Understanding Astragal Trim & Moulding and How to Apply

June 7, 2022

By: The Finished Space

There’s no shortage of unique moulding options to spruce up a home interior. One example of an interesting moulding type is astragal trim. Most people might not recognize the name, but they’ve probably seen it before because astragal moulding is a prevalent type of trim.

If you’ve been asking questions like, “what is an astragal moulding?” or “what is a door astragal?” – you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we’re going to cover everything from what astragal moulding is to the different styles of astragal trim. Then, we’ll share some tips on installing astragal moulding in your home.

What is Astragal Trim?

Astragal trim is a type of moulding that has numerous applications. You can use it strictly for design purposes or to create a tight seal between two doors. Astragal moulding is one of the most simplistic trim profiles on the market.

As with any moulding type, astragal trim can come in various materials, including wood, MDF or PVC.

Astragal trim includes a half-round material, aka a bead, with a flat strip, aka a fillet, on either side. As a result, astragal trim is sometimes called half-round or bead moulding. It’s also worth noting that astragal moulding can be spelled “astragal molding,” but the application and purpose are the same.

Astragal trim is most commonly found in classic and ornate architectural designs, but you can find it in all design aesthetics – especially because of its functional application.

Astragal moulding can be installed to provide a smooth seal between two doors, making the doors more weather tight, soundproof, and fire-resistant. Additionally, astragals can be installed under doors to create a lip to keep out noise and create a sufficient seal.

Using astragal trim for design purposes helps add depth and texture and smooth out sharp (and sometimes dangerous) edges. Now that we’ve discussed what astragal trim is, let’s take a look at some examples.

The Different Aesthetics of Astragal Moulding

Here are two examples and aesthetics to get a feeling for astragal trim and moulding:

1. Classic Astragal Moulding

For Blog Only - Sarah Gibson, of Room For Tuesday - Living Room Astragal Trim Door

Sarah Gibson

Take a look between the two doors, and you’ll notice there’s no gap. That’s because there’s matching, cream-colored astragal trim to tightly seal these two doors together. Generally speaking, astragal trim isn’t super visible at first glance.

2. Wood Astragal Trim

For Blog Only - Nicole Balch - Wood Library Cropped

Nicole Balch

These gorgeous wooden entryway doors are such a beautiful choice for this home. However, having two doors for your front door could be problematic if they weren’t sealed properly. Thankfully, the homeowners got the best of both worlds by using wood astragal trim.

How to Install Astragal Moulding

For Blog Only - Karin Bohn, House of Bohn - Honeycomb Coffered Ceiling Kitchen

Karin Bohn

When you’re ready to install astragal moulding to your doors, you’ll want to follow some best practices for installation. Here are a few steps to get you started:

  1. Make sure to choose the right type of astragal. For example, a flat astragal is used for interior double doors, and a T-astragal is for exterior double doors.

  2. Determine which door is the active door. In double doors, one of the doors is typically active while the other is inactive. That doesn’t mean the second door doesn’t move. It’s just the least active of the two.

  3. Figure out the hand of the doors. If they open away from you, they are regular-handed. If they open toward you, they are reverse-handed.

  4. Figure out where the astragal should be installed. For example, you want it to be on the pull side of the active leaf in reverse-handed doors and on the push side of the active leaf in regular-handed doors.

  5. Measure the doors’ height and the space between the two doors.

  6. Select an astragal trim that will fit across or over the doors’ space and one that’s as tall as the doors.

  7. Measure and cut the astragal trim if necessary to ensure it’s a perfect fit.

  8. Predrill holes into the doors and astragal.

  9. Put the astragal around the side of the door, beginning at the top, and make sure it’s aligned. Then, press the astragal trim firmly in place.

  10. Use fasteners to screw the astragal into place.

Add Astragal Moulding to Your Home with High-Quality Astragal Trim from Metrie

If you’re looking for high-quality astragal trim for your home – we can help. At Metrie, we’re experts in crafting top-quality trim and moulding inspired by the world’s top designers. If you aren’t sure which style of astragal trim fits your home, check out Option {M} now. It’s an innovative design tool that matches trim styles with popular design trends that will help you choose the right trim style and finishing touches for your project.