Installing wood trim rosettes

Finish both inside and outside Craftsman trim with window stop, typically a standard milled stop molding for the interior and 1-byinch boards outside. Fasten the stop against the edge of the window, with enough space that windows can be raised and lowered easily. Use a level to set stops level and plumb. Measure the width and height of the window to make a mitered window trim with 1-byinch boards on the bottom, top and both sides, with the side boards inside the top and bottom boards.

Miter all four boards at degree angles and nail them picture-frame style to the window casing with finishing nails. Put the edges flush with the walls. Use a level to set top and bottom level and the sides plumb. Choose one of two methods for the bottom of mitered trim. Cut a sill plate, the same way as for a Craftsman window, and fasten it across the bottom, with side trim to sit on top or use a mitered piece of trim at the bottom, picture-frame style. Nail the sill plate in place with finishing nails if using that style, measure from the sill plate to the top of the window for the side pieces.

Measure all four sides of the window frame if using all miters, typically with 1-byinch trim boards. Mark the inside corner points of all boards and use a miter saw to cut degree angles on all four corners.

Nail the boards into a rectangle, setting the bottom level first, then adding side pieces and finishing with the top. Nail frames with small finishing nails and set the heads. Finish the sides and tops on a sill plate with degree corners at the top but a flat end to sit on the sill. Trim exteriors of mitered windows in similar fashion but typically use 1-by-4 trim lumber rather than decorative molding and put a slanted cap strip across the top to shed water off the window frame.

Use standard trim lumber or milled molding, depending on how decorative the window is to be. These decorative corner blocks are used to dress up door and window trim.

Rosettes eliminate the need for complicated miter cuts making trim installation faster and easier. Although rosettes were most commonly used with Victorian Bellyband, today they are also used with colonial or modern trim work. Manufactured to architecturally correct proportions. Shoot two or three more pin nails through the rosette block to secure it to the wall.

Install a rosette block on both sides of the door jamb. Measure from the floor on both sides to the bottom of the rosette blocks on both sides. Measure between the two rosette blocks at the top of the jamb. Cut a piece of door trim to that measurement. This is to provide a reveal, or shadow line between the edge of the jamb and the door trim. The vertical pieces should butt into the rosettes from the bottom. The horizontal piece of trim should fit tight between the two rosettes at the top.

Nail the trim on using the pin nailer. Putty the holes using a color-matched putty crayon if the trim is already finishes. If it is not finished, putty the holes using wood dough and a putty knife.