how to case a door inexpensively

9 years ago

We're doing a super low-budget DIY remodel and I have 3 openings in the kitchen that I need to trim out. It's a 1920 worker's cottage, so I want to match the casing in the bedrooms, which is simple 1x4 verticals and top piece.

So I went to Lowe's and started to load my cart with 1x6s for the jamb and 1x4s for the casing. Then I tallied up the cost, and it's like $90 per doorway!! That's out of proportion with the rest of the remodel, so I'm looking for suggestions on how to do it for less. That was for select pine; poplar was a bit more..$28 for an 8' board!

I did have some 3/4" pine paneling I tore out, but nearly all of it has been recycled into kitchen drawer boxes. I found jamb trim kits at Lowe's, which would cut the cost in half, but they're only 4 1/2" deep, and my jambs are 5 1/2" thick (lathe behind drywall).

Any ideas on where to source suitable wood for this without spending so much?

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Comments (6)

User
9 years ago
Try a real lumber yard.

The problem is you are buying S4S lumber at Lowe's---and paying labor for the surfacing, plus a hefty markup.

Or, if you know someone who has a woodworking shop and a planer, and there is a sawmill within a short distance, you can get 7" or 8" wide rough cut boards(poplar is the best wood for painting) and buy the woodworker a case of something for a lot less.
User
9 years ago
If it's to be painted, buy some HDF and rip it to size.
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klem1
9 years ago
If you are painting,you don't need high grade material. Buy #2 & better pine and fill imprefections. Or as Hollysprings suggested, HDF, oops I think he meant MDF. MDF is available in primed 1x4 and 1x6. If you rip your own MDF,prime it first or it will obsorbe several coats of paint.
User
9 years ago
No, I meant exactly what I wrote. HDF, high density fiberboard. Denser and more dent resistant than MDF, which renders it more suitable to creating moldings that might get bumped.
weedyacres
Original Author
9 years ago
Doh! Why didn't I think of ripping down MDF/HDF? I think MDF would match better than HDF with the rest of my dinged-up (pine) door jambs. :-)

I also looked online and Menards has "quality" pine boards for $3 (as compared to $15 for "select"). They've just got tiny knots, which I could probably fill in. The nearest one is 30+ minutes away, but I'll be in that town later this week, so I could stop by.

There are 2 local lumberyards here, but when I've checked on a couple other things, they weren't any cheaper than Lowe's, and their hours are much more limited. I'll call them, though.
CEFreeman
9 years ago
I don't know if you found yr lumber, but I get recycled/reclaimed boards from my reuse center. Sometimes so much for a board, or so much per LF. I think the most I've ever paid is $8.00 for a 16' treated 6x6. Perhaps your area has such a place?