The first thing someone sees when they visit your house, aside from the overall look, of it is the front door. Because of this, it’s important to make sure that your front door is presentable and represents your taste.
While there are many things you can do to amp up a door, facing is one of the easiest ways. Facing can go on any door, and so can a popular type of facing called brickmold. This type of facing is popular for a reason.
What Is Brickmold?
Take a look at a few front doors. In real life or online. Chances are, on more than one of them, there is a frame around the door. This frame is known as brickmold. It serves many purposes, from aesthetics to weatherproofing.
Not all brickmold is the same, however. There are different materials, colors, and thicknesses. There are even different designs on some brickmolds. So you can’t simply just ask for brickmold without knowing what you want.
Is Brickmold Made Of Brick?
The short answer is that “no” brickmold isn’t made of brick. Despite the name, brickmold is made of other materials, which we will talk more about later. Right now, you may be wondering why it is called brickmold.
While no one really knows where the term brickmold came from, it can be assumed the name comes from the siding it covers. Brickmold was made to protect the brick around windows and doors. Thus, the name “brickmold,” was born.
Brickmold Door Vs. Door Without Brickmold
Of course, not all doors have brickmold. Some do, some don’t, but which is better? While everyone has their own preference, we can break down a few key points to help you decide which one is better for you.
Durability
Of course, adding a layer to your doorframe can make it more durable. There is one more layer for things to get through, so the door itself will last longer. This one is a given and brickmold wins easily.
If the brickmold is built-in, it will be even more durable because the manufacturer made it to be one piece. They weren’t originally, but the brickmold, in this case, will be quite secure and offer a lot of protection.
Stability
Stability and durability are two different things in this case. If you have pets, you know what this means. Dogs are attracted to things like brickmold and will constantly chew on the bottom. This leaves you with an ugly frame.
But it isn’t just pets. The bottom of brickmolds can get quite dirty and become hard to clean. This makes your door look unattractive and dingy altogether, which isn’t a good thing. You will need to clean it regularly.
Weather
Because there is an added layer, having brickmold can prevent your doorframe from getting wet and your hinges from rusting. However, brickmold may not be able to handle strong winds and this will require repairs.
Even if you protect metals from rust, wood on the brickmold can mold. You can learn to remove mold from wood, but any kind of mold isn’t ideal to have around.
Security
If you were a thief and saw two doors, one with brickmold and one without brickmold, which would you choose to rob? The one without brickmold. Though it isn’t technically for this, brickmold can deter thieves.
Even if one does decide to go for it, having to take the brickmold off, in any case, can take longer and give you more time. The brickmold may not cover the locks, but it can cover access to them.
Cost
Another obvious win, but in favor of no brickmold. Adding brickmold just adds another cost. However, this is the upfront cost, it isn’t known whether you will save money in the future for having brickmold protection.
There is a good chance that having to replace your door sooner will cost more than the upfront cost of getting one with brickmold. But this hasn’t been proven or studied, so it will be on a case-by-case basis.
Aesthetics
This may be the most important thing to consider. While all of these other things can be important, the way that brickmold looks should take priority. You should make your decision based on which one you like the look of.
No brickmold can look modern and simple, but it can also look vintage. Then again, brickmold doors can look cottage-like or contemporary due to the geometric shape of the brickmold.
Brickmold Materials
Although brickmold isn’t made of brick, it isn’t always made of the same material either. There may not be a wide variety of true brickmold right now, but there are options so you’re not locked into one kind.
Wood
There are two kinds of wood brickmold. There is softwood, which works fine for indoors, and hardwood, which is what is recommended when using wood outdoors. Hardwood brickmold is gorgeous and strong.
Vinyl
Vinyl is one of the most popular types of brickmold and it can work for any type of door. It is affordable and easy to find. Vinyl brickmold is easy to work with and is usually white. However, it can be found in various colors.
