Installing Baseboard Trim

Installing baseboard trim

Anytime you complete a basement without installing baseboard trim, you are defeating the purpose of your basement renovations. Walls never look finished without baseboard molding

Every project that has to do with basement renovations is a preparation for the next project that follows it. That is why, when you are framing basement walls, it is very important to square them up to each other.Square walls will lend themselves to a quality drywall job (how to hang drywall). It will also make, installing interior doors that much easier. I often see basements where the corners look unsightly due to the poorly fitted corner joints. Tools: While installing baseboard trim does not require many tools you still need to invest in the proper tools. Chances are that you already own most of the tools for the job.

- A hammer, an air or cordless nailer.

- A nail set to sink the nails if you use a hammer to drive the nails.

- Utility knife can be useful for removing unwanted material off the boards.

- A miter box and a handsaw or a miter saw is necessary.

- Coping saw, if you are going to cope the miters.

- A tape measure with a ¾” blade.

- A pencil with a fine point.

- You might want to invest in a bevel square for odd angles.

- If you are courageous, enough you might want to construct a bench high enough to put the miter box on and wide enough to put the tools on. This set-up will come handy you're installing baseboard trim. If you are using a powered miter saw then, you build the bench to the height of the miter saw table.

Preparation:

The best time to run baseboard is before the walls are painted, after the door casing and flooring, such as tiles, hardwood floor are installed, the studs are easier to locate for installing baseboard trim to the walls.If the carpet is not already installed, use a piece of ¾”plywood to rest the baseboard on while you are nailing.

NOTE: - If the doors are no yet installed. I suggest that you go to “Installing Interior Doors”.

Set up your working area in the largest room possible and lay down the material by the bench, this way you don’t have to make extra trips every time you need stock. If you can’t use a big enough area then, use a room with a doorway to run the long stock through the doorway.

Clean the area you are working on so that there is as little dust as possible even though there is always some dust left over still, the less the better. If you are using an air nailer. Wear a dust mask to protect yourself from inhaling dust.

Installing baseboard trim with 90 degrees cuts.

- Start with the longest walls - the ones that are longer then the stock you are using. You will have to splice these boards at 22-1/2 degrees somewhere along their length. Ex: Assuming that you are starting from left to right of the wall. Cut a 45 degrees inside miter on the left hand side of the board and a 22-1/2degrees inside miter on the other end of the board. The latter will be joined by the next piece to finish the wall.

- The next step is to start with the long pieces that you've just cut and install them in every room, starting from a door moving which ever way you desire as long as you are consistent . Ex: if you move from left to right, keep moving left to right.

Measurements:

- take all remaining measurements and record them on a piece of paper. I use a form that shows me which direction to cut the miter. Ex: which way to turn the miter saw blade. A left cut will mean an inside miter and a right cut will mean an outside miter. (assuming the board is facing you and right side up. The same way it will go on the wall).

Installing baseboard trim requires patience. So take your time and avoid frustrations.

- Number the boards on the back and name the room they belong to. Ex: bedroom #1, bedroom #2 etc. The number represents the wall. It’s a good idea to number the walls with the same number on the baseboard that belongs to that room.

- Spread the cut boards in front of their respective walls.

- Time to get on your knees and start nailing. You might need to recut a board or two, but it’s almost unavoidable.

- Always nail the boards in the same directions. Ex: If you start from left to right, keep nailing the boards from left to right all around the room or area that you are working on.

After you have finished installing the baseboard trim, go around the whole area and set the nails just below the surface. These small holes will have to be filled with wood filler or spackle.

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