- 1). Remove the old door casing, if it is still installed, by gently inserting a pry bar between the casing and the wall.
- 2). Make a series of marks on the door jamb 3/16 inch around the perimeter of the frame. These marks indicate the location of the door casing's inner edge.
- 3). Measure the distance from the marks you made at the top of the door jamb. Add to this number the height of the casing doubled. Cut this length from the casing piece to form the top piece of the door casing. In addition, cut off a 45-degree section at each end.
- 4). Attach the upper piece of the door casing with finishing nails and a hammer. Drive in the nails below the surface of the casing with a nail set, a spike-shaped tool designed for below-surface nailing.
- 5). Measure the length from the floor to the top of the installed casing above the door. Cut two pieces to this length from the remaining casing piece with the miter saw. Cut a 45-degree angle on the end of the casing that will be near the top of the door.
- 6). Line up the edges of the upper casing and one of the vertical casings, making sure to eliminate any gaps between the two pieces. Drive two finishing nails into the joint, one nail starting in the upper piece and the other nail starting in the vertical piece. Repeat this process for the other side of the door casing.
- 7). Secure the rest of the vertical casing pieces by nailing the casing with finishing nails. Use the nail set again to drive the nails below the surface of the casing.
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