How to Wood Trim a Tiled Vanity

Tile First, Wood Second

• Because tile always involves mortar in the grouting process, as well as the installation if thinset and not mastic is used, you cannot install wood at the same time as the tile. This is because the water in the mortar affects the wood. Instead, you must install the tile first and remember to leave room for the wood trim to be installed after the fact. Then, once the tile is grouted, the mortar has dried and moisture is no longer an issue, install the wood trim.

Finishing

• The vast majority of your finishing work should take place before the wood is installed. This is to avoid damaging the tile installation. Light touch-ups can be made after the installation, such as sanding down the wood putty covering nail holes, but the majority of your sanding, staining and finishing should be done in advance of the wood trim being installed. From there, it’s a simple matter of installing the wood and performing and final touch-ups on the way out.

Installation

• Remember that wood, like tile installations, breathes with the weather. Warmer weather equals expansion, while colder weather equals contraction of materials. Always allow for at least a 1/8-inch gap between any pieces of wood trim and the tile itself. If you do not allow for this gap and the wood expands during the summer months, one of two things happens. The wood or the tile pops up off the vanity, or the wood itself buckles under the pressure of expansion, cracking the wood and warping it. Use appropriate glue or construction adhesive as well as finish nails to install the wood, then cover the holes with wood putty. If necessary, sand the putty down, although wiping it flush with your finger during initial application is generally sufficient.

Caulking

• Never grout the joint between wood trim and tile. This again falls back to the expansion that occurs during warmer months, as well as the contraction during cooler months. Grout eventually cracks out from expansion and contraction. Instead, use a colored caulking that matches the grout color of the tile itself to blend the trim into the tile installation and keep the joints from cracking out over the years.