Attaching baseboard molding
#1
02-27-16, 02:50 PM
Attaching baseboard molding
Hello,
I'm doing a quick fix, not a renovation, so I'm not looking for a perfect solution, just something that is somewhat OK. The baseboard moldings at my place got detached from the walls and are falling apart from the walls. I want to attach them back.
The problem is that there is concrete behind the drywall (this is a condo in a high rise building), so the nails have to be short, 1" or even 3/4" at some places. And with these little nails (I'm using finishing nails), the nail set doesn't work, it slips. I'm using the smallest nail set (1/32") that is available at home depot. So, I'm not able to sink the heads of the nails into the baseboard.
Any advice? Maybe replace finishing nails by some other kind of nails? Or maybe there is some other simple tool? Or should I just try to sink them more with the nail set I have? I'm including a photo. Any advice is welcome.
I'm doing a quick fix, not a renovation, so I'm not looking for a perfect solution, just something that is somewhat OK. The baseboard moldings at my place got detached from the walls and are falling apart from the walls. I want to attach them back.
The problem is that there is concrete behind the drywall (this is a condo in a high rise building), so the nails have to be short, 1" or even 3/4" at some places. And with these little nails (I'm using finishing nails), the nail set doesn't work, it slips. I'm using the smallest nail set (1/32") that is available at home depot. So, I'm not able to sink the heads of the nails into the baseboard.
Any advice? Maybe replace finishing nails by some other kind of nails? Or maybe there is some other simple tool? Or should I just try to sink them more with the nail set I have? I'm including a photo. Any advice is welcome.
#2
02-27-16, 03:10 PM
Group Moderator
Clamp the bottom together across the 5" side and then nail your miter together, baseboard to baseboard. I can hardly believe that's a solid concrete wall. If the end piece will come off, put some liquid nails behind it.
#3
02-27-16, 03:14 PM
Hi, thank you for your reply. And what do I do not for end pieces, but for long stretches of baseboard? There is a concrete wall behind the drywall for sure (although probably not at the place on the photo), I have confirmed that by asking the building manager.
#4
02-27-16, 03:35 PM
Group Moderator
Are you telling me the rest of the baseboard isn't nailed to anything? Generally there will be a strip of wood that runs behind the baseboard, like a 1x3. You might be using nails that are too long if you are hitting the concrete. You probably also need a bigger nail set, not a smaller one.
#7
02-27-16, 03:51 PM
The ring shank has more holding power but the big head can be unsightly and harder to hide. Personally I'd use adhesive along with a brad nailer so I wouldn't have to set any nails [hopefully]
but if you do use adhesive you don't need to run a continous bead, just a little here and there as needed.
