Hey everyone! I need some guidance on finishing my baseboards. They were put in during the early days of Covid, but they were never properly finished or painted. Right now, they're cleaned and nailed down, but they still need caulking and paint. We just painted our walls and realized we should've done the baseboards first—oh well! I'm wondering what order I should tackle this: should I fill the nail holes first, then caulk and paint, or the other way around? Thanks for any tips!
3 Answers
It's pretty much standard to paint the trim as the last step. If your baseboards are white, you can just caulk after painting since there’s paintable caulk available that's usually white. Don’t forget to fill not just nail holes but also any corners and joints where pieces meet, and give those spots a light sand before you paint. Also, a quick wipe down of the baseboards before painting is a good idea because they can get dusty!
Make sure to avoid using silicone caulk; stick with 'paintable' caulk. I like to prime the baseboards both front and back, and put on a coat of paint on the front before they are installed. It helps with a smoother finish later!
The best order is to clean the baseboards first, then fill the nail holes and round off the corners. If there are any gaps, use caulk in those spaces, especially on the backside. Lastly, paint them, and it should all come together nicely!