We share everything it’s crucial that you know when choosing and installing baseboard trim.
Baseboards meet up with door casings and anchorarchitectural wall treatmentssuch as paneled wainscoting.
If you decide to go the contractor route, obtain multiple bids for comparison’s sake.
Credit:Jacob Fox
Ask for references, and check with the contractor’s previous clients.
Most home centers sell moldings of various materials and lengths that commonly range from 8 to 12 feet.
Plinth blocks, corner blocks, and other specialty trim pieces are available in all materials.
This will give the material time to adjust to temperatures and conditions inside the house.
Once the paint has dried, it’s time to roll out the molding.
Multipiece baseboards add a nice touch to a room.
Some installations dispense with the cap molding and simply use a baseboard and base shoe.
Cut a baseboard piece for straight stretches of wall to reach from corner to corner.
For runs longer than 5 feet, cut the pieces about 1/16 inch longer than the measurement.
Cut 45-degree angles on the ends of adjoining pieces, which will overlap one another.
Plan the joint so it’s on a stud for secure nailing.
Predrill nail holes before driving nails into the joint to avoid splitting the wood.
A tight-fitting scarf joint will be barely visible with a bit of glue and some judicious sanding.
Keep in mind that corners are rarely perfectly square.
You may need to adjust miter angles slightly for a good fit.
Make test cuts in scrap pieces.
Another way to change a miter angle slightly is to place a playing card between themiter sawfence and molding.
Nail or glue the pieces in place.
Cope inside joints and miter outside joints, gluing as needed to secure.
Use scarf joints to splice trim pieces on long walls.
Add cap molding to the top of the baseboards for a more traditional look.
Set cap molding atop baseboard trim, placing it flush against the wall.
Use the same technique to load the cap molding as you would with the shoe molding.
Review Work
Go back over your work.
Use sandpaper to knock off sharp edges and extra adhesive.
Putty and touch up nail holes with paint or stain.
Add another coat of paint or stain if needed.
