The molding in your bathroom is particularly susceptible to water damage. This can cause the wood to warp and the paint peel off. So, you often need to replace the molding in your bathroom before the molding in other rooms. Since the bathroom is such a small area, it is probably easier to just replace the molding instead of trying to repair and repaint it. This article explains how to remove your old molding and install a new product.

Removing the Molding

First of all, you need a utility knife to cut away the caulk lines that seal the molding to the wall and floor. Then, you can use a hammer to drive a flathead screwdriver behind the molding. You can pry the molding away from the wall and it should pop right off. Finally, scrape away any excess caulk that is still stuck to the wall or floor.

Installing the New Molding

This job will be much easier if you buy a new molding product that is taller than the old one. This way, it will cover up the caulk and paint line. The two important tools you need for installing molding are a pneumatic nail gun and a compound miter saw. It is very important that the saw blade is movable so you can make angled cuts. If you don't have either of these tools, you can rent them for a day. Since the bathroom is so small, you don't need to make many cuts or shoot that many nails, so you can definitely finish the job within a couple of hours.

The hard part of the job can be the cutting of 45° angles where the molding meets in the corner. But, if you have a compound miter saw, you should be able to get accurate cuts the first time. You want to make sure the two corner pieces are very tight with each other, so there are no gaps and the molding designs line up. So, after taking your measurements, it is a good idea to make your cuts a hair longer then they should be. Hold them up to the wall and then double check the length. If you need to shave a little more off, you can easily do this. But, if the piece is already too short, you might have problems.

When shooting the nails, make sure you placed them into the thickest part of the molding. Also, make sure you have the right pressure. If the pressures too high, the nails can go right through the molding. If the pressure is too low, the nail head can stick out.

For more information, contact local professionals like Woodharbor Kitchen & Bath.