"benick" wrote in message
news

"Dioclese" NONE wrote in message
...
"benick" wrote in message
. ..

"Dioclese" NONE wrote in message
m...
"SparkyGuy" wrote in message
obal.net...
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



That may be true Dave but what the hell does that have to do with
requiring the painter to seal the back side of the baseboard..With the
leaks NOT spills you mention sealing the baseboard won't do diddly
squat...You'll have ALOT more to be concerned about then the back side of
the baseboard being painted...As I said the homeowner is a PITA and is
full of it....But thanks for throwing the Red Herring into the
discussion...

Its an overkill that does not do anything but preserve the baseboard in
limited flooding situations. Yes, I agree that this particular homeowner is
a PITA. In the event of a limited flooding situation, the remainder I've
talked about will have to be replaced.

I was specifying the situations where said source of water logging may occur
and what it usually affects. Not defending as to why or why not the sealing
of baseboard as you are under the impression of for no apparent reason to me
And, if you think it out after reading my input, you would realize that the
homeowner is wasting his/her time by my input. Not a digression from the
discussion as you suggest, just an expanded picture of why. Same to Rico.
Both newsgroup policemen.
--
Dave