Sealing kickboard molding? - Page 2

>In a fully-insulated home in N. California SF Bay Area (very temperate
>climes) is it common to seal the back side as well as the front of kickboard
>molding? The owner is insisting that the back side be sealed also with
>organic varnish or polyurethane.
>Recommendations?
>Thanks.

> In a fully-insulated home in N. California SF Bay Area (very temperate
> climes) is it common to seal the back side as well as the front of
> kickboard
> molding? The owner is insisting that the back side be sealed also with
> organic varnish or polyurethane.
> Recommendations?
> Thanks.

"Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
>> In a fully-insulated home in N. California SF Bay Area (very temperate
>> climes) is it common to seal the back side as well as the front of
>> kickboard
>> molding? The owner is insisting that the back side be sealed also with
>> organic varnish or polyurethane.
>> Recommendations?
>> Thanks.
> Do you mean a molding as in "baseboard"?
> If you don't have carpet, you can seal the bottom with silicon caulk after
> its nailed up. The top can always be caulked.
> Believe the idea behind using varnish or polyurethane is to keep wet rot
> down if you spill something, and the spill affects the back of the
> baseboard. The sheetrock doesn't touch the floor behind the baseboard.
> This creates a cavity just waiting for a spill to happen, and hold that
> spill for a long time until it finally dissipates. This also affects the
> sole plate if its not PT.
> --
> Dave

> "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
>>> In a fully-insulated home in N. California SF Bay Area (very temperate
>>> climes) is it common to seal the back side as well as the front of
>>> kickboard
>>> molding? The owner is insisting that the back side be sealed also with
>>> organic varnish or polyurethane.
>>> Recommendations?
>>> Thanks.
>> Do you mean a molding as in "baseboard"?
>> If you don't have carpet, you can seal the bottom with silicon caulk
>> after its nailed up. The top can always be caulked.
>> Believe the idea behind using varnish or polyurethane is to keep wet rot
>> down if you spill something, and the spill affects the back of the
>> baseboard. The sheetrock doesn't touch the floor behind the baseboard.
>> This creates a cavity just waiting for a spill to happen, and hold that
>> spill for a long time until it finally dissipates. This also affects the
>> sole plate if its not PT.
>> --
>> Dave
> HUH ??? That's quite a spill if it rots out the floor and baseboard..You
> would have to spill alot repeatedly in the SAME spot for several years for
> that to happen....

"Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
>> "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
>>>> In a fully-insulated home in N. California SF Bay Area (very temperate
>>>> climes) is it common to seal the back side as well as the front of
>>>> kickboard
>>>> molding? The owner is insisting that the back side be sealed also with
>>>> organic varnish or polyurethane.
>>>> Recommendations?
>>>> Thanks.
>>> Do you mean a molding as in "baseboard"?
>>> If you don't have carpet, you can seal the bottom with silicon caulk
>>> after its nailed up. The top can always be caulked.
>>> Believe the idea behind using varnish or polyurethane is to keep wet rot
>>> down if you spill something, and the spill affects the back of the
>>> baseboard. The sheetrock doesn't touch the floor behind the baseboard.
>>> This creates a cavity just waiting for a spill to happen, and hold that
>>> spill for a long time until it finally dissipates. This also affects
>>> the sole plate if its not PT.
>>> --
>>> Dave
>> HUH ??? That's quite a spill if it rots out the floor and baseboard..You
>> would have to spill alot repeatedly in the SAME spot for several years
>> for that to happen....
> This is common in bathrooms, especially in older homes. May be throughout
> the house if a flood occurs, but never goes beyond baseboard height.
> Similar in a water heater closet with a water heater burst. A leaky
> built-in dishwasher can do similar behind the dishwasher. A leaky sink
> faucet at its base can do the same. Commonly, its due to a very slight
> gap between the baseboard and floor. There is no baseboard in the last 2
> items mentioned though. Water accumulates between the baseboard and sole
> plate. The backside of the baseboard wicks the water and may transfer some
> of it to the sheetrock. If the house has a subfloor with plywood
> covering, its common for that plywood to take on that water as well. If
> the floor is covered with carpet, water rot may attack the underlayment.
> --
> Dave