What Is Brickmould on a Door and Do You Need It?
If you think it’s made of brick, prepare to be surprised
Highlights
Brickmould is another name for the trim or casing on an exterior door.
It’s not just a decorative element—it also seals the gap between the door frame and the wall.
Chances are, you already have brickmould around your home without knowing it.
Whether you know it or not, you probably walk by brickmould multiple times a day. Brickmould is the trim around your exterior door that covers the gap between the door frame and the exterior wall. In addition to adding extra flair to your door, it helps seal gaps. Here’s everything you need to know about this exterior door feature.
What Is Brickmould?
Brickmould is another word for the trim or casing surrounding a door or window. It serves as a transition between the entryway or opening and the home’s exterior siding material. Modern brickmould isn’t made of brick, but it’s named for a time when many home exteriors were brick, and the trim was used to cover the gap between the frame and the brick exterior.
Brickmould can:
Be preinstalled or a custom design
Seal the gap between the door frame and the exterior wall
Enhance the exterior design
Consist of wood, PVC, or composite materials
If you’d like to replace or add brickmould, a door repair pro can suggest materials and finish the installation.
How Does Brickmould Work?
As part of a door, brickmould surrounds most exterior doors and creates a finished look. It can be preinstalled on the door frame or custom-installed for a unique look. When preinstalled, it can make door installation easier because it prevents the door frame from sitting back too far and makes it easier to align and secure it to the adjacent studs.
Installing brickmould helps seal the door frame and prevent moisture and insects from getting between the frame and exterior wall. The style of brickmould you choose, whether simple or intricate, can also complement the aesthetics of the entryway.
Does Brickmould Require Maintenance?
The maintenance required for brickmould depends on the material it’s made out of. In its original form, brickmould was made out of wood, like pine or oak, or brick. Modern materials, such as PVC and composite, are used today for greater durability and resistance to insects.
If you choose wood brickmould, you’ll need to paint or stain it if it isn’t finished to protect it from the elements and insects. As the finish wears off, you’ll have to reapply it every few years. PVC or composite brickmould requires little maintenance as both materials resist weather, rot, and insects. Maintenance involves keeping it clean and wiping off accumulated dust or dirt.
Brickmould can also become loose over time, and a piece or all of it may need replacing. You can contact a door repair professional near you for recommendations and potentially have them complete repairs.
Do I Need Brickmould?
You’ll likely need brickmould, but the good news is you probably already have it on existing exterior doors. Take a peek at your front door to check.
Brickmould protects the gap between the door frame and exterior wall from moisture and insects and doubles as a decorative element. If you want to create more character in your entry, you can choose custom molding, learn how to build a door jamb, or hang a custom door.
Frequently Asked Questions
While interior doors include trim or casing around the door, it’s not referred to as brickmould. Brickmould is named for its initial role in closing the gap between the door frame and what was often an exterior brick wall, so the term is only used for exterior doors.
Brickmould isn’t just for doors. It’s used around windows similarly to how it's used around doors. The purpose is to create protection and ward off moisture and insects that could otherwise invade the gap between the frame and the home’s exterior. As with doors, brickmould creates a finished look on the windows and acts as a decorative element.