Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Painting Prep Question
Tom Norton
This has to do with interior woodwork. It is time to start repainting the trim in our home and need a suggestion. Overtime a number of mitres have opened up a bit and the raised panel doors have some joints that have also opened a bit. So wondering what to use to "fill," before painting? If caulk what kind? I had thought of Minwax 2 part putty. But that is non flexible and a bit of a pain to use.
Thanks!
Re: Painting Prep Question
Don Stephan
In northern homes, forced air heat has been in near constant use for several months, lowering the interior humidity which over time will lower the moisture level in all things wood. If yours is one of those northern homes, were the joints significantly tighter at the beginning of the heating season?
Re: Painting Prep Question
Tom Norton
I think the repeated heat cycling has kept them open. Also the ragged paint edge is a bit annoying.
Re: Painting Prep Question
Ralph Lipeles
I would hold off for a while until the temperature and humidity increase.
Re: Painting Prep Question
Yonak
I have heard some use simple spackling in non-wear areas. I, myself, would use water putty.
DAP painters caulk
Re: Painting Prep Question
Don Stephan
My expectation is that the gaps are reflecting seasonal movement of the wood trim. If that is the cause, and you fill with a vary hard material (harder than the wood) when the wood tries to expand seasonally the wood will be crushed by the seasonal expansion and those crushed areas will open up when the wood shrinks seasonally. If seasonal movement is the cause and you fill with a product that remains somewhat flexible, it will bulge out when the wood expands seasonally and might be able to recover when the wood shrinks seasonally and leave the gap filled.
If the gaps occurred because the house settled, or because the wood was not sufficiently dry when installed, the gaps may be more permanent, in which case the type of filler (dries rigid or dries flexible) would seem less important.
Re: Painting Prep Question
Tom Norton
While at the paint store I asked the guys there. In the past I used DAP painter's caulk. They highly recommended another DAP caulk that is not as watery . They mentioned all the pros have changed over to it as it is a superior product.
Thanks for your replies!