15 Interior Doors, Moldings & Built-ins

Introduction

This list of selections serves as a supplement to the Construction Documents (CD’s). Some of the selections below may be difficult to find or omitted on the CD’s. Check the CD’s for consistency with this list. Clarify with your contractor which document takes precedence for any inconsistencies.

The CD’s should have a “door schedule” which has a number assigned to each door on the floor plan. This table indicates the size of each door. Interior doors are typically available in 2” increments. A 36” wide door is recommended for any room requiring access by a wheelchair user. Most new homes will include a variety of door widths. The door schedule should also indicate most, if not all, of the additional features below.

The CD’s should also have a “finish schedule” which indicates type of base, casing and crown molding in each room. Take time to review both the door and finish schedule to make sure your selections are properly communicated.

Interior Door Features

Select Each Door Operation

__ Swing Door __ Pocket Door __ Sliding Door

__ Bifold Door __ Bipart Door

Select Each Door Material

__ MDF, Hollow Core (paint finish) __ MDF, Solid core (paint finish)

__ Pine, hollow core (stain/poly) __ Oak, hollow core (stain/poly)

__ Pine, solid core (stain/poly) __ Oak, solid core (stain/poly)

Select Each Door Height

__ 6’-8” (standard) __ 7’-0”

__ 8’-0” __ Other

Select Each Door Profile

__ 6 panel __ 4 Panel __ 2 Panel

__ 1 panel __ Flush __ Glass panel

Interior Door Hardware

Select Door Handle Style

__ Lever __ Knob __ Handleset

Select Door Handle Locking

__ Handle Privacy lock __ Deadbolt lock __ Other: ________________

Select Door Handle Material

__ Bronze __ Brass __ Chrome

__ Nickel __ Porcelain __ Glass

__ Acrylic __ Other: _______________________

Select Door Hinge Material

__ Bronze __ Brass __ Chrome

__ Nickel __ Other: ________________________

Moldings

Select Material for Base, Casing (at windows and other wall openings), & Crown Mold:

__ Painted Wood __ Painted MDF

__ Natural Wood, Clear Polyurethane Finish __ Stained Wood, Polyurethane Finish

Select wood species for Base, Casing and Crown Mold:

__ Pine (common for painted wood) __ Oak

__ Cherry __ Walnut __ Mahogany

Select Base, Casing & Crown profiles:

Select Base, Casing & Crown paint color/stain:

Built-in Cubbies & Benches

Built-in cubbies & benches are very popular in mudrooms because they provide an attractive way to use, organize and store clothing and miscellaneous items like dog supplies. The boards used to build cubbies and benches can be ordered prefinished from a cabinet manufacturer or they can be finished at the site with paint or stain.

Cabinets with operable doors are often used above cubbies, below benches, or flanking the cubbies/bench. Hooks are often mounted on the back wall of the cubbies to hang coats. Start

with photos of what you want, proceed to measured drawings, then select finishes and obtain final pricing from a finish carpenter.

Miscellaneous Interior Carpentry

Select Material for Interior Columns

__ Fiberglass, prefabricated, paintable __ Wood, prefabricated, paintable

__ Wood, site built, stainable __ Other: __________________

Select Material for Wainscot: ____________________________________________

Select number of shelves at following locations:

Master Bedroom closet: _____

Other bedroom closets: _____

Linen closet: _____

Pantry closet: _____

Fireplace Mantle and Surround

Determine if you want a mantle above your fireplace. If you do, you will need to supply your finish carpenter with a photo, and preferably, a drawing with dimensions.

Select the type of fireplace surround you want:

__ Tile Surround (3 sides) __ Tile and Wood Trim Surround (3 sides)

__ Stone to ceiling __ Other, specify: __________________

Introduction

Interior doors and moldings are typically installed by a finish carpenter. This may be done before or after the finished flooring is installed. Your specific selections may have an influence on the best sequence. For instance, if you do not want shoe molding at the bottom of your base molding, you will need to wait until the flooring is completed before you install the base molding.

 

Other work you may consider asking your finish carpenter to install includes built-in wood benches, cubbies, interior columns, wainscot, closet shelving and fireplace surrounds. Make sure all selections are completed for this phase of work, including door hardware and locking options.

 

Review Scope of Work

  1. Determine if extension jambs are required at exterior windows or doors. This is necessary when the window jamb does not cover the full depth of the wall.
  2. Verify where the attic access panel should go.
  3. Consider having large scale drawings completed for items with a high degree of detail such as benches, cubbies and fireplace surrounds. These drawings ensure everyone is on the same page. Alternatively, pictures of similar installs can serve this purpose also.
  4. Consider getting primer and first coat of paint applied to drywall at ceilings and walls prior to installation of interior doors and moldings.
  5. If you are going with stained wood moldings, they should be stained prior to installation.

 

Organization of Materials & Delivery Dates

  1. If the interior doors and moldings need to be stained or painted, it is ideal to do this prior to installation of the finished flooring (to avoid spills on the flooring). The painted/stained doors and moldings can be installed prior to flooring install or they can be set aside until after the flooring is completed.
  2. Decide which will come first, installation of finished floors or installation of interior doors & moldings. One benefit of installing the doors and moldings prior to the flooring is that you can safeguard against unintended, costly and unsightly damage to the finished flooring. There are pros and cons to both sequencing options.
  3. When storing and moving doors and moldings inside, take care not to gauge drywall.
  4. It is common for interior door frames to be installed prior to flooring. Go over this sequencing with your finish carpenter.

     

    Inspect Completed Work

    1. Determine if quarter round molding is desired at bottom of base. This tends to be subjective. If there are large or uneven gaps between the floor and the base, quarter molding does a good job masking this unsightly appearance.
    2. Check that sealant/caulk is applied to all molding seams.
    3. Make sure each door closes and latches easily without the door rubbing against the frame.
    4. Check that door bumpers are installed where desired to avoid door knob from damaging drywall surfaces.