Timber Reveals A Guide for Windows and Doors

How timber reveals work

A reveal helps form a neat transition between the window or door and the surrounding wall. In a reveal-fixed installation, it also provides a fixing connection to the building frame. Its exact attachment depends on the selected aluminium system.

The reveal is not the architrave. The reveal lines the depth of the opening; the architrave sits on the interior wall face and covers the joint between the reveal and plasterboard. Neither replaces a structural lintel.

Common configurations

Standard, offset and centre-positioned connections also exist. These describe how the reveal meets the frame, rather than simply how many sides have timber.

Materials and finishes

Pre-primed finger-jointed pine is a common choice for painted reveals. Selected hardwood can suit a visible timber finish, provided its grade and coating are appropriate.

Some suppliers offer MDF as an alternative. MDF is an engineered wood-fibre board, not solid timber. Specify the actual material, whether a moisture-resistant grade is required, and the intended finish.

Getting the reveal size right

Reveal depth runs from the frame connection towards the room-side wall finish. It is different from board thickness and the window’s overall dimensions. Drawings should identify the measurement’s starting and finishing points.

The required depth depends on the frame position, stud depth, plasterboard and other wall layers. Brick-veneer construction may also require allowance for the cavity.

Installation and weather protection

Reveals must be coordinated with a square, plumb and level frame installation. Appropriate packing, fixing locations and sill support are essential. Follow the product-specific instructions, rather than applying one fixing method to every window or wall type.

Timber reveals are not waterproofing. The opening still needs the specified flashing and drainage arrangements to direct water outside. A painted reveal or neatly fitted architrave cannot replace these details.

Care and moisture protection

Keep reveals dry and protected during storage and construction. Unprimed timber and exposed edges need the specified protective coating; do not assume that factory primer is the final finish.

Keep wet plaster, mortar and brick-cleaning acid away from exposed surfaces during building work. Remove construction residue promptly using the supplier’s recommended cleaning method.

Follow the supplier’s coating schedule and inspect the finish periodically. Where timber becomes persistently damp, address the moisture source before refinishing. Maintenance cannot compensate for a leaking window-to-wall junction.

What to confirm before ordering

Record the reveal material, depth, board thickness, finish and configuration in the quotation and production drawings. Confirm whether it is factory-fitted, supplied separately or excluded, and whether architraves are part of the order.

An opening-by-opening schedule is useful when rooms have different finishes. A bathroom window with a tiled sill, for example, may need a different bottom detail from a bedroom window with a boxed timber reveal. Agree these variations with the builder before approving manufacturing drawings.

Keep three dimensions separate: the aluminium frame size, the overall size including reveals, and the required structural opening. Confirm all three before production, together with the installation clearances.

In short: specify the reveal as part of the complete wall-opening detail, not as decorative trim selected after the window is ordered.