SUPPLIES FOR CAULKING AND BASEBOARD REPAIR
- silicone caulk –This caulk is my favorite. *Make sure it is paintable caulk made for trim*
- a caulking tool – This tool won’t drip after release and is much easier on your hands than the cheaper ones.
- a caulk scraper and a plastic putty knife
- scissors or utility knife
- sandpaper
- painting supplies (paint brush/roller/Tape)
Begin by scraping off the old caulk. I love this a caulk scraper because it won’t gauge the wall or tile. Scrape or sand any excess nubby texture off to create a smooth surface.
One trick to caulking any area is to cut the tip of the caulking gun at an angle. As you are caulking, hold the gun so that the tip is completely flush with the baseboard. Since I do a lot of caulking, getting a nicer gun with comfort grips that won’t drip after I set it down is really worth it.
And that has got to be the worst caulk job I have ever done. I am holding a camera at the same time so you forgive me, right? I promise, it will all get smoothed out and it will be our little secret.
If you aren’t comfortable with caulking, you can use specialty tape for Multi-surfaces. I have been in love with the clean lines that FrogTape gives me since I first discovered it while painting a racing stripe design in my son’s bedroom. I immediately noticed how much cleaner the lines were compared to other brands. Who wants to have to go back and touch up boo-boos from inferior tape? Ain’t nobody got time for that!
Oh, I love a good reveal! Don’t you?
Second pro-tip: skip all those fancy caulk tools and use your finger to smooth out the caulk. Use your index finger at an angle with light, but consistent pressure with your caulking gun in long swipes to get the best results. I usually caulk several feet and then wipe the excess off in one stroke. You want to press on the sides enough that you see the edges of the tape clearly before you tear it off. Peel off the tape immediately while the caulk is still wet.
This is the mirroring staircase and it was in exactly the same condition before we repaired it. See what I mean? Those clean lines really look professional!
While we still have some work to do sanding and patching that wall, I wanted to share a few tips on making those baseboards and walls looks stunning and professional. I always paint my baseboards first because they are lighter in color. If you were using a darker color on the baseboards than on the wall, you may consider painting the wall first. I also find that taping the baseboards last provides an overall straighter line. I love the delicate surface tape for this purpose because it is made specifically for freshly painted surfaces. I even tape off the carpet to make it easier to paint the baseboards.