Problem Overflow

Smoke, smells and damp getting into your apartment, and how renters stop them.

Smoke from next door

Smoke seeps in through baseboard and trim gaps

Handy · About 45 minutes

Where I am
A thin line of smell follows the bottom of the wall.
Where I want to be
Baseboards that don't leak air.
What's in the way
There are small gaps where the trim meets the floor and the wall.

Try this first, free: Run your hand along the base of the shared wall. A cool draft tells you where the gap runs.

The fix

  1. Vacuum along the baseboard and wipe it so tape and caulk grip.
  2. Press painter's tape along the top edge of the gap, then smooth it down with a card.
  3. Or run a bead of removable caulk along the seam and press it flat with a damp finger.
  4. Let it set, then do the same where the trim meets the corner of the wall.

What this won't fully fix: This cuts the thin leaks along the trim. A lot of smoke travels through the wall itself, which you can't seal.

Moving out: Peel the caulk off in a long strip and wipe the seam clean. Take the tape off slowly.

What to get

Removable caulk on Amazon Painter's tape on Amazon

These open an Amazon search, so you can pick the one that fits. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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