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Can You Put Trim On Uneven Wall? (How To)

Adding trim to a room really helps to finish things off. It can also cover imperfections but can it be used if you have an uneven wall?

Trim can be installed on an uneven wall and any gaps that exist can be hidden using caulking. As long as you do it properly, you will find the gaps disappear and it is virtually impossible to tell that the wall was uneven in the first place.

painting the wall

As you will find in this article, there is more than one way to install trim if you have an uneven wall. In fact, there are even ways to prepare the wall in advance so the trim can be installed on a wall flush.

The real key to the process is learning how to hide the imperfection in some way or another. This is often done by using caulking but it can also be done by forcing the trim back against the wall and using wood glue.

Can You Put Trim On Uneven Wall? (How To)

Another factor that can really make a difference in the outcome is the type of trim that is being used. If there is a large imperfection in the wall, you might find that using a thin trim is not going to work as well as using one that is larger. Sometimes, it’s just easier to use big trim for this.

One thing is certain, you should not avoid using trim in any room because it can really make a difference in how the room looks. It can beautify the area and make it look finished, even if things are not as perfect as they should be underneath.

Should You Put Trim On Uneven Wall?

Confused man standing

We’ve already established the fact that it is possible to install trim if you have uneven walls in the room. Perhaps a better question is if you should do it.

You should never avoid installing trim when you have an uneven wall. It finishes off the room and without the trim in place, it is going to be much more noticeable than with it in place and the gaps showing.

There are some problems that are associated with installing trim in this way that you should look out for the advance. Here are a few to consider.

Extra Large Gaps – Although it’s easy to install trim if you have very small imperfections in the wall, any large imperfections are really going to be difficult to hide. You can still hide them but in most cases, it is better to float the wall so that it does not show as big of a gap.

Damage – Regardless of whether you install the trim using the glue method or if you hide the gaps using caulking, you are going to be doing something semi-permanent. If you have to remove the trim at any time in the future, you are likely to damage the wall behind it and will have to repair and repaint.

Extra Work – One of the biggest issues associated with installing trim on an uneven wall is the fact that it creates extra work. As long as you’re willing to put in that work, however, you will have something that you can be proud of.

What Tools Do You Need To Put Trim On Uneven Wall?

Confused man standing

It is always a good idea to gather the tools necessary to do any job before you do it. This is also true of installing trim on an uneven wall.

Have the following tools on hand before you get started:

Rubber Mallet

Hammer

Nails

Nail Set

Nail Filler

25-Foot Tape Measure

12-Foot Tape Measure

4-Foot Level

Miter Saw

Pencils

Straight Edge

Carpenter Square

Construction Adhesive

Caulking

Rags

Water Bucket

Paint

Paintbrush

You may also have other tools you enjoy using that can be included in this list. The real key is to be prepared in advance so you can start the work and continue working.

What Preparations Do You Need To Install Trim On Uneven Wall?

Confused man standing

Preparation is typically the key to success. This is true of any DIY project, including installing trim on an uneven wall.

Very little in the way of preparation is needed for this job. There may be certain things you can do, however, that will make it easier to get the job done.

One option that should be considered is to float the wall. this will help to even out the drywall so that you don’t have such a big gap behind the trim.

If you are going to float the wall, you should not simply float it behind the area where the trim is installed. You will want to float it up the wall so that it blends into the wall seamlessly. Some people may even want to float the entire wall for this purpose.

Use some drywall mud to float the wall. You can add some water and mix it until it is easier to work with.

Apply the mud with a 12-inch taping knife. You should continue to work with it until it is as smooth as possible. Remember, you’re not trying to follow the contours of the wall but rather, you are trying to float the wall so that the low points disappear.

Don’t expect that you will be able to float the wall in a single pass. At times, it takes multiple passes before you get everything perfect. You might also have to do some sanding to remove any imperfections that exist.

If you are planning on floating the wall, you can go ahead and get started with the process as is described below.

How To Install Baseboard/Door/Window Trim On Uneven Wall

Confused man standing

There are two basic methods of installing trim when you have an uneven wall. They are the caulking method and the glue method.

Using the caulking method:

1. Cut and Install – The first step in the process is to measure and cut the trim to size. You are going to be installing it along the wall and keeping things as straight as you can. You don’t want to follow the contours of the wall necessarily, although it is difficult to avoid pulling the trim into the drywall.

If desired, you can use shims in the area where the low points exist. Nail the trim every 6 inches. If you have the studs marked, you should nail into the studs if at all possible. When installing the baseboard, you will be nailing into the board at the bottom of the wall.

2. Caulking – At this point, you will begin to fill the gap between the trim and the wall with caulking. In some areas, you may have a significant amount of caulking that is being added.

After you apply the caulking, use a damp rag to wipe along the top of the trim. This will clean up the caulking and remove it for both the trim and the wall. You want to fill the gap but you don’t want to have any extra caulking left over on the trim or wall.

If necessary, wait until the caulking is completely dry and if there are any cracks or gaps, fill them with a second coat of caulking.

3. Paint – There is some confusion over whether you should paint to match the baseboard or paint to match the wall. When installing trim, you should always paint the caulking the color of the walls. It will hide the look of the repair nicely.

Using the glue method:

1. Cut and Mark – Cut the trim to match the wall and put it up against the wall in place. Mark the areas where the gap is largest with a pencil.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on September 26, 2022.

2. Brace – Use some scrap pieces of baseboard to create angled braces cut at a 45° angle. This brace will go into the trim in the area where the gaps exist to hold the baseboard back against the wall.

3. Glue – Add some construction adhesive to the back of the baseboard.

4. Nail – Nail the trim to the wall, using nails every 6 inches or where the studs exist. You should push the trim back against the wall before nailing. The nail is to keep the trim tight against the wall.

5. Brace – Use the brace pieces that you made to hold the trim in place where the gaps existed. You can use some tacks to hold it in place temporarily.

6. Finish – After waiting for the glue to dry overnight, you can remove the braces and fill the nail holes. Use a small amount of caulking along the top of the trim to hide any gaps that exist.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on September 26, 2022.

It is possible to install trim on an uneven wall by either gluing it to the wall with construction adhesive or using caulking to hide the gaps. If the wall imperfection is too great, you can float the wall to even things out before installing the trim.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on September 26, 2022.

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