There are various reasons you might find your baseboard has a gap from your wall. It can be the weather, the loss of tension of the adhesive that holds it, and the shift of time.
Mainly, with different weather conditions and times, the adhesive that holds your baseboard with your wall loses its strength. Also, the shifting of the structure from time to time causes this.
No matter what the reasons are, it is very unpleasant to see a baseboard out of place. Your heating or cooling system will have a hard time working if there is a gap between the baseboard and the wall. Not to mention, the outer air coming in with other things.
The easiest solution to this is to fill up the gap. And the material you should be using is silicon acrylic caulk. Yes, it is hard to paint, that is why we have come up with a whole article on how to fill gap between baseboard and wall to take you through the steps.
You will not only find it informative but also insightful in the end.
How to Fill Gap Between Dashboard and Wall With Just Caulk Effectively
Here are the steps you should be going through to ensure a firm and steady fill between your baseboard and wall.
Step 1: Scrap the Gap
Start with scraping both the wall and the baseboard. Because the old adhesive is sticking there and it will create a barrier for the caulk. We don’t want that. Using a putty knife, you will easily take off the scraps that are hanging on the wall and the baseboard.
Step 2: Clean the Debris and Dirt
Once you are done scraping, clean the debris using a vacuum cleaner with a small head. We don’t want any dirt lying around that might affect the structure of the baseboard.
After the vacuum uses some detergent and a damp cloth to clean the gap. This will help clear the dust or any leftovers. Also, it will help the caulk to work more effectively.
Step3: Load on the Caulk Gun
Now you load your caulk gun. With the silicon-based oily caulk, you are going to fill in from the bottom to almost to the top of your baseboard. Leaving a little bit for later.
Press the board to the wall and inspect for any gaps that are left out. Pour down some more caulk if needed.
On top of the baseboard, use a colorable caulk to cover the top. As silicon caulks won’t help you color your wall perfectly, we will use a little bit of colorable caulk on the top.
Using two different types of caulk will not only help fill in the gap but also help color the wall to your liking.
Step 4: Clean Up Any Access
Use a shaping tool to blend in the top of the baseboard and the wall. On the bottom of the baseboard, apply some tape on the beginning so that no access caulk can escape. Take them off after the caulk is set. Put on a little bit of weight on the baseboard so that it can take back its natural shape. Not too much that it looks bent inwards.
Step 5: Paint up the Wall
After the caulk is set, you can paint up the wall. And everything will look good as new.
Choose the Right Kind of Caulk
There are two types of caulk in the market. One is more silicon-based than the other. The acrylic latex caulk is friendly to paint afterward.
While the one that contains more silicon is not friendly to paints but has the long-lasting ability. For this reason, you should use both of them.
Fill up the gap with the silicon one and top it up with the acrylic latex caulk to help you paint later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How low should be my baseboard from the floor?
If you are going to put any carpet or other installments, it is better if you install your baseboard in the end. Your baseboard should always be at the lowest level of your floor.
How much gap should I have between my laminate and my baseboard?
You should install your laminate floor ¼ inch from the baseboard.
What are other options than caulk to fill up big gaps?
Bigger gaps on baseboard, wall, door frames can be filled with spray foam. There is even a latex spray foam that lasts longer.
Why can’t I just screw my baseboard to the wall?
Using a screw will not only harm the whole structure but the gap will be left hollow.
Conclusion
There are a lot of methods out there to fill up your baseboard and wall gaps. But the best is using caulk. As it is easy and effective, you can even take it apart whenever you need to renovate. Using other methods like foam spray or glue will end up ripping the whole wall off. So better stay with caulking.
