When you are making home improvements for yourself, you are going to encounter quite a few problems.
If you are installing a trim/casing, one of the biggest issues that come up is the door ends up being too close to the wall, which can halt your whole progress.
Luckily, it’s a lot easier to fix this issue than it might first appear.
There are a few different things you can do to fix the door being too close to the wall for a trim, and we are going to go over everything you need to know.
One way you can fix this problem is by narrowing the door frame, but there are other options, such as an Architrave. To find out more about these options, read on!
What To Do When Your Door Is Too Close To The Wall For A Trim
The best thing you can do when your door is too close to the wall for a trim is to narrow or widen the door frame.
The biggest issue with this method is that it can be hard to get it regulated and most of the time, it actually goes against building codes to do it.
People rarely use the narrowing or widening method because of this, but if you can get clearance to do it, it will definitely benefit you and your trim.
It’s not the easiest job either, so make sure that you follow the instructions we have provided exactly. If you feel like you need professional help at any point, do not hesitate to contact someone!
Materials Needed
First, let’s take a look at the materials you will need. You have to be delicate when you are sorting the trim out in any room, so having the right materials will definitely help make the job easier.
The materials you will need for your trim include:
- Carpenter pencil
- Trim gun
- Air compressor
- Table saw
- Compound saw
If you don’t have all of these materials, you can get them all at a hardware store and they are quite easy to find. Once you have your materials, you can move on to the first step.
Step 1: Measure Your Trim
The first thing you need to do once you have all of your materials is measure your trim.
To do this, simply place your trim where you would usually put it on the door, but against the wall.
Flip the trim upside down and make sure the back of it is facing you and the normal side is facing the door frame.
You also need to make sure that you have the edge pressed against the wall. Make sure that there is some separation between the door frame and the trim.
Take your carpenter’s pencil and draw a straight line down the front side of the trim.
Alternatively, you can take measurements of the wall and door frame and then mark those measurements in increments on the trim.
Step 2: Start Making Cuts
Now, take the pencil again and measure the height of the door jamb so you know where you will make the miter cut.
Start making that miter cut and cut down the center to make it more narrow.
Stand the trim up against the wall and place the top trim piece flush with the side trim that you had just cut beforehand. Do this before you nail your trim in.
The wider top trim should have a longer 45° angle.
You then want to mark a straight line from the point where the narrow trim’s 45° meets the top trim’s 45° angle. Now, cut to the top of the angle flush.
Finally, you can nail your trim in. Work from the narrow-cut section first.
This makes it easier for you to check your trim as you go and stops you from wasting any extra time.
Other Options
Narrowing or widening your door frame for a trim can be a bit tricky and in some cases quite problematic.
But there are plenty of other options for you to look into when you need to make sure your trim can fit. Let’s take a look at some of these alternative options now.
Using Or Scribe An Architrave
This is another popular method people use when they want to make sure their trim fits.
An architrave is a type of very narrow trim. In some cases, they might be a bit too small, but you can find them in many different sizes at hardware stores.
Just make sure you measure it beforehand.
If you have an architrave that is too big, you can simply scribe it down and make it narrower.
This is a fantastic option to use if you don’t want to narrow the door frame, and you don’t have to break the building code in order to do it.
Scribing Cabinetry
If your issue stems from some other issue such as cabinetry or anything else that is sticking out, try scribing.
You will need a scribe tool to do this, and you can find them in hardware stores.
You can also use a belt sander to scribe whatever is obstructing the path to make it easier to install your trim.
This is a simple method that works really well when you don’t need to change the width of the doorframe, and it’s relatively easy to do for yourself.
Conclusion
It can be incredibly frustrating when your door is too close to the wall to install a trim.
Narrowing and widening the door frame is usually the best thing to do, but this can be quite problematic and in a lot of cases, it actually goes against the building code.
If you do choose to narrow or widen the door frame, make sure that you stick to these codes and get the planning permission.
Alternatively, you can use the alternative methods we have provided. If you need to contact a professional for help, do not hesitate, as sorting out a trim can be quite challenging!