Does your exterior door have a thick frame around it? Do you know the name given to that thick frame? Do you want to be well informed on brickmold, its type and its purpose? Read on as we extensively and intensively discuss more on this door fixture here in this article.
What is a Brickmold? (Or Brickmould)
You have probably noticed a thick frame around your window. This is what is known as a brick mold. It is also commonly referred to as a trim or an architrave. Brick molds are also installed on a door. It covers the gap between the window or door frame and the exterior part of the brick siding. For doors, it is mostly found on exterior doors.
Installing a brick mold helps increase the life of your door or window. They are the beautiful boundary between the door frame and the siding. The siding can either be brick or any other masonry material. Brick molds protect doors from weather elements.
For a long time, brick molds were made from hardwood. Hardwood was preferred because it does not rot easily and thus kept the doors firm in place for a longer period of time. With time, PVC brick molds were introduced. PVC has several advantages over hardwood and softwood. It is more durable than wood and is easy to install. Other materials used for making architraves are Vinyl and finger-joint pine. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages as will be discussed later in the article.
If you want to increase the lifespan of your door, do flashing on your mold so that it does not come into contact with the brick wall.
What is the Purpose of a Brickmold on a Door?
There are several reasons why you need a brick mold on your door. Brick molds serve both aesthetic and functional purposes. Below are the benefits of installing a brick mold on your door:
Durability
Brickmolds protect the door and make it last longer by getting a separate frame for the door. It protects the plaster around the door from chipping off. There is no guarantee that when your mold your door with a brickmold it will last longer. Molding will help prevent your door from wear and tear.
Protects the Door Against Elements of Weather
Brickmolds made from PVC are moisture resistant. With this brickmold, the doorframe does not retain moisture. Moisture is what causes materials to rot.
Enhanced Safety
A brickmold door is more secure and stronger than a non-brickmold door. The brickmold acts as an extra frame making it hard for anyone to break into your house.
The Brickmold Gives Your House a Homely Look
Adding a brickmold to your front door gives it a lovely home look and an inviting feel. This is more appealing than the sleek door styles seen on business buildings. The extra flairs that come with a brickmold will make your home visually appealing.
Decorations
During festive seasons like Christmas you can easily do decorations on the brickmold.
Brick Mold Materials
Different materials are used for door brick molding. The common ones being wood and PVC. Each material has its unique strength and costs differently. In the early days, hardwood was the primary material used to make brick molds because it has a slow decay rate.
Soft Wood
Plain lumber is the most common material used to make brick molding. It comes from two types of soft wood – pine or fir.
For the softwood to be able to withstand harsh weather elements, it has to be painted properly. Proper painting increases the service life of soft wood. Primming the soft wood brick mold before installing will also make the soft wood brick mold last longer. Another way to increase the service life of the brick mold is to use metal flashing so that the molding does not touch the brick.
The main limitation of soft wood molding is that compared to hard wood, it is easily damaged by harsh weather and rot.
Hard Wood
This is the traditional material for brick molding. It was the most preferred material because it has a slow decay rate. Compared to softwood, it is more resistant to moisture damage and rot. This resistance to moisture increases the service life of hard wood brick molding.
PVC Brickmold
Use of PVC, as a material for brick molding, is highly recommended because PVC is moisture and pest resistant. Solid PVC will not shatter when nailed.
Another advantage of PVC is that it does not rot and warp in response to moisture and heat. PVC molding is also easy to maintain. Finally, unlike soft wood, painting is not necessary for a longer service life.
PVC is not all desirable. It has its drawbacks as well. PVC is more costly than wood. Secondly, it is easily damaged or scratched when the slightest pressure is applied on it. Lastly, the PVC-sawdust released during the installation process is not environmentally friendly.
Is Brickmold Necessary?
Brickmold is an essential part of your house. Its use is, however, optional. You can avoid installing brickmolds on your window altogether. Read on to understand the difference between a brickmold and a no-brickmold door. Understanding the differences will help you decide whether you need to install a molding around your door.
The points of difference are as discussed below:
- Brickmolds enhance the security of your door. No-brickmold doors are less secure. Brickmolds add an extra frame to the window preventing it from wearing down with time.
- You will incur more to install brick molding around your door. This is not the case with no-brick mold doors.
- Brickmold doors last longer than non-brick mold doors.
- Installing a no-brickmold door is comparatively easy and quick. There is no extra frame installation required.
- Non-brickmold doors have a simple and sleek look. They radiate a non-residential vibe.
The decision as to whether to install a brickmold around your door is entirely up to you. After comparing its advantages against its disadvantages, look at your budget then make an informed decision.
What is the Cost of a Brickmold Door?
A brickmold door will cost you more than a non-brickmold door. The exact cost of a brickmold door depends on the material used in making the brickmold. PVC costs more than wood.
Another factor that will influence the cost of the door is whether you decide to use a professional or do it yourself. A qualified professional is likely to do a better job but will cost you more. In the long run, engaging the service of a professional to install a brickmold is cheaper than when you do it yourself.
As long as you have basic carpentry skills, you can install a brickmold around your door yourself.
Related post,
Is it Advisable to Install a Brick Molding on a Storm Door?
As long as the brick mold is water tight, it will work perfectly well with a storm door. A water tight material like PVC does not permeate water and therefore do not warp. A brickmold material that warps is not suitable for a storm door as it will be difficult to close properly. Softwood mold is not suitable for storm doors.
){kind=link}