How To Trim A Window | DIY Modern Craftsman Trim

Modern trim is an piece of cake way to add style to your builder-course windows. Learn how to trim a window yourself with this simple Crafstman trim tutorial!

A huge thanks to Wagner for sponsoring this post. All content and opinions are 100% my own! Meet my disclosure policy for details.

Our house is nigh as cookie-cutter as they come. Although it doesn't have a lot of style, being able to add upgrades and customize things was a big reason I was sold on buying a builder form house in the suburbs. I looked past the boring rug and biscuit walls and saw a blank slate.

I'm a beginner DIYer, so knocking downwardly walls and moving around plumbing is not in my wheelhouse. Only I figured if I had a newer house with a bang-up layout and no major renovation needs, I could put my own touch on this house through some adequately simple DIY projects.

When I gave our powder bathroom a makeover terminal year, I decided to try my hand at adding trim to the window (all of our windows have plain former drywall around them). I knew the trim would make it feel more special, and wow did information technology ever brand a difference!

And then when it came to our front room makeover this autumn, adding window trim was a must on my project list. This fourth dimension I have two large windows, a much larger projection than the one small window in our bathroom.

I documented the process this fourth dimension effectually so I could share this DIY Craftsman window trim tutorial with you today. And I partnered with my friends at Wagner to speed up the process of painting all of the trim using a pigment sprayer!

Before we dive into all of the details for painting and installation, let'southward outset take a 2nd to savour these before and after photos, shall we? This is the large window in our forepart room. Can you believe what a difference a petty trim makes?!

Before:

Afterward:

DIY Craftsman Window Trim

Adding or upgrading window trim is a great way to elevate the wait of your abode. And it'southward a beginner-friendly projection with no complicated angled cuts!

Materials

• one×2 MDF Boards*
• 1×three MDF Boards*
• 1×four MDF Boards*
• 1×vi MDF Boards*
• White Semi-Gloss Trim Pigment
• 2-inch Brad Nails
• Construction Adhesive
• White Paintable Caulk
• White Forest Filler
• Fine Grit Sanding Block (80-grit and 120-dust)
• 2 ½'' Wood Screws (I used iii on the smaller window and half dozen on the big window)

*I calculated all of the lath lengths based on the workbook in this tutorial from my friend Christene.

Tools

• Wagner Flexio 3000 sprayer
• Wagner Spray Tent
• Miter Saw (in that location are no angled cuts so utilize whatsoever saw that you can get straight cuts with)
• Jigsaw (or you could utilise an inexpensive hand saw)
• Drill
• Sander
• Brad Nailer
• Plastic Drop Cloth
• Caulk Gun
• Level
• Measuring Record
• Foursquare
• Carpenter'southward Pencil
• Clamps
• Small Paint Castor (a quality one" trim castor or a modest foam brush would work great)

Note: My windows are surrounded with builder-class drywall, no trim of any kind. If your windows have existing trim, y'all'll need to use a crowbar to pry that trim off earlier you showtime this projection. Use a razor blade or scraper to cut any caulked seals.

Step 1 – Planning

The window trim is fabricated up of the post-obit:

• Apron x one×4
• Sill – 1×six
• Sides (2) – 1×4
• Top – ane×iii
• Header – i×6
• Crown – 1×2 and 1×3

Your first step is calculating the lengths of boards needed for your window. Rather than try to explicate this in paragraph form, I will refer yous over to my friend Christene's blog post on installing Craftsman style window trim.

You can download her workbook which does an awesome job helping you calculate all of the measurements based on the dimensions of your window. I followed the verbal measurements she uses!

Note: I did not install casing/trim inside the window box. This saved on material costs and simplifies the installation process. I only painted the drywall on the inside of the window box with the same trim paint then information technology all looks cohesive.

Pace 2 – Selecting Materials

You have a few options when it comes to trim. You lot can purchase specialty trim or become with simple pine boards or MDF boards. I chose MDF for a few reasons:

1. Information technology is smooth without knots, peachy for painting
2. It'south the most affordable choice
3. The boards are straight and consequent, fewer irregularities similar you'd become in your standard pino
4. The edges come with a slightly rounded border

I used the pre-primed MDF from Domicile Depot which is the same MDF I've used for my entryway lath and crossbar wall and the lath and batten in my bathroom.

MDF is fabricated up of recycled wood. Manufacturers accept scraps of wood from the production of other lumber and turn those scraps into MDF by calculation glue, heat, and pressure.

A few reasons you wouldn't want to use MDF is if you lot plan to stain your trim or if you're installing it in an area prone to moisture. If it's going to be around a sink or in a bathroom, you'll want to research the proper way to paint and seal the MDF, utilize moisture-resistant MDF, or opt for another trim material.

At that place are many different options for trim, but this is the method I landed on as a manner to become simple, modern trim without breaking the depository financial institution.

Step 3 – Cutting

Cut all of your boards to the proper lengths. I used a miter saw for this. In that location are no angled cuts in this Craftsman trim design so you lot could use a different saw if yous don't own a miter saw.

With all of the different board sizes and lengths, I found it helpful to have my cut listing on newspaper so I could check things off as I went.

The but more complex cut yous demand to make is the cutout notch on the window sill. Christene's workbook helps you measure this. Utilize a square and carpenter's pencil to mark your cutting lines. You can make the cut with a jigsaw or simple mitt saw. Dry fit information technology to your window to bank check that it'southward the right size.

Later on cutting everything to the proper lengths, utilize your sander (I used an orbital sander) to sand the cut edges of the boards smooth. Since I purchased the pre-primed MDF, I simply needed to sand the short edges I cut.

