BASEBOARD MOLDING REPAIR

A long-awaited repair finally gets done thanks to a hurricane and a cat named Smoochy. One thing before we begin. Whereas dogs are pets, cats, on the other hand, consider us their servants.

Only two things were used. Baseboard molding and shoe molding.

A picture is worth a thousand words. So I added pix of the tools and supplies I used.

It was a day or so after Hurricane Michael passed through North Carolina when Smoochy began to pick at the baseboard next to the patio door. She dug out a chunk. We've been in this home for a year this October 31st. I'd been meaning to fix this area anyway. Here's why.

The wall on the left was added and the previous owners never finished off the molding. The gouge in the right side of the baseboard is the work of Smoochy.

This was unbelievable. The baseboard was made out of paper. Yes, paper. It had wicked up the moisture left by the hurricane. Once removed, I let the area dry out for a couple of days. Next, I took off the shoe molding on the added wall and the transition piece in the floor between the two rooms. I couldn't believe how many different adhesives they'd used. I scraped it off with an old chisel.

I was a bit leary that the next heavy rain might seep in from outside so I use 1/2" oak strips matching the thickness of the existing sheetrock to take the place of the damaged sheetrock. TIP: Instead of mitering the inside corner I coped it. I do this for all inside corners because they are usually NOT an exact right angle. I did the same with the shoe molding. I nailed everything in place then caulked the holes and all seams. I then, after cutting it to size, adhered the room diving strip to the gap in the floor.

This was a simple repair with lots of unexpected surprises. I have to thank my cat for giving me the impetus to do this long-awaited home repair. Uh oh-- gotta run. Smoochy is going after birds outside and the blinds are closed.

Kink