How to Install Baseboards in 4 Steps

Baseboards, also called skirting boards, are great decorative additions to the overall design of your home interior. Although baseboards are below the eye level along the floor, they can be one of the defining features of your home. They can be made of wood, plastic, vinyl, or aluminium materials. Each one has its benefits in aesthetics and durability. Whichever type of baseboard you may choose, remember that correct installation is vital to achieving the results that you want. To help you do so, we made a simple guide on how to install baseboards in 4 steps.

Define the correct number of baseboards that you need by measuring the length of your walls, then round-up the result to the nearest whole foot. If you are installing wooden baseboards, make sure to place an order seven days before your target installation date. That is because the wood needs to be acclimated to your home’s temperature.

Source: A Stroll Thru Life

1. Start with the Longest Wall

When installing new baseboards, start with the longest wall of your home. If one piece of baseboard moulding is sufficient for that wall, then all you need to do is measure it precisely and cut each end at 90 degrees perpendicular to the wall. On the other hand, you can use a scarf joint if two pieces are needed for the wall. Make sure to place the scarf joint in a wall position where you can stud the adjoining boards.

To make a perfect scarf joint, get to pieces of baseboard with 90-degree cuts on their ends. Position the first board in place against the wall, then mark the 45-degree. Cut that mark with a mitre saw then sand to smoothen the edge but careful not to over sand. Nail it in place. Get the other baseboard then cut the end to perfectly fit the 45-degree angle of the first board. Place the two boards together.

If the boards fit neatly, spread glue on the joint to fix them together. Make sure to clean off excess glue right away. Secure the two boards by hammering nails towards each piece and towards the wall.

Source: Muck Me

2. Cut the Boards for Coped Joint

Next step in installing baseboards is cutting the boards where they meet at an inside corner joint. This called a coped joint. Mark the end of the first board at a 45-angle then cut it nicely. Position the board against the inside corner of the walls. Then, get the second board and cut the end where it will meet the first baseboard. Cut the same 45-degree angle, but this time towards the opposite direction. This will allow the coped joint to fit smugly. Don’t forget to sand both ends to remove the rough edges.

Once the coped joint fits neatly, glue them together and nail them securely to the wall. Cutting the coped joint is one of the hardest parts of installing new baseboards. We highly advise you to practice with scrap pieces of baseboard first. Once you get the hang of it, you can proceed with the actual baseboards.

Source: Home & Garden RONA

3. Cut Baseboard Ends for Outside Corners

When you reach an outside corner, set the first baseboard so that it extends past the corner. Mark the point where it meets the corner, then mark a line perfectly perpendicular to the wall.  Against that line and starting from the corner point, measure an outward 45-degree angle and mark the line. Do the same process for the second board, then see that they fit correctly. Glue them together and nail down to the wall.

Repeat the first three steps for all the walls around the room. These are basically the most crucial steps in this guide on how to install baseboards. If you do them right, then you’ll have a good baseboard installed.

Source: Eurobet

4. Fill Gaps with Caulk

When installing baseboards, there can still be gaps between the joints no matter how perfectly you tried to put the boards together. Also, the nail holes will not be aesthetically pleasing. The solution for these is caulking them. Caulk and wood fillers are materials used to seal joints and seams, not just for baseboards, but also for furniture and wooden boats. You can also fill the gaps between the walls and baseboards with caulk.

This guide on how to install baseboards will help homeowners like you do a D-I-Y baseboard installation. However, you may find it difficult to achieve the optimum results on your own, especially if it’s your first time. In which case, getting professional help from expert installers like BC Best Flooring is a great option. With our hardwood flooring and baseboard installation services, you can be assured of the best-looking interior for your home.