Measuring and cutting brick molding accurately ensures a professional finish around doors and windows.
Measuring and cutting brick molding involves determining the correct length for each piece and making precise angled cuts to fit them together neatly around a door or window frame.
Understanding Brick Molding Measurement
Brick molding serves as an exterior trim that frames the door or window unit against the exterior wall sheathing. Proper measurement is crucial for creating a finished look and providing weather protection.
When measuring brick molding, you need to account for the frame it will surround and how the pieces will join at the corners. A key step is:
- Measure top brick mould to overlap the jamb material by 1/2”.
This specific overlap on the top piece is designed to achieve a desired aesthetic and functional outcome. By allowing the molding to extend 1/2 inch beyond the vertical door or window jamb on each side, you create a consistent space between the molding and the jamb edge. This space is known as the "reveal."
- This will allow for a 1/8”-1/4” reveal around the jamb.
The reveal should be consistent around the top and sides of the jamb. While the reference specifically details the top piece overlap, the concept of measuring to achieve the desired reveal applies to the side pieces as well, allowing them to extend past the bottom sill or threshold point if needed.
Measurement Steps:
- Measure the width of the top of the door or window jamb.
- Add the desired overlap for each side (as per the reference, start with 1/2 inch on each side for the top piece).
- Measure the height of the side jambs.
- Determine where the side molding will end at the bottom (e.g., flush with the sill, extending past it).
- Add length to the top and side pieces to account for the miter (angle) cuts needed at the corners.
It's often best to measure in place and add a few inches to each piece's length, then mark and cut the precise angles.
Techniques for Cutting Brick Molding
Cutting brick molding accurately requires a miter saw to achieve the correct angles, primarily 45-degree cuts for standard corners.
- Cut 45o angle on ends.
For typical 90-degree corners around a door or window frame, the ends of the brick molding pieces are cut at a 45-degree angle. When two pieces with opposing 45-degree cuts are joined, they form a clean 90-degree miter joint.
Cutting Process:
- Set your miter saw to 45 degrees.
- Position the molding upside down and backwards on the saw (this aligns the cut correctly for installation).
- Align your measurement mark with the saw blade.
- Make the cut carefully.
- Always test fit pieces before final installation.
Handling Long Sections
Sometimes, a single piece of brick molding isn't long enough for one side of a large opening. In these cases, you'll need to join two pieces together along the length.
- Butt or angle joint middle seam if needed.
You can create a simple butt joint (where the end of one piece meets the square-cut end of another) or an angle joint (often a scarf joint, where two complementary angle cuts overlap) to create a longer section. Angle joints are generally preferred for exterior trim as they shed water better and are less likely to open up over time compared to butt joints.
Tools for Measuring and Cutting:
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Miter saw (power or manual miter box)
- Safety glasses
Accurate measurement, especially incorporating the recommended 1/2" overlap for the top piece to achieve the 1/8”-1/4” reveal, combined with precise 45-degree angle cuts, are fundamental steps in installing brick molding correctly.
