- 1). Place a tube of caulk into a caulk gun. Snip the very end off the nozzle on a tube of caulk with a razor blade. Make sure that the hole is small and angled to maintain control of the flow of caulk. Apply a small bead of caulk where the trim meets the walls to fill in any gaps. Run a damp rag along the caulked edge to remove excess caulk.
- 2). Countersink any nails that are sticking out. Gently hammer a nail set against any raised nails to push them just into the surface of the wood.
- 3). Fill holes with wood putty. Apply a dab of putty to the hole. Use a damp sponge to smooth away extra putty. Use putty that matches your wood color if you plan to stain the trim.
- 4). Lightly sand the wood trim. Make sure that all patched areas are smooth and flush with the surrounding surface. Wipe the trim with a tack cloth.
- 5). Apply a coat of primer to the trim if you plan to paint it. Use a primer formulated to seal raw wood. Lightly sand the primed trim. Remove dust with a tack cloth.
- 6). Apply two coats of wood stain or semigloss paint with a brush. Keep brushstrokes smooth for even coverage. Protect a stain by brushing on two coats of varnish.
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