There is a lot of work to be done in house renovation. One of them is installing door and window trim to brighten the house’s elegance.
Door trim molding is the final touch of interior decoration. Without them, the whole house could look incomplete.
At first this task may seem complicated and challenging to do. Once you learn to install, it will no longer be a difficult task for you.
If you use the siding nail gun, installing door trim will be easy, but it is also possible to do this job without a nail gun. In this article, we discuss how to install door trim without a nail gun in a 7-step guide.
The Best Way To Install the Door Trim
A finish nail gun or brad nailer will surely make the work easy. However, not everyone always has access to nail guns or might be in a situation where the nail gun is not working. It is beneficial to know about installing trims on doors without using a nail gun in such scenarios.
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Step 1: Measure the Trim
Trim measurement is the first thing you need to do. The work becomes easy when you know the measurement of the opening width and long trims according to the height of the door. You may not always find long trims.
In that case, you can join two or more pieces to cover an entire door. You can make it seamless afterward. For a long piece, you can simply place it on the floor and hold it to the sides of the door like how you would install it. Make a mark on the point you need the trim to be. Do the same for both sides.
For the top trim, you need to take the measurement. Again, you can either place an edge as you would install it. Then mark on both the ends where you will need to cut.
Step 2: Cut the Trim
Once you have correctly measured the trims, you can start cutting them. You need to cut both ends to a 45-degree angle. You need to cut the top part of the trim for the sides to a 45-degree angle. Ensure that the corners connect seamlessly.
Getting the right angle with no gaps between the trims can be pretty challenging. You can use your preferred type of saw. If you don’t own one, you can take the trims to your nearest woodworker, and they will cut it for you.
Step 3: Insert Adhesive on the Trim
Now you begin the actual installation process. Before you start, you need to collect all the necessary tools and keep them around you. You will need the trim pieces, your preferred adhesive. Also, keep a clean towel or cloth near you so that you can clean up any mess without wasting any time if any mishap happens. Once you have the trims ready for installment, you can start installing the pieces one by one.
Take the first piece you want to install. It is better to start with the sides of the door. So, take the first piece and put it on adhesive on the back of the trim. Put generous amount so that it covers pretty much the entire back surface.
Keep in mind that if the manual of the adhesive says to wait for a little after applying, you need to wait. Otherwise, you can quickly move on to placing the trims without delay.
Step 4: Place the Trim
Now place the trim in its place. Make sure the bottom end meets the floor and the sides align with the sides of the door. Press gently to get attached to the wall and do not move. Hold it in its place for a few seconds and then let go.
As you install the first piece, you can now similarly install the other side of the door. After installing both sides, you can install the top trim piece following the exact instructions.
Step 5: Insert Nails
The next thing you could do is insert some nails to secure the trims into their places. Using a nail gun, you can definitely complete the task more efficiently. However, in this case, we are opting out of the option for nail guns, but you can insert a few nails by using the hammer.
Simply put some nails on the trim, keeping about a foot or more distance between each. Hammer them down into the trims. You can use a nail set to prevent dents or damage from the wood trim.
Note: Nails will give better support and increase durability. Nonetheless, nailing on trims is totally optional.
Step 6: Sand Excess Adhesive
Your work is pretty much done at this point as you have installed the trims and secured them in place. However, as we use adhesive, there will likely be some excess adhesive here and there. You should sand them down for a smoother finish.
Once the adhesive is dried down, you can sand the extra glue using sandpaper. Using a sanding machine in such a congested place could be tricky. Hence, it is best to use a small piece of sandpaper.
Step 7: Finish It Off
All work is done; only one finishing touch is required. You need to clean up the area, remove dust & dirt around the workplace. After cleaning the trims and their nearby areas, you can use a nail hole filler to fill the holes or dents on the trim. Even if you have not used nails, you can also use wood filler to fill in any gap between.
Tips on Installing Door Trim
- Purchase a little extra trim as it is pretty easy to mess up in the measuring and cutting process,
- Take the help of experts for trimming,
- You can save some money by purchasing unpainted trims and painting them yourself. Make sure to paint them before installing and give them enough time to dry,
- Invest in a good quality adhesive,
- It is best to use both a thin layer of adhesive and nails,
- Proceed to every step with caution, significantly while cutting trims.
To Conclude
Even if you are a newbie at home renovations and don’t know how to use a nail gun, you can still install trims on your doors or windows. It is not rockets science. It can be easily done as long as you follow the instructions and proceed carefully.
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