How to Attach Wood Trim With Silicone Caulk or Nails

Wood trim adds a splash of color and a touch of class to any room. Nails can securely hold your trim in place, but they can mar the appearance of the trim by creating holes or protruding out of the wood. Silicone caulk is another way to attach trim to a wall, but it is not as strong as nails. Silicone caulk will not bore holes into your trim, though, and you can simply peel it off the wood if you want to relocate the trim.

Preparing the Trim

• 1

  Measure the wall where you will install the trim. Cut a length of trim 2 inches longer than the wall.

• 2

  Cut the edges of the wood at a 45-degree angle if you have them connecting to another piece of trim at a corner. For inside corners, the back of the wood must protrude past the front face of the wood at a 45-degree angle. For outside corners, the front of the wood should protrude further than the back, also at a 45-degree angle.

• 3

  Sand down the corners of the trim with 100-grit sandpaper. This removes splinters and small chips in the wood, making your trim safer to handle and more attractive.

Installing Trim with Nails

• 1

  Have an assistant hold the wood trim against the wall. Set a level above or below the trim to ensure it is at the correct level. Adjust it as necessary.

• 2

  Hammer a finishing nail into the trim until it lays flat against the wood. Do not hammer so hard that you leave hammer head indentations on the wood trim.

• 3

  Countersink the nails by hammering them slightly below the surface of the trim with a nail punch. Cover the heads of the nails with wood putty matching the color of the trim.

Installing Trim with Silicone Caulk

• 1

  Wash the wall with soap and warm water to help bond the caulk. Grease and dirt can reduce the effectiveness of the caulk.

• 2

  Apply a generous line of caulk to the wall using a caulking gun. Keep the line as straight as possible and only apply it where you want to attach the trim.

• 3

  Press the trim against the line of caulk. Some caulk may leak from the side of the trim as you press it down, but that's OK. Leave a 1/8-inch gap between the trim and the wall so you do not displace all the silicone caulk.

• 4

  Hold the trim in place until the caulk has time to settle. Apply thin lines of caulk to the top and bottom side of the trim once the caulk hardens enough to support the trim without your help.

• 5

  Run a caulk edger along the top and the bottom of the trim to clean away the excess caulk. This creates a solid line of caulk on the top and the bottom of the trim, giving it an attractive, professional look.