There’s been some debate in the design world recently about how much space should exist between a door and its trim. A lot of people are increasingly wanting to have a sleek, minimalist look and have as little space as possible. Some people argue that there should be zero gaps, while others maintain that a small gap is ideal. It depends on your preferences and the specific look you’re going for.
Whether you’re installing a brand-new door and trim or you’re renovating an existing one, it’s important to know the right amount of gap to leave between the two surfaces. If it wasn’t installed properly or measurements were wrong, then this could be a very costly mistake as space is critical for the door to move around as it expands and contracts with temperature changes. Learn what the right amount of gap between a door and its trim is.
Why It Matters
That space between the door and the frame is called a reveal. When the reveal is too wide, you’ll notice air coming through; when it’s too narrow, the door will stick. You want to get that gap just right. The space is critical as it helps homes that rely on central air conditioning and hearing boost their efficiency and save on their bills. The gap also allows for expansion and contraction of both the frame and the door with changing temperatures. If you have an exposed floor with a high-gloss finish, you’ll also want to minimize this space to minimize dust collection in that area. A door that does not close properly, or gaps anywhere along with the opening, can also let in pests.
The Size That Matters
The amount of gap between a door and its trim varies depending on the size of the door, which way it swings, and whether it has glass. In most cases, the gap between an interior door and its frame should be as small as possible. It should also be consistent — the same size from top to bottom on all three sides of the door.
A gap of around 1/8th of an inch is recommended for standard doors to keep the elements out, protect the paint on the trim, and ensure that the door closes and opens smoothly.
The right amount of space is equal to the thickness of your door with a little extra room for clearance while opening or closing. For example, if you have a thicker door you would want more space between your door and frame to allow for movement when opening and closing. This measurement should be made from hinge side edge where hinges meet frame up to opposite side edge where latch meets frame as well.
On smaller doors, such as pocket doors or cabinet doors, you want an even smaller gap between the edge of the door and its frame. This is so that there’s no drag when you open and close them.
The most common door is the interior door, which can be made from a variety of materials or just be a simple slab door. The complicated part of installing an interior door is getting the gap between the door and its frame just right. It should be tight enough so that there is no visible light coming through, but not so tight that the door doesn’t open and close properly.
On large interior doors with solid wood panels and side-hinged glass panels, you want about an eighth-inch gap between them so they can expand or contract without damaging their frames. You also want to allow for movement because these types of doors are heavier than your standard interior doors.
How to Adjust Gaps?
When you’re looking at the gap between your door and its trim or frame, look at it from several different angles. If there’s an issue with one side of the door, it may be an issue with one of your hinges. In that case, you’d need to adjust that hinge. If there are issues on both sides of the door, then it’s probably a problem with the frame itself. You can use shims or caulk to fix problems with door gaps that are too wide or too narrow.
When doorframes are installed, they’re set so that the strike plate is perfectly aligned with the knob or latch hole in the door. Over time, however, woodworkers often will tweak a crooked doorframe by moving the strike plate off-center. This gives you an instant way to remedy any gaps between doors and frames — move the striker plate on either side of the door until it closes perfectly. There’s no need for tools; just loosen a couple of screws and move it up or down accordingly.
Door Replacement Solutions in Florida and Alabama
There’s a right and wrong way to hang a door. If there’s too much space between the door and trim, cold air can seep in, and if there’s too little space, the door might not close properly. Consumers are more aware than ever before about how they can save money on heating and cooling bills. One great way is to make sure the doors are installed properly and have just the right amount of gap.
With offices in Alabama and Florida, EcoView doors is a leading supplier of factory-fresh premium doors for your door replacement needs. We provide doors in a variety of options, including steel doors and fiberglass doors. Our doors and windows are of better quality than anything on the market and lead to savings without compromising on aesthetics. Our professional installers make sure the gap is just perfect. Check out our work here.
We also offer expert advice and a free quote. Contact us now to start a home renovation project today.