PVC
PVC is very similar to vinyl and can be found at the same stores. It works amazingly outside on exterior doors and is weatherproof. PVC is often recommended for front doors due to the durability of it on brickmolds.
Metal
Not all metals are created equal. While stronger metals are great for other purposes, metals like aluminum work well for brickmold. Though not as common as vinyl, wood, or PVC, metal brickmold is available.
How To Install An Exterior Door
If you are buying a new door yourself and want to install it yourself, then good for you. Here are the basic steps you can take to install a door that comes complete with a frame and molding or facing.
Measure Space
The first step is to measure the door or space you have. If you are building a house, measure the door you want to use. If you are replacing an old door, measure the space after you remove the old door.
Create The Frame (if new frame)
If you are building from scratch or adding a new door, you’ll need to build a frame. This is an entirely different guide, but it isn’t all that difficult. The most important part is to make sure all four sides are level.
Test The Size
Whether this is a new frame or not, you need to test the size before committing to placing the door. It’s okay if there is a tiny bit of space, this is normal. But don’t hammer the door in or else you could break the glass.
Make Adjustments
If you find out that your doorframe is too large then add two-by-fours or adjust the ones that you have. If it is too small, you’ll need to widen the frame with a saw and add the two-by-fours back for the frame.
Apply Caulk
Once you’re sure the fit is right, apply caulk to where the door will go. This isn’t for permanence, it’s so the door will stick while you’re working on it and will have weatherproofing in places you can’t reach later.
Shim
Shimming is a technique used to add support to a door and keep things stable. They fill tiny gaps that are necessary in order to fit the door. You can buy wooden shim boards for a very low price. Get plenty of them.
Screw Frame In
It’s a good idea to screw the frame in at this point. You can do temporary anchors or do the final screws. When you do the final screws, make sure to do as many as the manufacturer suggests, Just don’t put so many that you crack the frame.
Install Hinges
After you screw the frame in, you can install hinges in the door if they aren’t already in. Removing the door before screwing the frame in is a good idea if you already tested the door to make sure it fits right.
Caulk The Gaps
Caulk all the way around the door between the shims. You don’t want any air to find its way through the gaps so do this part very well. Don’t overfill but make sure you cover every inch for best results.
Cut The Shims
Now you can cut each of the shims so that they are flush with the frame. You want them to be flat so that you can apply the facing later. You can either use a knife or a Sawzall to do this.
Apply Facing
This is where you apply the facing or the brickmold. Use finisher nails for the interior and screws for the outside. You can usually leave one nailed in if you have a set. This will keep the door stable while working anyway.
Install Lock
Finally, install the new hardware, including the doorknob and lock. You may have some adjusting and testing to do before you can call it a day, but this will be your last step. You’ve just installed your first front door!
Brickmold FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about brickmold.
Isn’t It Called Brickmould?
Yes, brickmould is the original way to spell it and it is the current UK spelling. But since the word “mould” is spelled “mold” in American English, brickmould was changed to brickmold for American English as well.
How Much Does Brickmold Cost?
Getting brickmold will add about $100 to $150 to the installation and material cost of a front door. This can end up being somewhere between $400 and $1200 in total, depending on labor and the type of door you choose.
How Wide Is Brickmold?
Although you can get custom sizes and a variety of set sizes, most brickmold is between 2 and 4 inches. Any wider and it will be too thin and could crack. Any thinner and it won’t offer any of the benefits it should.
Can I Get Brickmold Already Built-In?
Yes. These days, most exterior doors and a lot of interior doors come with a doorframe and brickmold built-in. This doesn’t necessarily add to the cost of the door because most doors will come like this if they are new.
Do I Need Briclmold?
No, you don’t need brickmold. However, it is recommended due to the extra security it offers. It isn’t easy to weatherproof a door without brickmold and it can leave a door looking unfinished just like the lack of trim can.
The post What Is Brickmold For Exterior Doors? appeared first on Home Decorating Trends - Homedit.
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