Newly installed architraves w/ slight crack at seams

Basq

Long story short.. got new architraves installed and freshly painted lately.

Probably environmental condition / climatizing but seeing them slightly crack at the seams. They’re not substantial - per below which is probably the worse of them.

Just thinking with summer months and them potentially expanding.. what’s the best port of call to fill these - thinking caulk?

Thanks all!

anacc

That's normal. Just fill it with silicone sealant and paint over it. Likewise where the architrave and skirting meets the wall you can fill that gap and paint it, as well as any other gaps you find in frames, etc. It makes the finish much nicer.

MAJJ

anacc wrote: »

That's normal. Just fill it with silicone sealant and paint over it. Likewise where the architrave and skirting meets the wall you can fill that gap and paint it, as well as any other gaps you find in frames, etc. It makes the finish much nicer.

It is normal and I would agree on filling all gaps before painting. But I would have thought to use caulk and paint over.

Basq

anacc wrote: »

That's normal. Just fill it with silicone sealant and paint over it. Likewise where the architrave and skirting meets the wall you can fill that gap and paint it, as well as any other gaps you find in frames, etc. It makes the finish much nicer.

Yeah, everywhere else is filled.

Would have thought white caulk better than silicone sealant.. especially given the fact the spaces are so small that I may get away without repainting! (i.e I'm a lazy fecker!)

anacc

Caulk or mastic is less flexible than silicone so for areas like this could eventually crack again. Silicone will allow the movement without cracking. Just prime it before painting otherwise the paint won't stick.

anacc

Saying that, caulk is a lot easier to work with so on balance might be better than silicone if you don't mind redoing it every few years.

listermint

Do not use silicone.

Do not use caulk.

Silicone can't be painted over properly.

Caulk will shrink and crack it's not intended for his a good carpenter would give ya a kick .



Use wood filler. Then sand then paint.

anacc

listermint wrote: »

Do not use silicone.

Do not use caulk.

Silicone can't be painted over properly.

Caulk will shrink and crack it's not intended for his a good carpenter would give ya a kick .



Use wood filler. Then sand then paint.

Unfortunately wood filler will also crack eventually because it doesn't have enough elasticity. Perhaps you know a wood filler that has good elasticity but from my experience the only lasting filler for cases like this that I could find was silicone. Prime it with BIN before painting and its fine.

blueskys

Same as...use silicone. Wood filler can dry and crack, also cant take the movement in some of these frames.

awec

I know it's noticeable in the photo, but is it really noticeable day-to-day?

I'd be tempted to leave it.

listermint

anacc wrote: »

Unfortunately wood filler will also crack eventually because it doesn't have enough elasticity. Perhaps you know a wood filler that has good elasticity but from my experience the only lasting filler for cases like this that I could find was silicone. Prime it with BIN before painting and its fine.

Two part filler will set that like a glue it won't and should need expansion. Unless the wall shifts and well then you might have bigger problems

anacc

listermint wrote: »

Two part filler will set that like a glue it won't and should need expansion. Unless the wall shifts and well then you might have bigger problems

Haven't tried it before but I'll give it a shot. Expensive, but might be worth it to avoid the mess and smell from silicone.

Basq

awec wrote: »

I know it's noticeable in the photo, but is it really noticeable day-to-day?

I'd be tempted to leave it.

That's the most noticeable of them and it's a bathroom in back hall.. it's not awful but since it's freshly painted, it bothers me.

Like I said, a very very thin layer of caulk just to offset the hairline crack would probably make me sleep better!