How to Build Arts & Crafts Style Window Casings

Window casing is the trim around the window opening. Arts and Crafts style window casing has solid, clean lines. The top (head) casing extends past the side casing on Arts and Crafts style window casing to contribute to the solid handcrafted appearance. Arts and Crafts style focuses on quality and craftsmanship. Select a high-quality wood for your window casings, even if they are to be painted rather than stained or sealed with a clean finish. The casing is designed for a 24-by-24-inch window, but you can adjust the dimensions to fit your specific window opening.

2 boards, 1-by-8-inches, 24 inches long
Window and door caulk tube
Caulk gun
Hammer
Finish nails
Board, 1-by-8-inches, 46 inches long
Nail set
Wood putty
Putty knife
Exterior wood finish
Paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Lay two 1-by-8-by-24-inch boards face down on a work surface. Clip off the tip from a tube of window and door caulk using the built-in cutter on the caulk gun. Puncture the seal in the tip of the tube with the puncture tool on the caulk gun. Insert the caulk tube tip first into the gun.
- 2
  Apply a zig-zag bead of caulk along the back sides of the two 1-by-8-by-24-inch boards using the caulk gun.
- 3
  Place one board on each side of the window opening with the caulk side being pressed against the exterior of the house. The inside edges of the boards should be flush with the inside edges of the window opening. The bottom ends of the boards should rest flat on top of the window sill. These are the side casing boards.
- 4
  Hammer finish nails through the side casing boards every 6 to 8 inches to secure them to the exterior of the house.
- 5
  Lay a 1-by-8-by-46-inch board face down on a work surface. Apply a zig-zag of caulk along the back of the board. This is the head casing board.
- 6
  Center the head casing board across the top ends of the side casing boards. It should extend past the outside edges of the side casing boards by 3 inches. Press the back side of the board against the exterior of the house. The bottom side of the board should rest on the top ends of the side casing boards.
- 7
  Hammer finish nails through the head casing board every 6 to 8 inches along the entire length to secure it to the exterior of the home.
- 8
  Center a nail set over each nail head and tap it with a hammer to set each nail 1/16 inch below the surface of the wood. Fill the nail holes with wood putty using a putty knife. Allow the putty to dry for 24 hours.
- 9
  Sand the wood putty flush with the surface of the casing boards using a fine-grit sanding block.
- 10
  Apply an even coat of exterior wood finish over the window casing using a paintbrush. Wait four hours and apply a second coat.

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