4 Tips For Repairing Dents & Scratches On Baseboards & Trim
Applying a fresh coat of paint or getting Carpet Now – Austin Carpet Installation to put down new carpet on the floor makes dents and scratches on baseboards and trim more noticeable. Fixing the dents can make your baseboard and trim much more attractive. The good news is that doing so doesn’t require special tools or DIY skills. You just need to be patient as the process requires time.
*What you need
Before getting started, collect the following as you will need them. Most of these items can be found at your local hardware/DIY store or have a look online through construction supply websites like Tradefix Direct and others for the tools and equipment you’re still needing to find for your project.
- Tack cloth
- Scoop sticks
- Stiff putty knife
- Paintbrush
- Paint or stain
- Sandpaper, 120-grit
- Sandpaper, 40-grit
- Clean plywood scrap or about 1-foot square
- Epoxy putty mix
- Sandpaper, 80-grit
*The Procedure
- Sand the dent as well as the surrounding area with 80-grit sandpaper and once done, clean it with the tack cloth
- Scoop out equal amounts of both containers A and B of the epoxy mix and put it on a clean piece of plywood
- Using the stiff putty knife, stir the two scoops together for about 2-3 minutes
- Using the putty knife, scoop a little of the mixed epoxy putty and press it firmly on the dent on the trim or baseboard. Be sure to apply enough pressure to force the putty against the bottom, with some of it overflowing.
- Allow four hours for the putty to dry at room temperature. You will know that it’s well dried if pressing a finger on the epoxy doesn’t leave an impression.
- Sand the hardened putty with 40 grit sandpaper to mold it to conform to the contour of the trim or baseboard. If need be, you can use a wood rasp to roughly shape the hardened putty.
- If necessary, repeat the process of mixing and applying more epoxy putty on top of the first layer
- Using a tack cloth, wipe the filled area and sand it with the 80-grit sandpaper and afterwards with the 120-grit sandpaper to smooth it. Once done, wipe it clean with a tack cloth.
- To make sure that the repaired area matches with the rest of the baseboard, paint or stain it
*Additional tip
Make sure that you correctly label the scooping sticks and lids to avoid chemical reaction with the containers. Additionally, the epoxy putty or wood filler used should be compatible with wood.
*Exercise caution
- Wear gloves when working with epoxy putty or wood filler
- Follow directions outlined in the label when working with mixed putty
- Work in an area that’s well ventilated
- Understand that there are different types of putty hence the need to read the label before making a choice on which one to use
*If this sounds like a project you would like to leave to the pros then BOOK your estimate NOW!