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fixing cracked caulking on mdf painted trim

sweeterthanhoney

16 years ago

Our house is 5 1/2 yrs old, and with settling and shifting and our drastic change in temperatures here in Canada, the caulking we used on our interior trim has cracked at almost all joints. Our cove moldings are made of drywall, and trim is mostly mdf except where the headers and sills have parts that are paint grade woood [crown molding].

The caulking we used is called White Lightning, which is paintable and acrylic.

This has made things look not great for quite some time now. We are planning on selling and some how it needs to get fixed.

The cove molding is painted in a oil, and the baseboards etc in melamine.

Does anyone know how I can go about fixing this. Its really bad in our master, the cove has separated and pulled some on the ceiling paint with it.

Can I just caulk over the trim areas and paint over the caulk or am I going to have repaint all of the trim? I don't plan on redoing it in melamine. That was a big mistake. Our painters weren't careful and now we have runs everywhere.

I will post pictures and hope you can see clearly enough to help me.

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Comments (2)

Michael
16 years ago
In the trade the saying goes, "caulk and paint, are what carpenters ain't". *S*

For this job I recommend Dynaflex 230 Elastomeric caulk.

The large gap on window stool miter must be filled with backer rod before caulking. Caulking should not exceed an 1/8" depth on trim. Backer rod is available at hardware stores in the caulking department.

Scrape away the rough edges where casing meets stool of windows before caulking.

On ceiling, scrape away rough edges and dig out a small crevice to hold the new caulk.

Touch ups will be visible after this many years. Especially if you're trying to match it with an alternative coating.

Test it. You may get away with a touch up, or have to repaint at least sections to keep the look uniform.

Michael
sweeterthanhoney
Original Author
16 years ago
thanks michael!

I don't know if backer rod is available in Canada, but I have heard of people using thin strips of foam weatherstripping, which I have at home for a different caulking job I need to do.
On the ceiling I am scared that it will be more than just cauling and paint that gets peeled away when I try to fix that. I hope no drywall comes with it. If it does, then I don't know what I will do.

I will see if the caulk you suggest is available in Canada.
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