Window Casing Installations

Window casing refers to the trim which is placed around a window to provide a finished look after installation. It is often this decorative trim which gives the window character. Choosing the right casing trim will make the window an integral part of the room. Window casings are usually matched with the trim around doors, crown moulding, or other features in the room to provide architectural and visual consistency.

Types of Window Casings

Casings may be as simple as pine 1x4 stock lumber, but for a more finished look are usually made from shaped mouldings, which come in a variety of widths and profiles. Wood mouldings are made by routing a profile into a flat stock of wood. The more decorative styles may have an additional embossed pattern. Embossing is done by pressing and burning a design into the wood.

For most installations some pattern of stock mouldings will fit the design of the home or building. However, for historic restorations, or other personal reasons, it is possible to have custom door and window casing profiles made at additional costs.

The lower corners of a window casing will be cut straight where they meet the sill. However, the upper corners may be mitered, or they may also be straight or blunt cut and the corner filled with a decorative corner block or rosette. In most cases one width of moulding will be used. However it is possible, for extremely formal or decorative settings, for a door or window casing to be built up of two or more strips of moulding.

Traditionally, window casings were made of wood. However there are now other options such as bamboo, pressboard with a hardwood veneer, or extruded plastics. For extremely ornate mouldings or curved windows, mouldings are crafted from plaster. Common types of stock moulding profiles are clamshell– a simple smooth curved face, and casing– a profile with several levels and the outer edge higher than the inner.

Measuring and Installing Window Casings

When a professional installs window casings there are several steps that will be followed. First, the room(s) will be roughly measured and the owner shown samples of the various moulding profiles. Suggestions may be offered as to mouldings which fit the style of the building. After this an estimate will be presented. When the work is approved the rooms will be measured with modern digital tools. This is not only accurate but can be done very quickly. The casings will all be cut at the shop. This reduces the mess on site. Also, the saw is permanently mounted, providing more precision than a saw temporarily placed on a job site. With the precision of digital measurement even rooms that are not precisely square can be adjusted for, so that the coping (fitting of inner corner joints) will be accurate and snug.

When the installers arrive on site the window casings can be installed quickly. Outer corners are glued, inner corners are sprung-fit, and the mouldings held in place with finish nails. All nail holes are filled for a complete finished appearance.