detail where baseboard meets tile
Megunticook
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
What’s your preferred way to detail the baseboard in a bathroom where the board meets bullnose tile around a shower or butts into a tub?
It seems like if not done very carefully it would be easy for water to get in behind the baseboard or between the endgrain and the tile or tub in the case of a butt joint.
Is is just a matter of thorough caulking with a siliconized caulk, or are there some design considerations that help?
Any photos would be appreciated. Thanks.
Replies
I'm just a DIY'er but this is what I have done and it seems to work. I butt the base boards into the tub or shower carefully. I also seal any piece of baseboard that I think may come into contact with water on all sides with the wood finish. I use clear silicone sealant to try and keep the water from running down from the top of the base board, however I don't use the silicone sealant around the bottom or sides so that any water may evaporate from behind the wood. I have witnessed Unsealed wood in this area rot and mildew in a little over a year and using the sealed method I have not had any probems yet.
I would first consider a tile base of some kind or a vinyl base in a low-budget project. Wood is almost certain to suffer in locations like that in a heavily-used bathroom. If wood must be used, careful caulking and painting, as you suggest, is essential.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
There are a number of different plastic composite materials available that can assure you stay trouble free from water problems in the event wood baseboard isn't necessary.
That's my meager two bits.
Ed- Why don't you fill out your profile a bit and tell us where you're from?
Good suggestion, but the baseboard in this house is clear finished eastern white pine.
I like the idea of a tile base, though I'm not sure that would work in the entire room one bathroom has wood flooring (slate in the tub area) plus wainscoting.
As for my profile, I guess I never got around to that. I live just a stone's through from Piffin in the State o' Maine, if that's what you're wondering. And I'm not a builder by trade (although I've crewed with contractors and did run a painting business for a while).
Just finishing off my own house and learning as I go. Been a lot of fun.