Baseboard ?


  #1  
Old 10-18-17, 11:06 PM
J
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 2
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Baseboard ?

I am looking to touch up the house I am currently staying in. The baseboards bother me, a lot of them are not flush with the wall. ( pictures attached ). I was wondering what is the best way to go about fixing this.
 
Attached Images   
  #2  
Old 10-18-17, 11:31 PM
Gunguy45's Avatar
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 19,281
Received 6 Upvotes on 6 Posts
Are the boards straight and the walls bowed or vice versa? If it's the boards, you might be able to nail or trim screw them flat. If it's the walls, there might not be much you can do. That looks awfully big to caulk, and then you'd have to re-paint that gawdawful pink. Probably tough to match, so now you'd have to do a whole wall or more...ehhhh, is it worth it?

You might be able to put a cap on to lessen the look of the gap, but you'd still be doing painting.
 
  #3  
Old 10-19-17, 02:16 AM
M
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA - N.E.Tn
Posts: 45,659
Received 835 Upvotes on 732 Posts
I'd draw up the baseboard tighter to the wall if possible otherwise you need to add base cap [shoe mold would also work] as Vic suggested.

btw - welcome to the forums!
 
  #4  
Old 10-22-17, 09:49 AM
W
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 6,395
Received 63 Upvotes on 55 Posts
Baseboard

Baseboard is probably nailed too low. The bevel on the bottom edge of the drywall will allow the bottom edge of the baseboard to pull in when nailed. This causes a gap between the wall and the top edge of the baseboard.
 
  #5  
Old 10-24-17, 07:55 AM
S
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: WI/MN
Posts: 19,125
Received 1,263 Upvotes on 1,204 Posts
I am looking to touch up the house I am currently staying in
This makes me think you might not be the owner. If that is the case, you should do nothing without first getting permission from the owner.
 
  #6  
Old 10-24-17, 05:10 PM
czizzi's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 6,541
Received 15 Upvotes on 13 Posts
Lack of nails is my take on this, re-nail and then caulk to seal. Simple.
 
  #7  
Old 07-04-18, 11:55 AM
W
Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 43
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
In your pics the trim looks straight and the walls look bowed, leading me to believe its probably plaster and lath. The trim is big, and appears to be a full 3/4 thick. Nails may not be enough to pull that trim flush with the wall. Try pre-drilling in the middle of the worst gap you have with a bit smaller than a #8 or even #10 finish nail, use a set, and see if you can get it to move back. With the height of that board i would use at least 2, maybe even 3 on that first stud.
If the nails wont pull the board flush, get some star-bit type deck screws and an impact driver, pre-drill a countersink for the heads (just touch the surface with the countersink) and see if the impact driver will pull it back.
If that does not move the wood, you will have to cap the base with trim, but be warned that the edge (bottom edge of trim where it rests on the base) will vary where it has to dip in to follow the contour of the wall. You will have to at least putty the nails, but if you have to use screws, wood filler over the heads would be your best option, but be prepared to do two coats to account for shrinkage, and the trim will have to be repainted.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: