Exterior door trim is one of the most important exterior finishing details for any home. Family and guests regularly use it, and it’s often visible from the street. That makes it a key element in curb appeal and first impressions. While most attention goes to the door itself, the look isn’t complete without the surrounding trim.
The exterior door trim frames the door and helps enhance its appearance, while also covering the gaps between the door frame and siding. Done correctly, door trim can make a door look more substantial, elevating its role in the home’s overall facade, drawing and capturing the eye.
At the same time, poor-quality door trim can have a negative impact on the entire exterior. If the trim begins to rot, split, or become home to insects, it’s going to ruin the visual impression of the home’s quality and beauty. Especially since the door is one place where we get an up-close look at the trim regularly.
There are a lot of different trim products on the market for use around exterior doors. But not all deliver the durability, appearance, or workability that professionals need. This guide is intended to help you make the right choice for your next exterior door trim project.
Style and Appearance: Designing Exterior Door Trim that Enhances Entryways
Appearance matters, especially for builders and dealers working with design-focused clients or high-visibility entryways. This is particularly true if the trim is designed to help call attention to the door or enlarge its appearance. Thoughtfully designed exterior door trim creates a more welcoming and visually impressive entry.
Most exterior door trim materials come in a range of sizes, which is the first consideration. If you’re aiming for a custom decorative look, having varying widths available of the same material is key. This allows for mixing and matching to create a unique, customized design.
Materials Matter: Choosing Exterior Door Trim for Performance and Appearance
Trim should interplay nicely, complementing both the door and the siding to achieve a clean, professional finish. Materials like vinyl trim, which are plastic, might have a wood grain appearance. But they also have less appealing molded edges that can detract from the appearance of the door. This is why many builders choose to use wood trim for the door. Even if the rest of the home is clad in vinyl or other siding material.
Likewise, aluminum and steel trims may be available, but they often develop a chalky paint surface over time. This detracts from their appearance. Combined, these facts make it difficult for metal trim with a wood-look grain that looks right for the design.
Natural wood trim is a great material; Very versatile, available in multiple sizes, and able to be painted to match any siding. Keep in mind, however, that you need to select a wood that will resist insect activity and rot. Cedar is one option, but this often has issues with bleed-through, staining the color of the trim. Using a preservative-treated trim that has been pre-primed, like Belco’s XT trim, will give you the appearance and performance you need.
Durability in Exterior Door Trim
The exterior door trim surrounding the front door needs to be able to hold up to years of use. It gets closer scrutiny than the trim used elsewhere on the home. This makes resistance to rot, warping, and insect damage non-negotiable for long-term performance.
Materials like vinyl often warp in hot weather. They can also become brittle and crack in cold conditions. With placement directly next to the front door, you’re going to notice these issues if they arise. This means problems for the homeowner and callbacks for builders to troubleshoot and fix, costing time and money, and reducing net profit.
Cedar is a popular choice for trim because it resists rot, insect activity, and is lightweight. But it has limited durability compared to cedar of the past. When used by the front door, nicks and gouges are noticeable because the wood is soft and susceptible to abuse. Homeowners carrying large or bulky items through the door will bang the trim surrounding the exterior door. Cedar will show those dents and nicks right away.
Opt instead for a trim that’s been treated for better durability, as well as for insect- and rot-resistance. It will hold its appearance longer, which translates into happier customers.
Ease of Installation: Saving Time and Money with the Right Exterior Door Trim
Don’t overlook the fact that trim can really only accomplish its goals if it’s properly installed. That means looking for materials that are versatile, durable, and easy to cut and work with.
While materials like fiber cement are more durable than other trim materials, they can be difficult to work with. Fiber cement is heavy and requires taking special precautions and special tools for installation. Likewise, metal trims tend to be harder to work with and require special equipment as well.
Wood trim, like cedar, needs to be primed prior to installation in order to help prevent staining. This is an extra step that adds time and money to the installation. It’s one that frequently gets overlooked, resulting in callbacks.
Choosing a pre-primed exterior door trim like Belco XT, simplifies prep and installation. Wood trim doesn’t require any special tools. You can help make the job go easier with the right material. Overall, requiring less time and therefore, less money if using handyman labor. Belco’s XT trim arrives at the jobsite pre-primed and is easy to cut and install, so the job moves ahead smoothly.
Matching Options
Ideally, exterior door trim should offer flexibility for both decorative designs and practical matching across the build. Trim material that has multiple options for width and length offers the most versatility for the installation of your design. As well as matching components for areas like fascia and other exterior trim. If you are only doing the door but want to leave options open for the future, it helps to use a single trim material that can cover all areas.
Choose a Better Exterior Door Trim
There are a lot of materials on the market for door trim. But not all will provide the same results. Some will limit your options, while others are going to result in callbacks. Belco’s XT trim will give you the performance and appearance you’re looking for. So you can get your job done right every time.
