Architectural detailing: The true value of premium window and door trim

While high-quality windows and doors are foundational to a home’s efficiency and performance, the final, finished look, the detail that transforms an opening into a focal point, often hinges on the millwork that frames them.

At Bayview Windows, we are dedicated to providing a complete, seamless installation.

Current Standard Trim Policy

Our standard offering includes a clean, practical 2.25-inch flat Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF) trim on all windows, which is always included in your base installation price. This profile is designed for modern, minimalist integration.

Why Custom Trim Elevates Your Home’s Character

Educating Yourself on Trim Styles: From Classic to Contemporary

Before visiting a supplier, understanding a few classic styles can help you find the perfect match for your taste:

Material Matters: MDF vs. Solid Wood Trim

The material you choose will impact the final look, durability, and cost of your custom trim.

Bayview’s Custom Finish Advantage: Our Process

Step 1: You Choose the Millwork

We will happily refer you to our trusted local millwork suppliers. These experts carry vast catalogues of profiles.

• We provide you with a list of (List of Approved Millwork Suppliers).
• You Select: The specific profile, material, and quantity required.
• Recommendation: We recommend ordering (Percentage Overage for Waste) extra material to account for cuts and waste.

Step 2: Bayview’s Professional Installation

Our experienced installers will treat your chosen millwork with the meticulous attention to detail it deserves:

• Acclimatisation: The millwork must be delivered and acclimatised inside your home for (Acclimatisation Hours: 48 or 72) hours before our team begins work.
• Precision Installation: We ensure perfect mitring, seamless layering, and flawless integration with the wall and window frame.
• Joint Integrity: We use glue and precise nailing to guarantee the stability of your custom millwork. We offer a (Warranty Statement on Mitre Joint Integrity).

The Result: Your Bayview Windows installation is finished with a piece of custom architectural millwork that elevates the entire visual character of your home.

Common Interior Window Casing Options

The term "casing" generally refers to the decorative trim piece(s) that cover the gap between the wall and the window frame.

1. Simple/Flat Casing (Modern & Craftsman)

• Definition: A single, flat board that frames the window. It is the simplest and most modern look.
• Aesthetic: Clean, minimalist. The thickness (depth) often provides the primary visual interest, rather than curves or profiles.
• Example: Bayviews standard 2.25" MDF trim is a form of flat casing.

2. Profiled Casing (Traditional & Colonial)

• Definition: A single trim piece that features a curved, moulded, or shaped edge. It is the most common casing used in traditional homes.
• Aesthetic: Classical elegance. Profiles often include features like an ogee (S-curve) or a bead (small rounded ridge).
• Variation: Can be combined with back bands (see below) to look thicker.

3. Back Band Casing (Built-Up/Layered)

• Definition: A secondary, smaller profile used in conjunction with a main casing (either flat or profiled). The back band is applied along the outside edge, where the main casing meets the wall.
• Purpose: To make the entire casing assembly look wider and deeper, giving the window more visual weight and a custom, "built-up" appearance.

4. Plinth Block (Block Casing)

• Definition: A square or rectangular block of wood, usually thicker and wider than the casing itself, used at the bottom corners of the door/window frame, where the vertical casing meets the baseboard.
• Purpose: Provides a visual transition and a strong, structural base. It also simplifies the mitering (cutting) process, as the casing and baseboard simply butt up against the block instead of needing complex angle cuts with each other.

5. Architrave/Header (Top Trim)

• Definition: The horizontal trim piece that sits directly above the window (or door). In premium millwork, the architrave is often the most substantial and decorative element.
• Aesthetic: When flat, it provides a simple shelf or visual cap. When decorative (built-up with multiple profiles), it is often called a Pediment and serves as a formal crown, adding significant architectural weight.

6. Picture Frame Casing

• Definition: The simplest modern approach where the four pieces of trim (two verticals, one top, one bottom) are cut at 45-degree angles (mitered) on all four corners, just like a picture frame.
• Aesthetic: Very clean, symmetrical, and consistent.

7. Apron and Stool Casing (Traditional Sill)

• Definition: This style uses a decorative ledge (stool) that runs horizontally across the bottom of the window opening, similar to a traditional windowsill, supported underneath by a decorative piece called an apron.
• Aesthetic: Traditional, offers a functional shelf for small items, and breaks up the casing's vertical lines. Unlike Picture Frame casing, the side casings stop at the stool.

These elements can be mixed and matched to create nearly limitless custom looks, which is why your Custom Finish Advantage process is so valuable!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What exactly is included in Bayview Windows' standard trim installation?

Our standard installation includes 2.25-inch flat MDF trim, which is included in your base price.

Q2: Does Bayview Windows add a markup to the custom trim material cost?

No. You purchase the millwork directly from the supplier we refer you to. Our quote to you covers only the professional installation labour.

Q3: How much more expensive is custom trim installation compared to the standard trim?

The additional cost is for the specialised labour time required. Our custom trim labour is charged (Flat Rate or Hourly Estimate) to account for the increased complexity of cutting and layering profiled trim.

Q4: Who is responsible for painting or staining the new custom trim?

The finish work (painting or staining) is the responsibility of the homeowner or your painter. Our service leaves the trim ready for finishing, which includes (Priming Status: Yes or No) before we leave the job site.

Q5: Does Bayview take care of disposing of the old trim and millwork off-cuts?

We will remove and responsibly dispose of all old trim. We (Haul Away/Do Not Haul Away Off-Cuts) the scrap materials (off-cuts) generated from installing your new custom millwork.