| Interior-Door Facelift |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-404 |
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Q: Our home's interior doors are plain, and really date the house. What can we do to update their look? A: (from Sharon Hanby-Robie, Ask DIY Remodeling expert) Plain doors look great in a house with contemporary style, but if you're looking for something a little more ornate, consider molding. Today, pre-made polyurethane moldings (figure A) are available and easy to install, so you won't have to be a master carpenter or know how to make miter-cuts make this addition. Materials: Prefabricated door molding
Tape measure
Straight edge
Carpenter's pencil
Hand saw
Construction adhesive
Hammer, nail-set and finish nails
Spackling compound
Steps:
- First, decide on the style and layout for your molding. For our demonstration, a sketch was made showing three layout options (figure B).
- Once you've selected your layout, you'll need to transfer your plan to the door itself. That simply involves measuring and marking the layout on the door for placement of the molding elements. In our case, we measured four inches in from the outside edge of the door, and marked the location using a white carpenter's pencil (figure C). This measurement was extended all the way around the door using a straight edge.
- With your guidelines drawn, begin laying out the elements of your molding, piecing them together according to your chosen layout. Start with the corner pieces (figure D).
- Once your corners are positioned, measure the distance between them to determine the lengths of molding you'll need to cut for the straight pieces.
- Once you have your measurements, cut your straight molding pieces. The polyurethane material is light and easy to cut. You may want to use the straight setting on a miter to get a perfectly straight cut, but this is not required. Cut the pieces about 1/8 to 1/16-inch larger than your measurement, to ensure a snug fit.
- With all of your pieces cut, begin the installation by securing the corner pieces in their locations using construction adhesive (figure E).
- Once the corners are installed, place the straight pieces between them (figure F), following the lines you scribed earlier.
- Once the pieces are in place and properly aligned (figure G), secure them with finish nails (figure H). Use a nail-set to recess the heads of the finish nails below the surface of the wood.
- Conceal the recessed nail heads using spackling compound.
- Once your installation is complete, you're ready to paint. This type of molding comes pre-primed, so it's simply a matter of selecting your paint color and painting it. In our demonstration, the molding and the wood inside the frame created by the molding were both painted in a lighter color to contrast against the darker colored door (figure I). You can vary this technique according to your tastes.
RESOURCES :
HGTV's Complete Fix-It
Author: HGTV
Mary Engelbreit: Decorating Ideas: Projects to Make for Indoors and Out
Model: 0696211297
Author: Mary Engelbreit
(May, 2001)
Meredith Books
MJB Architectural Specialties, Inc.
Manufacturer of door moldings, ceiling medallions and other decorative accents
MJB Architectural Specialties, Inc.
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