For a smaller area of damage (such as dents and cracks in your trim molding), buy wood putty. BOB: OK, I’ll give that a try. Unfortunately, it’s too late for you to take advantage of this strategy unless you can locate and remove the nails or screws fastening the ceiling perimeter. Somehow the screw(s) that hold it onto its wooden base broke or came loose. Once it's dry, which should take about 8 hours, sand down any excess filler using fine-grit sandpaper. It’s by far the simplest way to fix chipped paint. Select the right type of caulk for the job. TOM: Yeah, paintable, acrylic, latex caulk. Trusses get their strength to span wide distances by having short pieces of wood that tie together the long framing pieces that support the roof with those that carry the ceiling; the whole assembly acts as one big piece. Besides using spackling to fill nail holes on your molding, use it to fill gaps where you need the filler to hold its shape. Given Jim’s experience, we asked him to show us how he fills nail holes and paints PVC trim for a long lasting finish. How to Fill Holes in Wood: Use vinyl spackling compound or water-based wood filler to fill small holes on interior surfaces. Nail holes in exterior surfaces, just as with cracks or gaps, can be dealt with using a good caulking. (Reader photos), ), recommends going to a mountmaker, a person who specializes in attaching objects. Cracks, divots, holes, or rot can crop up on wooden surfaces due to ordinary wear-and-tear, accidents, and during do-it-yourself projects. He, like Veldran, suspects the piece is made of plaster topped by a sealing layer and paint or other finish, so the repair would involve patching, sealing and touch-up. When the filler dries, you will be able to sand it even with the molding. If you know how to fill small cracks in concrete, you’ll restore your concrete to a smooth finish. You know, caulk goes – is good for many, many things. Tool, or smooth, the bead by flattening it with your finger. Whether it’s baseboards, casings, doors, or windows, this patch works great for any piece of trim with caked on paint. The caulk can be painted to match the ceiling or the molding so that it's not even visible and the molding looks like it is flush with the ceiling. Pickman does not give price estimates based on photographs. As for repairing the surface, that is a job Pickman would be happy to do. … Apply the Filler With Your Finger. Cut the molding and position in the crack between the molding and floor. There’s an art to caulking these cracks. How to Recaulk a Storm Window on a House With Vinyl Siding. They avoid caulking or even painting shut the seam between the two molding sections. Question: A number of years ago, I put crown molding in my kitchen, foyer, bathroom and two upstairs bathrooms. Scrape it flat with a razor knife before it hardens. That will expand and contract with the wall and the moulding and you won’t see the gap anymore. Holes in wood trim are best filled with wood filler. They are a … But his hourly rate is $120, and his minimum is $250 per object, so you can guess it’s not cheap. to bases for display in museums and private collections. You can also trim away Sheetrock to make a joint tighter. Applying caulk to baseboards is usually a retroactive measure designed to fill in gaps that occur at the top, against the wall, or at the bottom, adjacent to the flooring. The putty and drywall mud molds easily to the shape desired. The company typically charges travel and assessment time (at $75 an hour) for a staff person to evaluate pieces and recommend solutions. Send questions to localliving@washpost.com. Filling small cracks in concrete keeps them from turning into big holes. TOM: Little trick of the trade. Instead of trying to nail this smaller piece of molding you should use some glue. If you find hairline cracks, don’t sweat it. Only fill gaps if its painted wood. Fixing crown molding flaws does not have to be time- or labor-intensive. The size of the hole will be the same size as the bead of caulk that exits the tube, so choose a spot on the tip that is about the size of the space between the molding and the ceiling. But because your statue is easily carried and you live in Washington, Veldran said she could probably arrange for you to drop it off at Sands of Time Antiquities in Georgetown, a frequent customer. I'm talking about those unsightly cracks in painted doors and trim that seem to pop up all over the place during the winter months. But his hourly rate is $120, and his minimum is $250 per object, so you can guess it’s not cheap. The ceiling still stays up because the outside edge is supported by the top edge of the wall drywall. Crown molding is often considered the most difficult type of molding to install because it is hard to cut the correct angles. Apply the glue to the length of the wood and position it under the original molding. When the filler dries, you will be able to sand it even with the molding. Position the nozzle near one side of the crack, pull the trigger until the caulking starts to … Break off a little bit of wood filler and spread it generously in the crack of the molding. Don't let the caulk start to dry before smoothing it or you could end up with an uneven finish. A hole that is about 1/8 inch is a good starting point. A thin bead of caulk between crown molding and the ceiling can create a professional, finished appearance and hide any cracks or gaps. Use wood filler to patch flat cracks or gaps in molding. Buy a pre-mixed wood filler that matches the color of your floor. The easiest way to fix these flaws is by applying drywall mud or wood putty to the holes and gaps. The wood filler does a better job of smoothing flush because it is made to fill in flat gaps and joints on wood. Step 1 Fill Surface. I use caulking to fill those small gaps and cracks that form between trims pieces, and, between the trim and the wall. Apply the glue to the length of the wood and position it under the original molding. So as the roof heats up or cools, the ceiling also flexes, causing those maddening cracks to open up between the crown molding and the ceiling. Instead of trying to nail this smaller piece of molding you should use some glue. Amply … To patch larger areas, use an epoxy filler. The beams are cracked as they are painted in a dark color and one side is southern facing. So as the roof heats up or cools, the ceiling also flexes, causing those maddening cracks to open up between the crown molding and the ceiling. This will stabilize the molding. In most situations, you want to fill the entire crack with caulk. Every couple of years I need to refill these cracks as the other fillers fail from the sun and heat exposure. … My main concern is getting the bust reattached, but if there is also a way to clean up the exterior finish, that would be a bonus. This technique will work for cracks smaller than 3/8 inch wide in the sidewalk, driveway, garage floor, basement, or … Use some wood putty to fill in … Using a putty knife, scoop out some Ready Patch and smooth it over the surface of … Repairing a foundation crack of this nature is similar to repairing other non-structural cracks: Fill it with a caulk suitable for use on concrete. TOM: Yeah, paintable, acrylic, latex caulk. Latex caulk labeled for interior use will work well for most rooms, however silicone caulk might work better in rooms with a lot of moisture, like the bathroom. Put a tube of caulk in a caulking gun and place the tip at the lowest part of the gap. Don’t worry about trying for a … Use the pressure release button at the back of the gun to stop the flow of caulk if it continues after you release the trigger. Using your finger, push filler into the hole until it's slightly overflowing, then smooth it down with a putty knife. Load the caulk tube into the caulk gun by pulling back the rod on the gun, sliding the tube into the gun and pushing the rod forward so that it rests against the bottom of the caulk tube. But, quite likely, your main problem is expansion and contraction of the roof framing, especially if your house has truss framing in the attic. You know, caulk goes – is good for many, many things. Jim’s tips for filling nail holes in PVC:-Use a 2-part epoxy nail-hole filler made for PVC. After all, the beauty of crown molding is mostly in the shadow lines; only at corners do you really notice the curves. 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