Step 4 – Painting Set up

You could use a paint roller on the boards which is what I did in our pulverization bathroom, but I actually wanted to achieve a more smooth, professional cease this fourth dimension around. So I used my Wagner Flexio 3000 sprayer to become a smoothen coat of paint without whatsoever brush strokes. In that location is a noticeable difference!

Using a paint sprayer requires some setup only it saves so much time in the long run. I painted the trim in my garage before installing using a disposable plastic drib fabric on the floor and a spray tent (like a popup tent) to contain whatever overspray.

Arrange your trim on the floor, leaving a minor infinite in between each board then you can paint the edges. Use chip boards underneath to enhance the trim off the flooring a fleck (lay scrap boards perpendicular to your trim). If y'all accept enough sawhorses, you could use those to enhance the trim college instead of using minor scrap boards as I did. Just protect your sawhorses with drop cloths!

Step 5 – Painting

I find it helpful to pigment all of the trim earlier installing them. And there'due south no meliorate way to pigment a lot of boards quickly than with a paint sprayer! That's where my friends at Wagner come in. I used Wagner's Flexio 3000 sprayer to stain my deck last summer and I've been looking for an excuse to apply it again!

The Flexio 3000  is a hand-held sprayer that can be used indoors and outdoors, all yous need to practise is fill it up with stain/paint and plug it into a standard outlet.

Information technology comes with 2 different nozzles. The iSpray nozzle is designed for walls and siding (what I used for this window trim project) while the detail terminate nozzle is best for smaller projects and thinner materials similar stain (what I used for my deck).

When you're ready to paint, pour your trim pigment into the plastic cup and screw it onto the spray gun. Adjust the settings on a couple of dials (Wagner provides a not bad chart on what settings to use) and you're fix to start spraying.

To spray, only pull the trigger. Start spraying off to the side and steadily sweep the sprayer across the boards. Try to maintain a steady distance (about 8 inches) away from the boards. And instead of bending your wrist, focus on keeping your wrist and arm direct and moving your entire body instead. This will give you greater control and result in a nice, even finish. I was basically walking dorsum and forth upwardly and down the boards.

If you apply a similar prepare up to mine, it works best to pigment one coat on the sides facing up and facing you. I did two coats (the boards were already pre-primed). Permit dry overnight if you tin then flip the boards over and repeat the painting on the other ii sides of the boards. (Note that you lot don't need to paint the backside of the Apron, Sides, and Header since those face the wall.)

Step half-dozen – Installation

Now it's time to install your window trim!

Identify a thin zig-zag line of construction agglutinative to the back of each board, then utilize a brad nailer and 2'' long brad nails to secure your trim to the wall (make sure to utilize a level!). Since you likely can't boom every board into a stud, the construction adhesive will ensure the boards are securely fastened to the drywall.

Start with the window sill, and so the apron, then piece of work your way upward.

Here's the gild of installation:

1. Sill
2. Apron
3. Sides
4. Top Pieces (Top, Header, and Crowns stacked together before installing on the wall)

When you lot get to the tiptop 4 boards the run horizontal along the top of the window, I find information technology works best to gather those prior to installing on the wall. With standard 8 feet ceilings, there isn't plenty room to hold the brad nailer above the last ii boards and so information technology's best to attach them to the header on the floor. I likewise drilled a few screws through the two crown pieces and down into the header.

Footstep vii – Finishing

Now information technology's time to hibernate all of the nail holes, seams, weird gaps, and imperfections. This step makes all the divergence! It'south really amazing to see how much caulk and wood filler can practice to create a polished, professional person end result.

Apply white wood filler to make full in all of the nail holes and then sand polish with a fine-grit sanding block (go over everything with 120-grit start, and then back over with eighty-grit). I similar the block equally opposed to sandpaper because information technology helps me sand the woods filler downwardly flush with the face of the trim board. A evidently sheet of sandpaper could sand the filler too deep.

Use white paintable caulk (the paintable part is of import!) to fill in all of the seams between boards and the spots where the edges come across the wall. Rus a small bead of caulk along the seam, dip your finger in a glass of water and use your finger to smooth downwards the caulk. So use paper towels or a rag to clean up any excess caulk before information technology dries.

Quick Tip: Hang a wet rag from your chugalug loop so you can wipe the caulk off of your fingers every bit yous go.

Once the caulk and wood filler are both dry, use a pocket-sized paintbrush to touch up the paint. Also, use a pocket-size pigment roller to roll the trim pigment on the exposed drywall within the window box so it matches the surrounding trim.

Isn't it amazing what a little trim can do to a builder course room?! I'm so in dear with how this turned out and the paint is as smooth and professional every bit can be cheers to my paint sprayer.

If you're thinking virtually adding modern Craftsman window trim to your firm, I hope this blog post was helpful! I highly recommend using a paint sprayer to get that smooth, professional look you lot're after. You can visit Wagnerspraytech.com to larn all nearly the Flexio 3000 paint sprayer I have.

Now that my window trim is done in this room, adjacent upwardly is finishing the baseboards (I removed them when I installed the new laminate floor). I'll also be replicated this trim style effectually our interior doors shortly!

And if yous're looking for more tips to save time painting, check out how I painted our living room rapidly using some other one of Wagner'due south fourth dimension-saving products.

Looking for more planning inspiration? Take a look at these blog posts:

• How I Stained Our Deck Quickly (And The Thing That Saved My Sanity)
• How To Pigment A Room Apace (Our Living Room Got A Facelift!)

Have a fantastic mean solar day!

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Source: https://smallstuffcounts.com/how-to-trim-a-window/

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