Hello, I was wondering if there were books or internet resources around with explanations of general guidelines or, better, examples with dimensions, on how to build wood external and internal window trims. I mean there have to be some general rules not to be ignored if one wants to have a decent window finish in terms of weatherproofing and esthetics. Any reference would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, h.

Depending on your house style, trims can vary. For example, most modern homes use brick mold on the outside and colonial casing on the inside. However, my home in the GA mountains, a log home, has rough sawn exterior 1X6 and interior White Pine smooth 1X6. Go to Home Depot or Lowe's and look through their books, lots of choices for windows or general construction.

As Brian stated it depends on style of house.

My house has Anderson vinyl windows with no trim.

Look at some pictures of different trim and pick what fits your house.

Chuck

Thanks for your feedbacks. Local Lowe's and HD don't have anything on their shelfs for window trimming; and it is hard to tell what book is good for my purpose from their websites without buying them all -- hence my question.

I would like to cover a 2 in. gap between the window and shingles with wood trim that has side and head casing, stool and apron and, maybe, crown molding and cap. A tilted sill is an option. The interior side of the window is also waiting for sill/stool and trim.

I know there are many different designs around, from basic to extra fancy. What I am looking for (because I've never done it before and because I don't want go through a tedious trial and error procedure) is a general guide on how to measure, cut and assemble different elements of window trim; what wood is appropriate and how to finish it, weatherproof the trim, etc.

What type of windows are they? Wood ? vinyl? Replacement?

What type of siding?

There usually is not an apron under sill on outside. Siding goes to bottom of sill.

Chuck

As I have written, I want to do an exterior wood trim on a window on a shingle-finished wall. I am looking for plans for trims similar to the ones on the photos -- some random photos pulled off internet.

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/articles/trimming-window-jambs-and-extensions.aspx

I just put in a typical vinyl window in a newly created opening in a vinyl sided house.
I bought solid vinyl (cellular) exterior trim at Home Depot of a colonial style, and put it around all 4 sides. No slanted sill, no sill at all. The window doesn't need it, and it looks OK.
I didn't miter any corners. I didn't need a thicker lintel because my window is under a 2' overhang.
Adding a home made slanted sill is work I wasn't interested in, and although it's attractive to break up the flatness of a house exterior, it is no longer needed to protect water from rotting the apron.
My regret is that I didn't pad out the trim so that it stuck out past the siding. I might rip it out and do that next summer.

You could pad the lintel for an attractive look.
You need a drip edge above it if rain will be hitting it.

I always looked down my nose at vinyl, but now that I'm old, the thought of scraping and painting every few years changed my mind.

Well... Are plans for wood trims for exterior windows some sort of trade secret wispered down the line behind closed doors in carpentry shops? I found a book on interior trims and started cutting the wood. Nothing for exterior trim though :(. Thanks for all the feedbacks.

Carpentry - Homebuilding - Taunton Store (http://www.tauntonstore.com/homebuilding/carpentry.html?cat=252)

You bought one of the Trim Carpentry ebooks and it didn't include exterior?

You bought one of the Trim Carpentry ebooks and it didn't include exterior?

Nope. Have two books on trim now, and they don't even mention exterior trim. Which one does?

I don't know!
It's all pretty self-explanatory. You start at the top and make sure that piece sticks out a tiny bit more than the sides, and put a drip edge above it, under the siding. If that means double thickness of solid vinyl, that's what you do. You don't want air spaces for bugs to live in. Add a cornice if you want.
Then the two sides, then the sill cap if you want, last the apron.

Andersonwindows.com has images and suggested measurements, but no step by step instructions. Probably because there are so many styles, so many personal choices, and so many different materials.
The turban you see on top of some windows is to break up the very long top board.
I had never done one before. I admit that it was more work than I thought it was going to be, but that was mainly because I had to cut the existing vinyl siding very precisely, and one piece broke, for starters. With your wood shingles, it should be easy.
Caulk very well of course.