Create a Trimless Window with Z Shadow Bead — the Ultimate Guide

In most homes, windows generally look about the same — with the same basic slabs of wood framed around them. But what if you could do something a little different? What if you could lose that same old, boring window trim that’s in every other house, and do something that’s both exciting and minimalistic at the same time? 

This is exactly what a sleek, elegant reveal effect/shadow edge here can do, and drywall finishers around the world use Trim-Tex’s Architectural Z Shadow Bead to do it, creating “trimless” doors, flush (or non-existent!) base trim and, yes, eye-catching windows, all with just one solution. This bead isn’t especially difficult to install, but the entire look can take a lot of prep work to pull off — so here’s your ultimate guide to create a trimless window with Z Shadow Bead for yourself!

Choosing your Z Shadow Bead

First off, a quick note on the available sizes of Architectural Z Shadow Bead (as well as its sister solution, F Reveal Bead): you’ll notice in the Trim-Tex catalog and online that this bead lists an “A” size and a “B” size. The “A” size corresponds to the size of the drywall you’re using, ½” or ⅝”. The “B” size is the size of the reveal detail you’re creating, which can be anywhere from ¼” to ¾”. Choose your bead accordingly.  

Prepping your window

The prep work for creating a shadow edge around a window is going to take most of your time during this process. Your biggest hurdle here will be making sure you’ve got very precisely hung drywall to keep the shadow edge consistent all the way around — which isn’t a luxury a drywall finisher always has. With no trim, you’ve got no room for error. 

So, if you’re a small crew that hangs and finishes drywall, spend some extra time to ensure your sheets are cut evenly and hung straight. Otherwise, keep a drywall saw handy to make adjustments as needed.

Using a box level and a spare length of Z Shadow Bead, mark your bead placement all around the window and establish straight lines. Also, mark where two beads intersect on outside corners and measure this for later, or mark it on the beads themselves (pictured below; click/swipe through the embedded photos). This will give you more precise measurements for where you’ll need to cut them in the next step.

Note: Along the unfinished face of the window, you will need to install wood blocks to the framing — the thickness of which should correspond to the “B” size of your Z Shadow Bead — to which you’ll eventually attach the material that will “frame” your window and complete the reveal effect. 

Prepping your Z Shadow Bead

Your Z Shadow Bead will require very precise cuts where they intersect at outside corners to maintain a consistent shadow edge around the window. For this phase (pictured step-by-step above), you will need a miter saw and a fine-tooth saw blade with 96 teeth or more. 

Adjust the saw to cut at a 45-degree angle. Grab a piece of wood or a scrap piece of drywall and place it behind your bead’s mud leg as a backer; this will prevent the bead from buckling, bending or chipping while you cut through it. Run the saw in reverse and cut through the bead where you marked it in the last step. After making your first cut, flip the saw over to the other side to make a 45-degree cut in the opposite direction on your second bead. If done correctly, you now have two beads that will fit together to create a perfect 90-degree outside corner.

Note: Z Shadow Bead is paintable, so if you want your shadow edge to be a different color other than white, we would paint it now, rather than after installing it.

Installing your Z Shadow Bead

Now for the easy part. Architectural Z Shadow bead is installed like most other Trim-Tex beads: (1) apply two coats of 847 Spray Adhesive, (2) after waiting for the glue to become tacky, pressing the bead into place and applying pressure along its mud leg, and (3) applying ½” staples every six to eight inches. Now you’re ready to apply two to three coats of joint compound, then sand and paint. 

After installing the final material that will complete the reveal effect around your window (in the home pictured throughout this piece, the installer used wood, with wood glue to attach it to the framing), you will have a trimless and minimalistic, yet nonetheless stunning, window that will wow visitors every time they enter the home!

Thank you to the folks at Thomas Architects for allowing us into their modern, minimalist single-family home project to observe how they created their trimless window. Want to get a look at Architectural Z Shadow Bead for yourself? Hit the button below to request a free sample.