Who owns the molding?

Started by AnnaD2 • 7 replies • 1387 views

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AnnaD2 (Florida)
Posts: 960

Posted:

Condos....Our documents specifically state that the individual owners are responsible for the replacement, repair and maintenance of their front doors. But no where in the documents do they specify who is responsible for the wooden molding surrounding the outside of the doors.

We're in the process of painting the outside of the doors and the molding around it. Some people have asked that we repair parts of the wooden molding before painting them. All of the damaged areas are from people being careless while moving in and out.

Several years ago the Board approved the installation of retractable screen doors for those wishing to purchase them. Many people have installed such doors. The tracks and the hardware and the door-length casing are attached directly to the molding. That makes me believe that the wooden moldings are part of the front door which makes the repair of them the owner's responsibility---not the Association.

I'd appreciate everyone's opinions about this. Thank you.

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

I don't live in a condo.

I also don't do much home repairs (hubby does, and he hasn't given me the secret decoder ring for the terminology/language of "home repair" is).

However, I seem to recall us purchasing several doors over the years, some to replace old ones, some to add to new additions to the house.

In each of those cases we didn't just buy a "door" and then build or purchase the frame/molding separately.

It's my recollection that the entire thing comes all in one big "package."

So it would seem to me that whoever is responsible for the door would also be responsible for the frame/molding, given they are generally a single purchase.

What confuses me is that if the association is paying for the painting of the doors, I'm guessing the outside face, then perhaps they should also do the molding?

I dunno. Good question.

And another reason I'm thrilled we don't have issues such as this in our HOA!

If I haven't said so lately, I would like to present a sidebar comment: My hat goes off to all you who volunteer for or have leadership positions in condo/townhome associations!

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

Anna,
The wood around the doors is called "casing" and is considered part of the door structure. It is what hinges and fasteners use to hold the doors into place and is considereed part of the door. Now if beyond that is some sort of decorative trim, that would be HOA responsibility to care and manage.

DJ1 (Ontario)
Posts: 798

Posted:

The 'casing' is the trim around the door. I've purchased and installed doors that included the frame/jamb but never the casing. The door hinges are not attached to the casing, they are attached to the jamb.

DJ1 (Ontario)
Posts: 798

Posted:

Who paints the baseboard (if there is any) along the floors? Whoever is responsible for that should do the door casing since the color should probably match.

DJ1 (Ontario)
Posts: 798

Posted:

PPS. Since the door will need to be open to paint it, otherwise your going to miss the outside edge all the way around the door surface, your going to need the homeowner to open it and leave it open, right? Seems easiest to paint the whole thing at once cause have you ever tried painting along the trim edge without getting it on the jamb? Just seems to me.

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

DJ,
I stand corrected. Almost all doors sold these days are "prehung" and have all of the Jamb in place. Casing would be the trim added around the outside of the already assembled door which has the jamb already assembled. Thanks.

AnnaD2 (Florida)
Posts: 960

Posted:

Thank you to all who responded.

DJ, yes everyone has received notices that their doors need to be open if they want that inside lip painted. They're also receiving "personal" notices as to the day, date and time their door will be painted. Some people said they don't care, because that thin lip (that isn't visible) when the door is closed, is the best part of their door, now, because it's never seen the light of day since when they were painted four years ago. Go figure!

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