of wood, glue, and resins, is a growing alternative to solid wood. It is typically less expensive and comes in various forms, some of which may already be stained or painted, making installation faster.

Is wood or MDF door trim better?

The decision between Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) and solid wood is contingent upon the particular requirements at hand. Solid wood provides strength, natural beauty, and maintenance-free options, whereas MDF is cost-effective and durable. Both materials offer a variety of benefits with regard to home design. To select the most appropriate interior doors, we recommend contacting Trimlite.

What is the best finish for door trim?

Designer-approved guidelines offer two paint finishes for everyday spaces: eggshell finish, suitable for bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, and kitchens, and semi-gloss finish, ideal for trims, cabinets, and doors in highly trafficked areas like mudrooms. Eggshell finish is more forgiving, durable, and easy to clean, while semi-gloss finish offers maximum durability, stain and scuff resistance, and is easier to clean. To choose the right paint color, refer to The 1 Secret to Choosing a Paint Color.

How thick is exterior door trim?

Home wood trim designs typically base on door casings, which are typically 2 ¼ inches wide and ½ thick. However, there is no specific rule dictating the size of these casings. Experimenting with different thicknesses and widths can create size and aesthetic contrast. Baseboards, more substantial than window and door casings, are often a significant part of the home’s flow. The average baseboard is ¾ inch thick, ranging from 3-5 inches wide. Industry-standard formulas are used for door, base, and crown-moulding casings, with the standard door casing being 2 ¼ inches wide.

However, these formulas are not written in stone and can be adjusted to fit personal preferences. It is essential to note that these formulas are not written in stone and can be adjusted to fit individual preferences.

Is PVC or wood better for exterior trim?

Master Craftsman Adam Crowell cautions that wood will inevitably decay, and despite being refurbished with painting techniques, it will not withstand environmental factors as effectively as PVC. Crowell posits that PVC represents the optimal long-term solution.