How to Hang Pine Roping on a Door Frame

Mark the door frame where you plan to position the upper outer corners of the rope molding. Measure to ensure that the marks are in the same positions on opposite upper corners. Measure and note the distance between the marks. This distance is equal to the length of the long edge of the miter-cut top molding.

Set the miter saw to make 45-degree cuts. Lay the end of the molding on the saw table, flat side down. Press the molding against the guide fence. Trim off the end of the molding to 45 degrees. Measure the longest side of the molding and mark it at the same length as the space between the marks on the door frame.

Turn the saw blade to 45 degrees in the opposite direction to make the cuts divergent, not parallel. Lay the trimmed molding on the saw table, flat side down. Press the molding against the guide fence. Cut on the line. This piece will be attached to the top rail of the door frame.

Measure from the top corner mark on the door frame to the top edge of the floor molding. Trim one piece of rope molding so one end is mitered at 45 degrees. Measure the long edge of the molding and mark to cut a piece to the same length as the mark to the floor molding. Turn the saw blade to make perpendicular cuts. Trim the molding on the mark. Note that you have just cut either a left or right-side trim piece. Turn the blade so it faces the opposite direction at 45 degrees. Cut the opposite trim piece to the same length.

Drill pilot holes through all three pieces of the rope molding, about 12 inches apart. Apply a bead of wood glue down the center of the back of the top trim piece. Position the top trim piece on the top of the door frame, aligning its ends to the corner marks. Nail small wire nails through the pilot holes, into the door frame. Stop nailing before the hammer is able to strike the molding.

Apply glue to a side molding piece. Position it on the door frame so its top butts against the top molding piece, forming a mitered corner. Nail the molding in place. Repeat to install the rope molding on the opposite side of the door.

Set the heads of the wire nails about 1/8 inch below the surface of the molding, using a nail set and a hammer. Put a small amount of wood putty on your finger. Fill the holes left from using the nail set. Wipe away excess putty.