I want to install some wainscoating on a bathroom wall but the wall is bowed inward. The top molding will have a 1/4″ gap behind it. I don’t want to use caulk because I don’t think it will look good. I can’t bend the molding because there is nothing solid enough behind the drywall to secure it. Any suggestions would help. Thanks in advance, Bekshun
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You could buy thicker stock for the cap (scribe the cap to the wall); mill your own cap (that you would fit to the wall); or screed compound at the wall depression areas to build up the dip. The latter will mask the gap, the others can certainly call attention to it. Might as well mask and do an intricate caulk fill with a caulk that won't shrink and crack. A good non shrinking camoflage would be urethane caulk. Hard to work with but it takes paint and can be formed pretty flat. Unless the gap is too goofy, you can scribe fit wood quicker. Best of luck. Your choice.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
construction adhesive on the back of your trim piece, brace it tight to the wall and leave it overnight- should do the trick.
if the cap piece won't bend you will have to scribe it to fit...use a sharp plane or a belt sander to pare the stock down.
I`m going to assume that the bow affects a good portion of the wall and not just the area at which the cap moulding will be applied. This being the case, I would recomend that you shim or fir (depending on the degree of bow) the wall behind wainscotting and mouldings in order to correct the problem. If necessary I would also feather wall area above wainscotting, with joint compound, to assist in correcting the problem. You won`t be able to completely remove the bow, but with some good scribe work and patience, you should be pleased with your results.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Thanks for the suggestions. I didn't mention it in my original post but the house is only 4 years old. Also the top molding is quartersawn white oak I made myself. In fact I made the whole system I am installing. I will try the shims and flatten the wall with compound. I think this will end up looking the best. Thanks for the ideas, Bekshun
Best of luck to ya.....post some pics when you`re done!J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Since the wall will not be seen, why don't you find the hump that need to be removed, cut the plaster out, cut the studs back, smooth it out enough to make it flat, and then install the W/S?
Are you sure a little more work doesn't need to be done to the structure before you make it pretty?
rg