Tips for Trimming Floors

When having to repair or replace the flooring trim or baseboards in your home, these tips will save you time and money. If you have a damaged piece of trim that you need to replace, you may find what you need elsewhere in the house. Look in a closet or maybe a lesser traffic area, somewhere unnoticeable. Pull the old trim off using a pry bar and a putty knife. If there are any nails you might need to remove, use a hacksaw to cut the nails off flush with the trim. If your trim was painted before 1980, you might want to strip or sand and finish or repaint. For the professional look, look for chips and cracks fill in with caulk or wood filler as needed.

Minor scratches or gouges can be hidden or covered up. Using a caulking gun, add a 1/8 bead of siliconized-latex caulk then dampen your finger with water to smooth out. Whether choosing to stain or paint, using a wood stripper takes a longer time to do than sanding, but if you have an older home and want to keep the original wood, then it is the better choice. Sanding takes away the original grain, which is the reason you are keeping the wood.

If you have any trim that has been stained and is dirty, dusty, or has build-up of grease, use a soft cloth with lemon oil to wipe away any surface grime. Always use a respirator, goggles, and gloves, and wear long sleeves.