How Can I Stop the Splitting Between My Wall Trim & Ceiling When It's Cold in My House?

Removing the Trim

• 1

  Wedge a flat pry bar between the wall and trim. Slowly and carefully, push the pry bar toward the wall to pop the nails out of the walls. Place a thin, flat piece of wood between the trim and the wall to hold the trim away from the wall. Continue to pop the nails and loosen the trim until the trim is removable.

• 2

  Place the trim across two sawhorses and coat all wood surfaces with paint or polyurethane to protect the wood from changes in temperature and humidity. Coat the face, edges and ends and let the paint or polyurethane dry for four to six hours. Turn the wood trim over and coat the backside of the trim with paint or polyurethane. Let the paint or polyurethane dry for four to six hours.

• 3

  Position the wood trim back up against the wall. Drill new pilot holes, slightly smaller than the nails through the trim into the studs. Drive finishing nails through the trim into studs to secure the trim to the wall. Place a nail set on top of the finishing nail and strike the nail set with a hammer to sink the nail below the face of the trim.

• 4

  Fill the old nail holes and heads of the new nails with wood putty in a matching color.

Silicone Caulk

• 5

  Insert a tube of paintable silicone caulk into a caulking gun.

• 6

  Set up ladder and climb it to access the top of the wall trim.

• 7

  Place the tip of the caulking tube into the gap between the trim and the ceiling. Squeeze the caulking gun trigger and run a bead of caulk into the gap and slightly higher than the trim.

• 8

  Wet your finger with water and press the caulk into the gap while smoothing the surface of the caulk. Let the caulk dry for 72 hours.

• 9

  Paint the caulk the same color as the ceiling.