Window Trim for Thick Walls

"Most new homes are built with 2x4 or 2x6 exterior walls. But sometimes energy-efficient details require a thicker wall profile to accommodate increased insulation levels, and sometimes walls are thickened to match a local architectural style. Trimming the finished window openings in these “fat” walls can be tricky, so we called three builders from around the country and asked them how they do it."

CHUCK SILVER Hudson River Design New Paltz, N.Y. Most of the homes we design have 2x6 exterior walls with 1 inch of rigid foam on the interior, covered with 2x4 horizontal strapping. With sheathing and drywall, the walls are 9 inches thick. We detail the drywall returns with metal corner bead at the head and large-radius metal beads at the jambs (21/2-inch to 3-inch radius). The large radius produces a gentle curve that looks just right with the 8/4 sill stock we use. We buy the large-radius corner beads from Milgo/Bufkin (68 Lombardy St., Brooklyn, NY 11222; 718/388-6476). At $2.50 per foot, these beads are pricey, but the overall cost of finishing the