Last Updated on May 4, 2021 by Kimberly Crawford
The dilemma on whether to install brickmold or no brickmold door is quite common in home improvements. But this is not a senseless dilemma. Brickmold is a type of seal or finish that gives an added layer of strength and durability to your exterior doors. No brickmold doors on the other hand imply that the door is not sealed, or another seal or molding is installed.Â
If you are curious about the other ways these two are different, we will round them all up in this post so read on. Â
What is brickmold on a door?
As have been briefly mentioned, a brickmold is a door or window molding used to seal the exteriors of external doors. Aesthetically, brickmold offers a delicate transition between the home’s sidings and the window or door. Functionally, it covers the gap between the siding and the door’s frame.
The default material for brickmolds especially when they were first introduced would be hardwood because of its durability. At present, brickmold can be made of wood (such as pine or fir), PVC or vinyl, and stain-grain wood.
Brickmold materials
Speaking of what brickmold is made up of, here are the most common materials used to make this exterior door molding.
Wood brickmold
This material includes both hard and softwood. The plain lumbar brickmold usually comes from yellow or white pine and is the typical material used for wood brickmold. Because wood is quite vulnerable to rotting, moisture, and decay, wood brickmold is primed and painted for longevity.Â
PVC brickmold
To amend the cons of wood, PVC rose to be a better alternative. PVC or vinyl is more efficient in withstanding harsher climates and at the same time, it is mold, pest, and rot resistant. PVC brickmold would not expand in heat and moisture too.Â
The best plus is that it is low maintenance. But PVC has its own drawbacks too. It is more expensive than wood and it is prone to scratches.
Composite brickmold
This brickmold material has a PVC appearance but with the strength and durability of wood. It is not prone to moisture and rotting. Compared to wood, it comes with more texture and can be gel stained or painted to look like real wood.Â
Brickmold alternatives
You must know that brickmold is also known as a door trim. So, aside from brickmold, you can also choose from the following exterior door and window trims:
- Vinyl trim
- Steel trim
- Aluminum trim
- Fiber cement trim
Exterior door trim designs
If you are wondering about the brickmold designs that you could install in your exterior door, here are the exterior brickmold designs that you should consider:
- Extended with fillet
- Craftsman with fillet
- Rounded
- Butted flat stock
- Mitered flat stock
- Craftsman flat stock
- Double flat stock
- J Channel
- Extended J Channel
- Rounded J Channel
- Curved Mantel and Pilaster
Benefits of brickmold door
Doors are basically for security and adding brickmold to it adds another layer of protection to the door, and generally your home. Aside from this, here are the other benefits of installing brickmold on your door.
#1. Door durability
For one, brickmold protects the door plasters from chipping. This alone gives your door greater durability compared to doors with no brickmold. While this promise of durability is not eternal, when it comes to the rate of wear and tear, especially in sealing doors with protection from moisture and rotting, installing brickmold on your door is a fine choice.Â
#2. Additional home security
Installing a brickmold mold in your door adds another frame to your door. As such, breaking-in would not be a problem because as have been mentioned, it adds additional home security.Â
#3. Aesthetic function
Brickmolds offer a bulky and solid effect to exterior doors and windows. It also comes with various designs that can well complement the aesthetics of your home. You can choose from the classic, sleek look or you can also choose from more ornate designs.Â
Benefits of no-brickmold door
No brickmold doors also come with their own advantages. If you are still torn about choosing whether to install a brickmold in your door, you can check out these benefits of no brickmold door.
- Cost: An added layer of protective frame on your door comes with a cost. If you do not intend for your current home to be your permanent abode, you can ditch the brickmold installation.
- Easy installation: Of course, brickmold installation does not only require additional costs but also additional installation time and effort. To cut time and effort, you can just go for a no brickmold door.
- Simple aesthetics: If you think that your home could still standout even with a simple design or to achieve an industrial, raw look, you can choose not to install a brickmold door.
Brickmold vs no brickmold door
To give you a brief rundown of how brickmold and no brickmold door are different, here is a table of comparison that you should be familiar with:
| Brickmold | No brickmold | |
| Added security |  | |
| Durability | | |
| Bulk effect | | |
| Simple and sleek effect | | |
| Cost | | |
| Longevity | | |
| Complexity of installation | | |
| Residential use | | |
| Building use | |
While a brickmold door is more remarkable and a better option based on this table, at the end of the day, choosing between brickmold and no brickmold door still depends on your preference, your budget, and the location of your home. If you live in a place where harsh or unstable climatic conditions exist, brickmold is a prime choice.Â
FAQs
What is the standard brickmold size?
The standard brickmold size is 2-inches. Other manufacturers have expanded the size and specifications of brickmold door. There are now 1.5-inches and 1.25-inches in the options. Some manufacturers are now open to brickmold customization too.
How much would a brickmold door cost?
The exact prices for various brickmold types would vary because you also must consider the door size and the labor cost of those who will install it. At best, brickmold doors can cost in between $100-300 while the installation cost can from $500-1000. But if you have a background on carpentry, well, you could save a lot installing the brickmold DIY.
What is a brickmold window?
For what it is worth, there are also available brickmolds for windows and just as how brickmolds are used for doors, they also extend the same function and benefits to exterior windows. Like brickmold doors, brickmold windows are also installed using nails and screws.
Does brickmold add to the value of your home?
According to real estate sites, yes, brickmold adds to the value of your home especially if the designs complement well with the look of the house. But as per the accurate percentage of its added value to your home, there are no definite figures yet.Â
How do you install an exterior door without brick molding?
Installing an exterior door without brick molding is an easier task compared to ones with brickmold. Here are the steps that you should follow in installing an exterior door without brick molding.
- Position the exterior door on the door frame. Attach the door hinges on your preferred side. Mark the locations of the hinge screw holes.
- Next, drill on the marked locations and screw back the exterior door to the door’s frame using 3-inch screws. Partially tighten the screws and check if everything is drilled in place by swinging the door.
- Now, it is time to attach the door face plate. First, position the door face plate in the location where the door latch is attached to the frame. Again, mark the location for the face plate screws. Drill in the screws and attach it once and for all using a 1-inch screw.
- The last part is to weather strip the exterior door using a weather-stripping adhesive. You can also use a carpentry stapler if you think it would be more beneficial.
As far as installing an exterior door without brickmold is concerned, there are just four steps to follow.
What accessories should I use when I am installing brickmold on my door?
Here are three brickmold accessories that can help you in DIY brickmold installation:
- Rosettes: They are corner blocks which help in diverting the path of casings with similar sizes.
- Plinth blocks: They work as baseboards for casings with different widths.
- Crown corners: They are pre-assembled accessories which are usually attached to the crown molding.
- Divider blocks: They can be used for making straight cuts on the molding. They function for decorative purposes.
Conclusion
To conclude, are brickmold doors worth it? Given what we have just covered, we would say that yes, brickmold doors are fine options. Although they add more costs to your home improvement, its benefits outweigh the costs. For one, it gives an added layer of security to your home as well as greater aesthetic value for your home’s exterior.
With all things considered, if you have the budget to add brickmold to your door or window and the skills to do it on your own, there is no problem about installing brickmold in your door.
