Christina Haack's Best Solution For Blending Stucco Patching

It's not that easy keeping your home renovation from becoming a disaster. They always come with their fair share of unpredictable challenges, and no one knows this better than home improvement specialist Christina Haack. The HGTV mainstay ran into some complications while patching some tricky stucco around a kitchen window during season 4, episode 5 of "Christina on the Coast." Haack had the genius idea of connecting the kitchen to the patio with a flip window, but when the homeowner ordered the wrong-sized window, the host and her contractor were forced to extend the opening by further cutting the stucco.

The wall had already been smoothed out, however, which resulted in some noticeable patching. Never one to cave under pressure, Haack decided to trim out the window, covering the eyesore with a nice black casing that matched the window trims at the front of the house. This course correction was really a blessing in disguise. Adding trim to your exterior windows is a simple DIY window treatment that adds quick value to your home by enhancing its appearance, providing architectural detailing, and protecting it against the weather. 

Exterior windows without any trim are modern minimalist goals, but they won't look good next to patchy stucco. For a perfectly blended whole, add trim over the problematic areas, matching its color with other decorative molding around the façade. Installing trim yourself is doable for experienced DIYers. Just make sure your window is waterproofed before you begin. 

It's best to assemble the window casing on a working table and install it as one piece, instead of working your way through each board against the wall. Start by taking down measurements. The side pieces should be ⅛ of an inch taller than the sides of your window to give you flexibility during installation. For the head piece, measure the width of the window and add the width of each of your side pieces. Finally, the windowsill is traditionally a few inches longer than the former, but that's down to personal style. 

You can opt for wood, PVC, fiber cement, or aluminum trim depending on your needs, but, unless you have experience cutting these materials, it's best to consult a professional. You can also buy ready-made window trim and sills that come with all the ideal water drainage tweaks. When it comes to long-lasting window casing, optimizing the joints is especially important. Rabbets are the most effective, easiest joinery for this DIY as they will minimize gaps. For extra-strong joints, attach the pieces with both glue and screws, particularly pocket screws. Finally, attach the casing to the wall with hidden fasteners. These create a recess that can be filled with matching material for a perfect, clean look. You can caulk the gap between the trim and the window before or after installing it.