How to Build the Best Looking Door Headers

Building great door headers is a lost art. Often, the parts and pieces get mixed up, or the proportion and scale of the moldings is wrong. A door header is really just a mini entablature. Once you have the door casing, you really only have to get two more parts right in order to build great headers and mantels.

In this week’s video, Brent looks at good historic door headers, details each part, and explains why they work together. Watch to learn more.

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[mr.pokemon]

You are my favorite YouTuber. Your videos are always top notch.

[tc]

Love the detail and explanation. It all makes sense.

[oldskoolwayy]

I've always tried to add top mouldings to my interior doors without tearing down the frame, now when brent explains the function of each part..I guess it's back to the drawing board for me..😎

[lizzapaolia]

Outstanding, very educated video. You're craftsmanship is second to none.
Thank you for sharing your videos 😊

[anthonyloran]

Glad to find your channel, always enjoyed your articles in Finehome Building.

[yovanymayen]

very nice channel, love all the stuff you do, i’m a cabinet maker also

[kareng]

Great video! Your door headers are so beautiful. I have a door with a transom window on top. Would it be appropriate to add a door header above the transom window? Thanks!

[tc]

The video shows a header and cornice for a door with crossetted casing/architrave, a complex treatment. For the simple cornice and architrave shown in the video on your right, what header would be appropriate? How about a 1x5 plain frieze topped with WindsorOne WOHC001 Header Cap for a simple yet elegant header? Any thing else you would do?

[kingsovernines]

Thanks for publishing your expertise on this subject. I'm trying to learn this stuff so I have a real understanding of the proper "rules" and produce more timeless and beautiful designs.
You mentioned scaling the mouldings to the size of the opening. Is there a formula for that? Does the opening size determine the width of the side casing and the height of the head casing as well as the dimensions of the mouldings themselves? How can I make microadjustments with a limited selection of mouldings available?

[nellinho]

Mr Hull, again, your videos are so great! I have one question for you or anyone else here. As I am not from UK or USA, is there any webpage where I could find technical sketches with cross section of doors and windows which are used in USA? Thank you in advance!