What should I use to cover a gap between my floor and wall?

Question

We just bought a house and pulled up the carpet in the living room, which has hardwood floors underneath. But now we have about an inch gap from where the floor is to where the wall starts what should i use to cover it? It has a pretty good breeze because we only have a crawl space no basement! HELP!

Answer 1

baseboard and quarter round moulding

Answer 2

The proper fix would be the 1/4 round (small wooden piece) that sits at floor level outside of the baseboard. If it's present, it might need replacing if the house has settled. It's put on with small nails and can be gently pried off without damaging the baseboard. You will need to cut new pieces to fit. As a female, I will also tell you that you can use caulk. If you are unfamiliar with it, it comes in a tube, and handles something like those cake frostings that you write with. It will seal the if the gap is not to large, and is easy to master. Go to a hardware store where you can get someone to help you, get the caulk in the tube plus the caulk 'gun' (the metal holder that the tube fits in.) Cut the end of the tube as directed, at an angle, not to far down at first till you get the right amount to come out. Keep a couple of wet paper towels handy for your hands. Practice in a hidden area first. Follow direction on the caulk and draw a thin line with the caulk. Then run your finger along the line which will push the caulk into the gap and make a clean surface. You can wipe any extra caulk off the wall, floor, or your fingers with the wet paper towel. Allow the caulk to dry according to directions. If you want a good example of what caulk should look like, hopefully you can see a good job in the bathroom, like around the tub somewhere, or perhaps around some windows where the wood meets the wall. Have no fear. You can do it. Good luck!

Answer 3

Insulate the gap well with either a foam insulation, my choice, or handfuls of fibered insulation. Then put down a baseboard and 1/4 round if you want. Home improvements stores have some really nice looking baseboards now, with corners and such so that you can use butt joints and wont even have to mess with 45 degree angle cuts.

Answer 4

Look around at the selection of baseboards available and see if you can find one thick enough. If you cannot, you might have to go for a combination effect. Our walls have a thick baseboard and then a quarter round piece at the bottom that gives a nice look and it is more than an inch overall.

Answer 5

Baseboard/trim would be an appropriate treatment. If your crawl space is ventilated, you might consider stuffing foam rope type insulation before you cover it up.

I wouldn't recommend spray expanding foam for this. It might make future electrical work more difficult. Tough to say for sure when you can't see it.

Answer 6

All these answers are pretty good, but they forgot to tell you to insulate outside walls. Buy some of the pink stuff and stuff it into the gap between the floor and the drywall. then install your molding and shoe molding.

Answer 7

go to Lowes or Home Depot, buy enough caulk to seal the deepest part of the crack, also buy 1/4 round molding in a dimension tall enough to hide the crack, cut to correct lenght and install. Nail up with finishing nails AFTER you have pre-drilled the nail holes. If you don't pre-drill...you will split the molding.

Answer 8

probably worth filling in cuz you never know what could crawl from your crawl space into your house. cover with molding/trim.

Answer 9

Some sort of molding would be good - or quarter round id you can get it large enough

Answer 10

baseboards