I have just bought a 20 year old condo with metal studs. I’m replacing all of the baseboards. How do I attach the baseboards to the walls?
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Construction adhesive is one option.
Thanks for your suggestion. should I use screws into the drywall to hold it in place while the glue dries?
what rez says.
It's a bit of a pain but I've predrilled and used small head trim screws thru into the studs before.
If speed and adhesive is your weapon of choice, shooting 2 finish nails diagonal to each other into the drywall can give enough holding power till the adhesive sets.
Be.
Just be.
"sobriety is the root cause of dementia.", rez,2004
"Geodesics have an infinite proliferation of possible branches, at the whim of subatomic indeterminism.",
Jack Williamson, The Legion of Time
Thanks for the cross nailing suggestion. It along with Mike's refinements will solve the problem.
Thom
spiral finishing nails into the Sole Plate and the Studs
Construction adhesive and held into place with brads or pins as clamping.. Set the pins slightly angled and apposing each other.. Use short pins and shoot them into the DW and not worry about the studs..
Time for new tools... There's a bright side to every job...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Edited 8/5/2004 9:35 am ET by IMERC
Consruction adhesive as others mentioned. 15 gauge nail gun with 2" nails will hold the base while adhesive sets. Dot the adhesive every foot no more than 1" from top of base. Dots should be the size of a dime . Look for high spots along the wall and nail there. You only need enough nails to hold the base tight to the wall.
mike
Thanks, I think that wil work just fine.
thom
I've done plenty of baseboard installation over drywall and steel studs. Use construction adhesive and toe nail finish nails or brads. Works great.
Cork in Chicago
Thom, on lighter guage metal, you can also shoot direct into the stud. It grabs pretty good, probably as a result of the heat produced when the nail penetrates the stud. Spot glue.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Installed colonial base recently over 1/2 drywall into steel - no glue. Fastener's hooked me up with drill-point finish screws; studs were 16 oc.
Works great. Use a slow screw gun or a cordless as they will strip in muscled in. If you feather em in, you're left with a nice recess that fills with putty nicely.
I wish I would have installed 6-8 inch blocking at the floor which would have allowed for nailing at the drywall bellies.
Carl
When you say slow screwgun or cordless for the trim heads I'm wondering what rpm you were running at? Were you running on a high or low torque setting? I've done this same task a couple times with a couple different drills and had varying results, part of the problems might have been I was dealing with heavier gauge studs.
-Ray
ray, were you using the self drilling tipped finish screws?Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
What I've found to work the best is to: start screw in high with cordless until it engages the steel/once it starts to thread, back off to low and feather it in. To just go full bore with cordless or screwgun is risking strip out. The drill point screws I've used needed a #1 phillips bit. Hope this helps.
Carl
That is how the original baseboards were installed in my condo. I have not been able to find the screws anywhere. I've been trying to call the drywall guys to see if they have a supplier.
Thanks for the help.
Thom
Found a good selection of finish screws at an independent lumber yard. Haven't had much luck with the supermarket yards.
Thanks to all.. we tried the criss cross nails and glue, and it worked fine. We'll probably add some finish screws where needed.
Thom
just glue them and shoot them ...
JeffBuck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Mcfeely's should have them - its a mail order company I'm sure they're on the web