BenJackson

Even a generous opening can make a front door seem too small for a flat brick or stucco facade. A decorative surround for an entrance adds to its presence, making the door look wider and deeper. The effect can be subtle. A shallow profile allows the entry to pop off the street on a compact porch. Decorative Architectural Products makes custom front door surround kits from lightweight expanded polystyrene (EPS). The company uses a hard polyurea coating and a protective topcoat to mimic the appearance of stone. The surround may incorporate pilasters in the form of shallow columns, a horizontal cornice above the door, or a decorative pediment above the cornice, depending on the design. A simple rectangular surround is less busy and works well in homes with clean lines. Select a profile that matches the front face. Look at the trim that's already on the house. At the entrance, the façade can be unified by repeating simple square-edged window surrounds. On a brick house, symmetry may be emphasized by a pair of pilasters and a simple pediment over the central doorway. A shallow surround works well on a narrow porch; deeper molding can crowd the space around the door and make the nearby fixtures feel cramped. Color changes how the surround reads off the sidewalk. The trim will throw shadows that will be highlighted by a finish similar in color to the wall. If the front door is the same tone as the siding, a contrasting finish will make the doorway stand out more. Measure the width of the gap Before you choose a profile, take a measurement of the outside width and height of the existing door casing and the clear wall space on each side. If the door has sidelights or a transom, determine if the surround should wrap around the entire assembly. Also look for porch lights, door bells, house numbers, and soffits. A cornice might span the opening on paper but not have adequate clearance over a light fixture. These measurements, along with a straight-on photo of the entry, will be useful to compare profiles at the correct scale. It's also a good idea to check the finished surround against the adjacent window trim and make sure you have enough room for the details you want to retain.